I have a problem with a certain phrase often used in multi-unit marketing slogans: “The more you spend, the more you save.” It’s so overused, in fact, that when I hear it I will immediately be opposed to making multiple purchases (or even one purchase) from that particular retailer.
Shouldn’t it be more accurately, “The more you spend, the more you spend?”
And the initial problem with it is that is not even that it’s overused. The fact that it’s overused only adds to the wonder that even a slogan is effective enough by itself. It’s entirely separate from the notion that the phrase is simply illogical. The phrase is a paradox. Who’s falling for this line?
I get what they mean. The more items you get, the more items you get at less-than-full price. Sure. But you are by no means “saving” money, because you wouldn’t be spending more money in the first place had they not had their “special.” Spending more money is still spending more money. You can’t spend and save at the same time. Capiche?
There are other ways to phrase this. Let’s take underwear. Victoria’s Secret has a special, at least quarterly per year, when they offer 5 panties for $20. If you look at the price tag, you’ll find they cost around $7 each. So, you save $3-4 per panty. Yes, you are inclined to buy more than 1, 2, or even 4–you are most inclined to buy in multiples of 5. Indeed, the more you spend on panties, the better deal you get–but are you spending less money by paying $20 for 5 panties instead of $14 for 2 panties? No. Are you getting a better deal? Yes. But it’s not quantified for you by their proclaiming, “The more you spend, the more you save.”
I would even go so far as to say the phrase would be that much more legit if it were, “The more you spend now, the more you save,” because you do save more by buying during the “sale” than buying multiple units stretched over a period of time, not during the sale.
Idiots.
Prime example of marketing geniuses preying on the typical, half-witted consumer. Don’t let them get you.
That is all.
Love,
*e
11 Comments
Haha you talked about panties. lolOl
I expect your next entry to be about buying in bulk and how does that really save when you end up spending more, and do you really use it all?
I get my panties from Kohl’s or Target. I pay less than $4 for each panty.
yah..there is so much nonsense we seem to get use to, in ads (and in real life, i guess???) that we forget any meaning or logic if we keep hearing and saying it over and over again…
…ok i’m burning the tv tonight…right after house md…well and american idol tomorrow…well then again after grey’s anatomy..yah i know it’s a repeat…har…
The more you spend the more you slave.
i spend too much anyway
can never have enough stanley nickels
to cut even more to the core of the issue, you might say, “the more you spend, the more money we make”
but it wrks
p/s.: have you not heard bush jr? it is patriotic to spend! we are INVESTING in america! we are giving back!
ha.
… esther… if you could only convince my mom of this very simple marketing ploy…
i’ve been unsuccessful for more than a decade.
generally it goes “i saved $ regular price-sale amount!”
and i go “i saved the whole thing cuz i didn’t buy anything!”
and that is the stalemate.
@Al Bolin: Indeed I did. Panties. I just did again.
@twolims: I always buy them on sale, no matter from where. VS panties are cheap-o, though. They fall apart too soon.
@Fatitude: Nonsense is everywhere!!
@jim: Loves it.
@stella: We all have that problem, don’t we?
@roycifer: What’s the equivalent to a Shrute buck, again?
@Esoteric: ‘Tis true.
@albert: Yeah, it sure does…which is probably why the slogan is used so often!
@dave: Give me your mother’s phone number.