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Impulse Buying

Posted in Daily Observations |

My determination was tested on this hot Saturday afternoon as I was shopping with a few friends at the Brothers Kelana Jaya.

There was this gear stick that was in the display panel, and I have been longing to change that worn-leather gear stick of my car. There I was inspecting the price range, the cheap one was about RM 28.00 and the good ones, the one that attracted my attention cost about RM 158.00.

gear-stick.jpgNot paying further attention to the RM 158.00 gear stick, I continue to other section of the stores. This is my first time visiting Brothers since 4 years ago, where I bought my Pioneer MP3 player. There are a whole lot more accessories than before- car audio systems, car fresheners, stickers, spoilers, engine oils, steerings, even Winnie the Pooh organizers.

None of the accessories was worth a second look as I browse through the entire store. My mind was evidently still stuck with the RM 158.00 gear stick.

Well, as we are leaving the store, I went to the gear stick display again, and contemplated whether I should just buy it and replace the worn-out gear stick. And that’s when suddenly the voice of logic spoke softly to my ears, “Question one, how much difference would it make after changing that gear stick, will it affect your car’s performance or increase efficiency of your car? Question 2, would this new purchase satisfy only your emotional thirst for something new?”

Yeah, I guess I have to answer yes to the latter. And hence that ended my internal struggle of a probable impulsive purchase.

And as I was driving back, I realized that the worn-out gear stick would have performed just as well, though it doesn’t look as “new” as the RM 158.00 gear stick, but it really wouldn’t have made any difference if I had replaced it.

Or maybe I’m just being too sentimental? :-p




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  • Hi,
    You are really good at controlling your emotion. High EQ is definitely helpful when comes to living below our means.
  • i only do impulse buys (on more expensive items) if lets say, there's only 1 left. its mostly for clothes, and mostly for last piece items that actually fit.

    how r u YC? :)
  • Hi Kotak, sounds like that there's a last-piece-consipracy going on.

    I am sure some way or another, these garment stores know what sizes the majoriy of the consumers are looking for and heck, they might even have a bell-curve for that sort of thing.

    Me doing great here, just got back from a cavernous trip :-D
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