quick poll about spending habits

[gorcorps]

Say you made up your mind about buying something that had several 'models' or 'sizes', like a car, mp3 player, TV, etc of varying prices. You research and decide what you want to pay and the type you want. When you go to make your purchase you find out that they're having a sale, and every model has dropped in price.

Do you:
1.) buy the same type you were planning and save the money
2.) spend the same money you were planning and get the 'upgraded' or 'better' model

why?

 

[dlx22]

i usually choose mid to high end to begin with so i'd pocket the money

 

[BrownTown]

Well, clearly at the risk of have a douche answer, "it depends". Usually when I buy an item I think what I need in the item (say a new computer) and then try to find the lowest price on that. However, if you can get an even better thing suddenly for only a little more money then hey it might be worth it, really its a total toss up every time based on the benefits and the rewards, a change in all prices changes that balance, and whos to say that the origonal item still wins out. However if you made me pick one I would say that I usually buy the cheaper one since the next step up probably only has stuff I really didn't want anyways. fortunately it seems at least so far in life that my income more than exceeds my taste for expensive things, so I haven't really had to make too many such decisions (since I don't realy like expensive things for whatever reason - with hookers and blow being the obvious exception 😛). But I'm sorta a cheep bastard, so saving the money usually sounds good. I have a relatively unstable job, so having a large cache of money to ride me through turbulence in employment is something I am striving for and therefore any chance to save money is always good. Currently save more than half of my after tax income, so I probably woudl take the cheap bastard option here too 😛.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

If I was researching a certain model I would also research the other types in that category. If it was on sale, hell yeah I would get the better one.

 

[Baked]

I'd definitely get the better model. I've already plan to spend set amount of money, if I get an upgrade/better product outta the same amount of money I would've spent on a lesser model, I think I got more value outta my money.

 

[jlee]

If I could use the better model, then sure, go for it. Now, if I could get, say, a deal on a 52" TV when I'm really looking for a 42", I'd save the money and go with the 42" because my room isn't big enough for the other. 😛

 

[Kyle]

better model...it's hard enough to talk myself out of the better models in the first place...if I see one for the price I was going to pay anyways, I wouldn't think twice before snatching up the better one.

 

[eplebnista]

same money, better model

 

[EGGO]

Originally posted by: dlx22
i usually choose mid to high end to begin with so i'd pocket the money

Same...well I can't say the same about headphone amps. They get way expensive way fast...

 

[DaveSimmons]

It depends on whether the "better" models have features I really care about.

A 50" HDTV is the right size for me. If prices dropped and I could get a 61" for the same price I'd still get the 50" since I don't want a larger TV.

A 120 GB MP3 player has enough storage so I'd get it over a 160 GB model.

 

[TallBill]

Probably save the money in most situations. As most people pointed out, there is probably a reason that a certain product is chosen.

 

[Argo]

I usually buy the same because price is usually not a major factor in me deciding which model to buy. Not to say that I always go for the top of the line or throw money around, I just tend to go for the smallest model that fits my needs.