Getting a bargain is always fun, but did you know that some stores try certain tricks to make you think that you are getting a great deal when in fact you aren’t? One of theses techniques has to do with the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price or MSRP. Don’t be fooled.
What is the MSRP?
You may spot the MSRP or the Retail Price on your favorite mark down or outlet item. This is supposedly the price that the manufacturer sets, or the price that the item once sold for when it was first put out on the sales floor. Many people compare this price to the sales price to see how much they will save. In fact, the stores encourage this. The bigger bargain you think you are getting, the more likely you will be to purchase the item.
The MSRP trick
Many stores will actually print their own tags that show both the clearance, sale or reduced price and the MSRP. This is especially true of outlet stores. The MSRP can be made up to make the bargain appear larger. Also, sometimes even if the MSRP comes straight from the manufacturer, the item was never intended to be sold at such a high price.
How to deal
To avoid getting taken by the MSRP price, realize that it is only a suggestion (in fact, “suggestion” is right there in the name). Do your research to know what products actually cost, so you can compare those prices to the bargains that you find when you are at the store. If you aren’t sure of the price, use the MSRP to your advantage. Would you ever have really paid that price for that particular item? Does it seem like a real price? If not, your bargain may not be as big of a bargain as it seems.
You can read more blog posts by Mary Ann Romans here!
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