Comments on: Subconscious Connections

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 01:00:30 +0000

I think this is a great post overall–it all points to being intentional about spending, which is really the only way to get a handle on the habit. I have to disagree with the particulars of your 10-second rule, however. According to Paco Underhill’s Why We Buy, people are 40% more likely to buy an item they’ve touched. So, if you really want to give yourself the best chance of making a rational decision about a purchase, don’t pick the item up. Look at it sitting on the shelf for 10 seconds instead.

By: Teresa

Teresa — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 02:27:45 +0000

I had an interesting experience this afternoon in the mall with a high pressure sales person at a kiosk that sucked in my 15 year old with a hair straightener. I wasn’t opposed to listening to the sales pitch from an objective point of view but was by no means making a $250(!!) purchase on the spur of the moment. I had to stick to my guns and my daughter agreed on that but it turned ugly from the salesperson when we left.

By: PJ

PJ — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 21:44:42 +0000

I had a VERY strange and unsettling experience recently. There is a local show in my area where three people each recommend a favorite local restaurant and then everybody goes to each other’s restaurants, and they all give reviews. I had seen a preview of the upcoming show, and there was a woman on it that looked very familiar. Where did I know her from? Did we go to school together? Had we worked together at one time? I had warm feelings for her, I knew that, but I couldn’t place where we’d met. I had to wait several days for the show to come on to find out her name. I was astounded to learn that she was… THE LADY IN THE PINE SOL COMMERCIAL! I didn’t know this woman at all — but I “knew” she was someone I liked and trusted.

That does it, I’m unplugging the damned TV.

By: Maya @ Completely Coastal

Maya @ Completely Coastal — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 16:59:19 +0000

So true. I caught myself once reaching for a particular brand because I had seen it (in commercials) more than the other brands available, as a result I thought of it as a better product.

By: Steven@hundredgoals.com

Steven@hundredgoals.com — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 16:21:39 +0000

I think what you’re getting at here really boils down to a psychology concepts about “schemas”. I’d post a link but I don’t want my comment in moderation purgatory.

Basically, people already have a belief system and when something doesn’t fit, we ignore it but when something DOES fit, it tends to amplify our beliefs. It’s interesting and I think relevent to the idea of this article. Check it out!