On the one hand, sales are a great opportunity to make a purchase at a significantly reduced price, and on the other – a kind of a trap. When falling into it, you can spend a lot of money on completely useless things. Shopaholics know from experience what kind of items will be a foolish investment, since they will most likely do nothing for you but clutter closets.
Cosmetics in the low price segment
Psychologically it is much easier to buy 5 ten-dollar creams than a 50-dollar one. However, a high-end product is well worth the money spent, due to:
- natural ingredients in the formula;
- absence of harmful dyes and allergic agents;
- use of innovative technologies and equipment;
- established reputation (like that of Estee Lauder, Dior, Chanel or Guerlain).
Therefore, when purchasing decorative or care cosmetics on sale, opt for high quality items by famous brands.
"Slightly big or small" clothes and shoes
A similar situation can happen when choosing clothes or footwear. Since most popular sizes frequently do not last until sales, consumers obsessed with discounts can decide to buy clothes not their size – like dresses of the size "for when I lose weight", or shoes of the size "with a warm sock will do." As statistics reveals, most of the time these things are never worn, or, as it happens with shoes, are put in boxes and stacked away on back shelves after the first uncomfortable wear.
Ultra-fashinable and too trendy
The fact that the item was "very trendy and in" this season, it is no guarantee that it will not be out next year. This applies to both garments and footwear with accessories. When you find yourself looking at sales prices, opt for good old classics or basic wardrobe items – one-color shirts and sweaters, trousers and jeans of the classic cut, simple t-shirts and dresses that will look good on you, regardless of fads and trends next season.
Initially overpriced items
One of the direct tasks of the sale is to encourage everyone who comes to the store to buy an item because of an attractive price. Or the illusion of it. Before deciding to make a purchase, the price for which has fallen by a decent percentage, think about whether the item you are interested in is worth the price and whether the discount suits the store's reputation. If you do not take into account expensive branded items, you can get on the bait of discounts even in the most commonplace and small of boutiques. Managers and sales assistants of small middle-class shops often fall into the habit of overpricing all or some of the items, a few weeks prior to sales.
Reduced-price sets of substandard quality
Brands frequently offer "Buy 2 – get 3" deals which seem like an attractive offer. But think carefully. Do you really need 3 identical sweaters if you will probably be wearing one? The same is true for sets of other items. At best you can give them away as gifts. But this is not always an option. Always pay attention to quality – you must have come across some things which at a closer look turn out to be not worth spending any money on.