It’s Christmas day and year-end is coming, certainly you will see many discounts, promotions and sales everywhere. Most come with ads with the following message, “Limited Time Offer”, “One Time Offer”, “Last Day!”, “Sale Ends Today!” and “Offer valid until midnight”!

Do you know what are these?

In an article from richgrad.com, SJ Yee shared about the how to influence anyone to do anything, it’s a great article on the 6 ways to influence people. The last step he mentioned is the principle of scarcity, and those ads that I have written down above are the examples.What is he trying to say with principle of scarcity?

The principle of scarcity targets people’s innate fear of loss.

SJ Yee

Again this is much related with my previous post, it’s another benefit of applying the secret of giving, the belief that life seems abundant!

First mindset: Sales/discount season seems abundant

Remember this: it’s not only you who need the product and save some money, they also need to make sales and gain profit. Certainly, they will need to make sales again, soon there will be more promotion is coming. They have last-day offer today, they will also have last-day offer tomorrow. We have Christmas sales, Boxing day sale, Year-end sale, New Year sale, Valentine Day sale, Mid-year sale and so on. The last day offer seems abundant, so why are we so fearful of losses. The last-day offer seems abundant.

Second mindset: Buy out of necessity not of scarcity

Remember this: Don’t buy because of your fear of scarcity, fear of missing out such a good promotion and discount, etc. Buy if you really need it. Here is what Warren Buffet advise to young people…

Don’t go on brand name ; just wear those things in which u feel comfortable.
Don’t waste your money on unnecessary things; just spend on them who really in need rather.

Warren Buffet

Buy if you need it, not buy because you fear of losing it. You will regret it. It’s better to buy something that you need slightly more expensive rather than something you don’t need with a good price.

Third mindset: You can’t substitute material things for love or a sense of comradeship

I know that some people are releasing stress by shopping, finding a sense of satisfaction, or even love and comradeship through shopping. For those who are having this habit, I would like to share a quote below from Morrie Schwartz…

These were people so hungry for love that they were accepting substitutes. They were embracing material things and expecting a sort of hug back. But it never works. You can’t substitute material things for love for gentleness or tenderness or for a sense of comradeship.

Morrie Schwartz

The passage above is taken from the book “Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life’s Greatest Lesson” from Mitch Albom, a book on the conversation of a young ambitious man (Mitch) and an old wise man who is dying (Morrie). It’s a good book for us to ponder the meaning and of life and the attitude we should have in life, even in the worst circumstances of dying.

From Morrie’s perspective of life, here is the one who gives satisfaction…

Offering others what you have to give

Morrie Schwartz

Again, on this Christmas day, let us exercise our giving, and give with an attitude of life seems abundant.

In Conclusion

Beware of the sales trick, on using our fear of loss. This kind of sales trick is also targeting us who like to procrastinate to make the decision to buy later, after some pondering and thinking, but again that’s what they’re scared of. Consideration leads to not buying, but I will say, consideration leads to buying the right thing.

Try to make decision not to be affected by this kind of promotion, always ask for one to two days of consideration, otherwise don’t buy! You really need to consider whether you buy out of necessity or buy out of scarcity to control your spending. If you have difficulty of saying no, bring a friend to accompany you, helping you not to be easily influenced by the sales trick.

What’s your opinion? Do you have any other idea to win sales trick? Please share with us in the comments.

You can win sales trick!

And have a Happy Holidays,
Robert

(photo by The Consumerist)