http://perfectmissyork.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] perfectmissyork.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2008-07-23 07:16 am

Informed Investments -- Wednesday; Third Period -- 07/23

As usual, the students would come into the classroom to find a treat. This week, it was cupcakes, but Charlotte half wondered if she should have even bothered because somehow she had accumulated a large collection of citrus fruits, as well, which she found in the drawers, and under desks, and a few in her purse. The students were welcome to help themselves to those, too, especially since Charlotte, who was not in the habit of eating random food, certainly wasn't.



"Good morning!" she greeted them brightly. "Today we're going to be talking about one of the best things about shopping and that's sales! Now, I'm going to talk to you all a little bit about them, and then we're going to head down to the danger shop, where I've got a simulation set for us, and you're going to put some of what I tell you into practical use. Sales are a great way to find things at a really good price, but there are a few things," she reached for the chalk for the board, "to remember."

"Number one: first off, a sale is not necessarily always a sale. This is especially true for department stores that are known to have great sales quite frequently. It's a little selling angle that they do. The original price is marked up, essentially, so that the sale's price is actually not so much that you're getting a good deal on it, but that you're paying a relatively normal price and think you're getting a good deal. And, then you think to yourself, 'Well, I'm getting such a great deal on this item, maybe I should buy more!' And then you end up in this whole spiraling vortex of purchasing and the next thing you know, you're leaving the store with three times as much spent as you originally intended.

"Which goes into number two, which is knowing what sort of price is a good one and which is not. This is especially good if you're out expecting to buy something in particular, rather than just a little browsing. Compare prices, know what's typical, and then you can know whether or not your sales price is really such a bargain.

"Thirdly, and this is very important, especially if you're shopping for clothing, check the marked product before you buy it! Some items will go on sale due to small defects, or imperfect stitching, or mysterious little spots on it, or something like that. They might not also be the best quality if it's marked down. The great thing about a sale is feeling like you've gotten something for less; you don't want to realize that, really, you only got what you paid for.

"A lot of stores will put things on clearance, from department stores to fancier boutiques, to make room for new merchandise coming in. Usually, they mark these at the end of the month, but then, as the month goes on and it becomes even more necessary to get that older stuff out, they'll drop the clearance price even further. Clearance prices are more likely to be at their lowest at the end of the month, so that's when you'll want to look for them."

Here, she stopped for a breath. She knew it was a lot of information, but it was important!

"Let's say you've just missed a sale. That doesn't mean you can't still reap the benefits. Talk to one of the associates or a manager, and see if they have a policy that allows you to still receive the sales price a day early or a day after. You might be surprised.

"Watch out for Buy One, Get One sales. They may seem like a good deal, but, more often than not, you're actually better off waiting until the items are individually on sale, because the sales price individually will likely be lesser than the combined BOGO price. This isn't always true, though. Always consider the math in your head if you want to be a smarter shopper."



"Essentially, then," Charlotte concluded, "when it comes to sales, it pays to be smart, know what you're looking for, and how the system works, and then you'll find all sorts of great deals to save you money. Now, if there aren't any questions, we'll head down to the danger shop and you guys can try your hand at finding some good sales."

[[ OCD is a coming has been marked 75% off! ]]

[[ Syllabus and Roster

Re: During Class -- 07/23

[identity profile] minnesota-teen.livejournal.com 2008-07-23 12:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Amber nibbled on a cupcake while taking notes. This was important stuff!

Re: During Class -- 07/23

[identity profile] death-and-pies.livejournal.com 2008-07-23 12:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Ned took a lot of scribbled notes since he'd never even looked at sales prices in the past. They seemed like handy things.
absolutesnark: (Listening)

Re: During Class -- 07/23

[personal profile] absolutesnark 2008-07-23 05:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Summer didn't have to take notes. She knew all about finding good sales.
gobrookeyourself: (listen up)

Re: During Class -- 07/23

[personal profile] gobrookeyourself 2008-07-24 12:26 am (UTC)(link)
Ooh, Brooke was learning. Okay, she'd only sort of just discovered sales recently, but still.