Probably took somebody years of study to get a Phd on his dissertation, titled How To Control Shopping Habits. Same guy designed the grocery store circuit that takes one from fresh veg past all the hmm that’s not on the list but might be good aisles to the frozen stuff, and finally the registers. He worked out the best maze solution.
“No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American Public!”
Widely attributed to American author and social critic H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) but not found exactly verbatim in his published works, so the source and original form of this expression are not known with absolute certainty.
Likely a nearly-verbatim paraphrase of: "No one in this world, so far as I know … has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people.
According to local legend, Chicago got its start with that by Colonel McCormick,owner of the Chicago Tribune. The paper sold for 1 cent, and he asked his vendors how they could increase sales. He worked out a way that the mostly local stores’ prices would usually come out to end up at 4 or 9 cents and the vendors would ask their customers if they wanted a paper for the leftover 1 cent.
http://www.gocomics.com/frazz/2019/11/18This may be one of my oldest gags, with its taproot going back to my early childhood. How early? Gasoline cost 20-something cents a gallon. Which is to say, it cost 20-something-point-nine cents a gallon. So I was pretty little. But big enough that I remember thinking, even then, were they really fooling anyone? But I undoubtedly noticed the point-nine in the car, seeing gas station after gas station as my father burned through gallons of the stuff searching for a 1-cent difference. So, yeah, people were being fooled, and the were being fooled because they wanted to be.
RAGs about 5 years ago
The ads will tell you, “under a dollar” for $.99, etc…
mddshubby2005 about 5 years ago
And yet, once the 99 cent store opened, Dollar General didn’t go out of business.
Ignatz Premium Member about 5 years ago
Yes, we are dumb enough for that to work. People see 2.99, and psychologically register it as “2” instead of “3.”
sandpiper about 5 years ago
Probably took somebody years of study to get a Phd on his dissertation, titled How To Control Shopping Habits. Same guy designed the grocery store circuit that takes one from fresh veg past all the hmm that’s not on the list but might be good aisles to the frozen stuff, and finally the registers. He worked out the best maze solution.
cervelo about 5 years ago
Neat trick with the squeegee in the last frame.
Ontman about 5 years ago
We’ve done away with pennies here in Canada but we still have .99 sales. Go figure.
russef about 5 years ago
See yesterdays Ripley’s.
Masterskrain about 5 years ago
Same reason a Used Car will be “On Sale” for $29,995, rather then $30,000.
Although Douglas Adams did mention the best “Irrational Number” ever… “Infinity, minus one…”Masterskrain about 5 years ago
Widely attributed to American author and social critic H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) but not found exactly verbatim in his published works, so the source and original form of this expression are not known with absolute certainty.
Likely a nearly-verbatim paraphrase of: "No one in this world, so far as I know … has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people.
Bill The Nuke about 5 years ago
When I look at a price I always round up. Especially when I’m telling it to my wife.
Madzdad the bard about 5 years ago
Gasoline is the one that always cracks me up, always .9.
1MadHat Premium Member about 5 years ago
According to local legend, Chicago got its start with that by Colonel McCormick,owner of the Chicago Tribune. The paper sold for 1 cent, and he asked his vendors how they could increase sales. He worked out a way that the mostly local stores’ prices would usually come out to end up at 4 or 9 cents and the vendors would ask their customers if they wanted a paper for the leftover 1 cent.
Nick Danger about 5 years ago
True pricing would include the applicable taxes
cabalonrye about 5 years ago
That’s why I always read the price with the last cent added. I keep getting corrected by the sales people and keep doing it.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] about 5 years ago
Blog PostsFrazz17 hrs ·
http://www.gocomics.com/frazz/2019/11/18This may be one of my oldest gags, with its taproot going back to my early childhood. How early? Gasoline cost 20-something cents a gallon. Which is to say, it cost 20-something-point-nine cents a gallon. So I was pretty little. But big enough that I remember thinking, even then, were they really fooling anyone? But I undoubtedly noticed the point-nine in the car, seeing gas station after gas station as my father burned through gallons of the stuff searching for a 1-cent difference. So, yeah, people were being fooled, and the were being fooled because they wanted to be.