A good sale saves money – most times this is false.
Photo from Tim Parkinson’s flickr
I shopped at the Mong Kok Street three consecutive nights while I’m in Hong Kong. This street is a long expanse of small retailers selling dropdown imitation products from clothes to cool USBs. Can you imagine buying Lacoste shirts for a quarter of its original price? I’m not a recreational shopper but I couldn’t stop.
I came home with more on my suitcase. I bought “branded” shirts, watches and a pair of shoes for me; another dozen of shirts for my family and bags for my mother and sister (picked randomly and they loved it!). But I regretted buying them all.
I learned something about myself. Heads up mothers, this may give you a heart attack: I don’t like sale items.
I need not any of the items I bought in Hong Kong. I never used the shoes because I realized I hated the dire design. The strap of the watches peeled (turned out they’re made from plastic). After the first few wash, the clothes are indistinguishable from a rag. I depleted my entire budget for that trip because everything’s so cheap it feels like I should take advantage of it.
But cheap price is cheap quality. They don’t last long. They don’t satisfy you with the value you deserve.
After the Mong Kok street experience, I always get myself the topnotch original brands simply because I deserve the best. There may be some delays to my purchases, but that delay adds up to the excitement and happiness of buying the product. I’ve grown to give-up my quest for instant gratification that cheap products give because that gratification will go fast and will become frustration.
Like David Hays says, “Buy it once”. Choose the better quality products with better value. Buy for long term use and lasting gratification.
What cheap product you have to buy twice after the first broke?
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Mention:
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There is only one thing to buy in Mong Kok. Grandma’s matching pajama’s. They last forever. 🙂
Sales aside, isn’t it strange that when we go on a vacation or even a short trip we feel the need to bring gifts back for friends and/or family? If this is our vacation, why are we spending our time shopping for other people?
I don’t shop much, but something I learned the hard way, there is a difference in pens (ink pens) I need a pen and spotted a generic pack for a fraction of the cost. I bought it to find they barely work. The pens stop working in the middle of writing and start back up when they feel like it. I spent more time scribbling trying to get the pen to write and going back over letters so I could actually read what I was writing. It was frustrating to say the least.
Yes, cheap pens hardly ever work!
It’s the same for food. There is more fat, salt or glutten in a cheap dish because these ingredients are cheap and give more taste.
I never buy imitation products because it’s forbidden and I hate to see dozens of girls in the streets wearing the same fake Vuitton handbag!
Like an old mate of mine says, “A fake Gucci ain’t Gucci it’s moochi”
I agree, quality products last longer and all cheap does is provide instant gratification.
At the department stores the sale items usually cost more than the pre sale price.
Sounds like you shopped at the fake market and ONLY got a 75% discount from high street? I’m appalled!
It should be at least 90%, as I successfully negotiated when I bought some raybans in shanghais fake market. Initially equated to about £40 on the shelf, I got them down to about £9. Then I got them home, wore them once and both lenses popped out.
Fine, glad I didn’t pay the first price. Going to Shanghai certainly taught me all about negotiating. I offered them £1 initially 🙂
In Hong Kong in the late 70th – a couple of my friends bought Rolex watches – and when they was swimming with them on – the all fell a part – some pieces inside was made in cardboard. *smile – if the price is too good to be true – it’s normally so.
I love the “buy it once” philosophy! Quality is never cheap and so many times, people, including me, get sucked in to a so called deal. One can buy quality once, but a bargain deteriorates quickly.
I prefer to follow the adage of “you get what you pay for”. Like cheap food. Cheap or inexpensive, it does us no-good at all. Not that I wish to overpay either.
Thanks for the “head’s up”. I must admit to being amused by your sad story. … Sorry, cheers!
“There may be some delays to my purchases, but that delay adds up to the excitement and happiness of buying the product.” Gbam! Right here.
I couldn’t agree more with that sentence. I feel that way when I think about life after college…brand name fashion closet and a new car. Hopefully. Lol 🙂
You do truly get what you pay for.
Had the same “cheap” lesson from a vacation in Istanbul. Bought some “brand” bags but regretted the buy once I got home… It may be cheap but really its not, cos’ now its just an expensive dust collector…
‘Cheap is cheap’ said Woody Allen in one of his recent films. I love the ‘Buy it once’ philosophy. I believe we appreciate things more when we paid a fair price for them.
Hi Justin………..sounds like you ended up having an expensive lesson…….lol, been there done that!………I find that sales at reputable stores or designer outlets that carry genuine, original items work best for me.
Very much true…I use to feel the same way, sales are awesome but I don’t no longer. it even drove me to hate or dislike holidays while they are super commercial and meant to attract us to buy by saying everything is on sale, then as what follows, we didnt need them and now in debt or lack of money.