“Price paid is the most important thing.” This statement paraphrases what Warren Buffet said about what determines investment return. It’s also very true when you visit a store, especially if you are comparing prices on the SAME item and at the SAME store! Listen to this story and use it to keep from spending too much money…
Visting Staples this weekend, in Fresh Pond Cambridge looking for a new desk for my home office. I was being lazy/cheap/not caring about getting a new desk before, but with so many projects going on (client plan development, research for investments, studying for advanced certifications, writing a book, developing my social media outreach), I realized I needed a super-comfortable set-up at home – a place where I could think and work. So I went to Staples to peruse some low cost desks. I wanted one that had lots of table area – I tend to have multiple things in front of me all the time and need the space – because I feel cramped if my work area is cluttered and/or small. Typically I have a book open, a notepad for jotting down ideas, the keyboard, the mouse, files I am working on etc right in front of me.
I was quite happy to find a nice L-shaped desk (click HERE to see the cheap desk I bought!) with the raised monitor stand for $120. Since I had a gift card from Amex, I was happy with the price as it would cost me net only $20 (side note: be warned, this gift card made me less vigilant about spending since it wasn’t “my money,” a dangerous situation for the wallet!). I was set to buy and and walked over to the computer where I could order online and have my desk delivered when for some (perhaps divine) reason, the desk I was going to buy was on the monitor already – someone else must have been looking at it – and it was listed for $59.99! Heyyyyyy! So Chris you were ready to pay $119.99 for something that was listed online for $59.99? Yes I was!
Of course this was a pleasant surprise and of course I knew that companies often do this – list different prices in store vs. online – but I wasn’t being vigilant about my spending! So the lesson to you all – remember those online prices and remember those online coupons (retailmenot.com is often timely on online coupons). Don’t make the mistake I almost made by spending 100 PERCENT TOO MUCH!
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