Is it just me or do I seem more proud of getting the deal than the item itself?
It's like the thrill of the chase is better than the prize.
But probably just a guy thing.
The art of the deal
Jasonofoz on 25/10/2023 - 11:54
Comments
me: obsessively open the same tabs, and apps (eg iconic) every day, multiple times a day, scanning manually by hand like some 18th century scholar to find bargains on my wishlist / bargains to share
me: finds bargain, shares, and buy.
me: ok, im still unhappy.
advises other to value their time but struggling with the same :)
Those cheeky marketers replacing "slightly less spendings" with "savings"
saturation point.
As an ozbargainer - it can be quite confusing. the loss of primary focus -i.e. "to score bargains"
It can be quite liberating - no longer are you tied to the demands of finding bargains per se. Now you have reached a point of enlightenment where where you are looking for the IMPORTANT bargains.
i.e. the bargains that really are important.
But have you reached that point through the acquisition of every thing you desire, or through the conscious (or unconscious) cognitive processing? you now know (or unconsciously know) that everything you have is enough and nothing more will sate nor address nor feed a need to purchase.
I'm mostly at that point.
Travel deals still interest me.
But I'm at the point where I understand what is a good bargain. and have experienced the good bargains. therefore, unless it is fantastic then it doesn't appeal.
Bargain knowledge can therefore decrease personal bargain satisfaction.
The higher of one then the lower of the other.
e.g. recently qantas had a deal for Japan. ~$600 return. it had a lot of pos votes. I could not pos vote the deal as my last 3 trips to Japan cost ~$380.
Before I joined ozbargain I would have celebrated $600 Japan return airfares. I used to live there. The regular retun airfare was $1200+. but now I am more informed.
The simple pleasure of buying something (ignorant of the price) and believing that you have got a "bargain" has been replaced by the underlying thought of "it is cheap….but can be cheaper?"
Is the bargain truly a "bargain"?
it starts to undermine our concept of "value"
So you fall into these philosophical arguments with yourself.
Why buy a new car and lose on depreciation? get a near-new car instead.
but then why not go for a 8 year old camry with low Kms? it's cheap and reliable! but it is 8 years old!! what's wrong with 8 year old car? nothing but it is not as stylish as a the newer design. but it is the same design under the skin -same engine + gear box, it will perform the same as a newer model , and it is cheaper!!bargain ignorance is consumer bliss.
but then when you have "true bargain knowledge" , that is you are truly "informed" of what constitutes a "bargain" then are you achieving true brain knowledge.
or are you moving away from Bargain-Zen.
Maybe as we build/increase the realization of the true understanding of the value ($$) of a bargain that we move away from the actual acquirement of physical (or electrical -e.g. e-books) and move in to the realm of understanding of "the bargain" itself rather than the actual purchase.
Maybe we are heading towards a Buddhist perspective. = it's not the destination but the journey which is valuable.
Maybe we will transcend the actual purchasing of bargains but will seek higher enlightenment through the realization of the bargain itself.
We will be destined to travel the world in robes , with no actual possessions, "purchasing" - ney acquiring free through heightened understanding, our accommodation and food
… this guy ozbargains
"e.g. recently qantas had a deal for Japan. ~$600 return. it had a lot of pos votes. I could not pos vote the deal as my last 3 trips to Japan cost ~$380."
That's interesting, I only ever upvote a deal if I actually grab it and not if it was actually a "good" deal, since you never know what issue there might be until you grab it (out of stock etc..).
Jonathan Livingston Ozbargainer
100%. Struggling myself as a "Bargain" addict. Just posted this to get some reality check. The votes still say to let it be but the bargain hunter in me still wants to ignore advice and do a return and re-order.
Some of us definitely need professional help.
But I guess that's never going to happen unless we can all get a group deal?
The hard part for me is trying to act impressed when 'normies' tell me about their bargains. I just nod and smile while thinking something along the lines of "you just bought it at the standard 'sale' price, not even a bargain"
Genuine question: Who are normies?
Normal people
Who are they?
@[Deactivated]: People who can go to a store, look at an appliance, then buy the appliance, without looking on OzBargain.
Is it a deal, or is it not a deal, that is always the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous prices,
Or to take arms against a sea of bargains
And by opposing end them. To snooze—to lose,
No more;Is that from the Merchant of OzBargains?
Any deals for a pound of flesh?
For the logic, just don't buy anything apart from necessities to survive, wouldn't we score 100% off? every deal.
Lastest phones/tablets/laptops/PCs may do more harm than good for your life general speaking, as they are more addictive.
Has anyone ever scored over 100% off on a deal?
A freebie?
Or when a company paid you to take their product? Lol.
Eg ?
@[Deactivated]: Some of the VPN deals + cashback
Those Boost 28 days sim where CB > price
Pizza Hut 100% cashback
Yes. I talked s**t about Ironclad Pans in one of their insta posts that appeared in my feed as a sponsored post. Something along the lines of your pans are 3x as expensive as Lodge pans so the whole local-made thing isn't bridging the gap for me. They sent me a $300 pan for free to try out. Posted to my story saying I still thought it was the same level of quality as a Lodge pan so you're better off saving your money 😂
If you don't want the ironclad, I'll take it off your hands.
I got the impression Ironclad were trying to cash in on the success of solidteknics.
Haha I still prefer it over the lodge because of the size. It's between a 10" and 12" lodge, perfect size to live on the stovetop. I just would never pay RRP.
I'm ready to spend $$$ on a cool CI pan, I'd get a Butter Pat if it weren't for the shipping cost but the IronClad designs are pretty average. Their pans look standard and the generic logo done in Canva or whatever just isn't doing it for me.
Yes, infact was paid for a deal.
CashRewards was giving $10 back on a XB Gamepass subscription, there the normal price was $15/m.
But first time buyers can get it for $1So using that, made $9 effectively haha
Mr Trump?
Agreed!