There are many different things that people purchase on a regular basis that is much more expensive than it has any reason to be. In many cases, it is because of the convenience of the item. In other cases, it is because we are unaware of just how grossly overpriced an item is. Here are some ridiculously priced products that the general public continues to purchase on a regular basis, earning the companies that provide these products billions of dollars in profit every year.
Movie Theater Popcorn
Why would anyone pay $6 for a medium-sized bag of popcorn at a movie theater when the same quality popcorn can be purchased in the grocery store for the price of $3 for three medium sized bags? One answer is conditioning – we have been conditioned by repeated images and words to believe that the movie watching experience is not complete without some popcorn to munch on. This leads many moviegoers to purchase popcorn every time they see a movie in a theater regardless of the increased price.
Greeting Cards
How much did you pay for the last greeting card you purchased? Many people pay between $2 and $4 for these pieces of paper inscribed with a few clever words and a pretty picture on the front. Cultural traditions are responsible for most greeting card giving, with birthday greetings and holiday greetings topping the list. Instead of sending a pricey retail greeting card, you may want to think about creating your own card, writing a letter, or just picking up the phone to call and have a personal conversation.
Brand Name Clothing
The name on the label can cost you a pretty penny while giving you nothing additional in return. Brand name clothing is typically priced 500% to 1,000% higher than their off-brand counterparts and the slight difference in the quality of the items does not justify the higher price. Staying on the cutting edge of fashion is not worth draining your bank account or going into debt, especially since fashion changes every season requiring repeated spending for new items before the old items are worn out. Clothing should be purchased for fit and comfort, not for the name on the label.
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