Does happiness have a price tag?

Richard · 04-06-2009, 05:27

Something to think about.

Does happiness have a price tag? http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/video/pricehappiness

Richard's $.02

JJ_BPK · 04-06-2009, 08:11

I guess you have to ask,,

Are the prices quoted on these "Best of the World" things,,

Because they are worth it,,

Or because someone has the balls to charge that much,,

and someone is stupid enough to pay that much..

Richard · 04-06-2009, 08:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJ_BPK

I guess you have to ask,,

Are the prices quoted on these "Best of the World" things,,

Because they are worth it,,

Or because someone has the balls to charge that much,,

and someone is stupid enough to pay that much..

Yes.

Richard's $.02

AngelsSix · 04-06-2009, 21:36

I believe if someone really wants something (demand) and someone is willing to provide that (supply), then the price sometimes becomes irrelevant.

I wanted a Corvette. I cannot afford a NEW Corvette, but I still got myself a Corvette. The price was irrelevant, I wanted my Corvette.

greenberetTFS · 04-07-2009, 01:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJ_BPK

I guess you have to ask,,

Are the prices quoted on these "Best of the World" things,,

Because they are worth it,,

Or because someone has the balls to charge that much,,

and someone is stupid enough to pay that much..

I go along with JJ....It reminds me of a scene between the Duke and Johnny Carson during one of his shows. He asked JW what does it cost to keep up that beautiful big cabin cruiser that you own. He said "I don't know, but if you need to have to ask yourself that question you shouldn't own one....................

GB TFS

RT AXE 10 · 04-07-2009, 08:19

I go along with JJ.

Some would agree, and others diagree, but they should be condemned for price gauging...(Rip Offs)

FMF DOC · 04-07-2009, 08:57

It's all in the buyer.... To me that object may be worth twice as much as the seller is asking. But to you it may not be worth half as much as the seller is asking.

Scimitar · 04-07-2009, 12:34

One of my favourite 'marketing' stories makes an interesting point on this subject.

The story goes that there was this avid inventor, and like any good inventor he went around all day looking for problems that needed solving. One day he saw the need for woman to have a device that lets off a very loud noise that they can use to draw attention to themselves if they feel threatened.

This inventor put the gadget together and started marketing it at $20 a unit but had very little response from the market. So, he pulls in a marketing guru, who quickly replaces the cheap plastic casing with something resembling the casing on the flashlights you often see LEOs or Security personal using. He also added some silver looking trimming.

He then increased the unit price to $79.95; a significant increase in market-up even after the improvements.

The item sold like crazy, all the men out there brought it for the ladies in their lives.

Why didn't they buy it before at the $20 price? - Because in their minds their ladies are worth more then that.

I've been unable to substantiate this story; however in my experience in 'buyer psychology' this is very true. Common Sense and Buyer Psychology very rarely have much to do with each other, even in the corporate world.

I recently worked with a talented Graphic Designer who had begun to 'go-out' on her own, she was trying to break into a higher market then just small business's but for some reason was really struggling to get the kind of business she wanted.

I told her to increase her price by almost 175%, she started winning work almost immediately, why? "We're an important company, and all important company's only pay the best when it comes to branding..."

One final note, the best haircut I ever got was from this barbershop that used to be near my house. After a few haircuts the old barber knew what I liked, and I got the same haircut every time, in a pleasant environment, with good conversation.

The haircut cost me $8 which was pretty much the cheapest I could find it anywhere at the time...

In the marketing world it is known as 'percieved value'.....percieved being the key word there

AngelsSix · 04-07-2009, 13:53

Quote:

One final note, the best haircut I ever got was from this barbershop that used to be near my house. After a few haircuts the old barber knew what I liked, and I got the same haircut every time, in a pleasant environment, with good conversation.

The haircut cost me $8 which was pretty much the cheapest I could find it anywhere at the time...

In the marketing world it is known as 'percieved value'.....percieved being the key word there

I find this to be true for myself as well. I have paid almost $50.00 for a lousy haircut in the past (didn't realize how bad it was until I got home), but a $10 cut always works out better, especially if the right person is doing it.

MVS2 · 04-07-2009, 15:51

Happiness doesn't have a price tag, but pleasure usually does.

There's a semi-scientifically-based book called Flow, which examines general happiness and pleasure and draws the conclusion that it's a product of mindfully immersing yourself in leisure activities.

The guy in that clip mentioned as actually got some pleasure was the owner of a set of god-awesome golf clubs, a sport which takes a lot of mindfulness to play well.

Tried Opus 1, $500/bottle, and some $50 bottles are comparable to it.

And for people like Tom-Cruise, average people who have achieved celebrity status, not the classic millionaire status, the items sought after seem less of sentimental, romantic value (coins/stamps/art), and more personal comforting items, because, afterall, he is pretty much insane.

frostfire · 04-10-2009, 12:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scimitar

In the marketing world it is known as 'percieved value'.....percieved being the key word there

I think you hit the nail on the head. The perceived value

I read a story when I was a kid about an actress who went shopping for paintings. She entered Picasso's shop and was looking at a particular painting. Although there's no price tag, it was his best work and declared invaluable. Recognizing her as the actress he admired, Picasso sincerely offered it to her for free. The actress told him she did not want cheap stuff and bought a different one. Moral of the story is what Scimitar wrote.

As for me....I've tasted one of the item in the list...*cough* Pradoxurus hermaphroditus *cough*

I still say it's not worth it as I do not share the perception.

Money can't buy happiness, but it put you at better a bargaining position.
However... I believe that some things are beautiful for the very reason that they are unobtainable.