The Truth Behind Store Sales

CEBU, Philippines — The bargain-sale price of that pair of Calvin Klein jeans isn’t exactly in your budget. But the original price is listed at double that figure... so one is technically being thrifty and chic buying it, right?

Maybe not. It turns out the deals and discounts advertised by major retailers are sometimes nothing but bogus.

That’s because, as MarketWatch reports, each retailer sets its own original and sale prices, depending on factors like their customer base and sales events. If a store can’t really afford to offer a discount, often they’ll simply alter the original price so that consumers just think they’re getting a great bargain.

Sneaky? In the past few years, reporters have accused Kohl’s and J.C. Penney in the U.S. of just that: First marking up prices on store items and then slashing them, to make people believe they were scoring sweet deals. In other words, those Calvin Klein jeans were never meant to sell for its supposed original price at all.

What’s even scarier is that, according to MarketWatch, shoppers may actually enjoy being duped. Research has long suggested that finding a bargain – even on an item people weren’t planning to purchase – can be insanely gratifying.

But, of course, it’s not all smoke and mirrors. Sometimes the “original price” genuinely is the original price, and the deal is real. 

But how do you know whether that discounted item is worth it? Retail experts interviewed by MarketWatch suggest checking the price of the item on the internet or simply compare prices among the stores around. Price comparison apps like RedLaser or SnapTell can also be helpful.

Or shoppers can device their own clever ways and practice savvy shopping skills to make sure they never, ever pay full price for anything. (www.learnvest.com)