A question about reading comprehension.

[Tiberius Jim]

This is a simple poll experiment to determine if there is either something wrong with the price tag's my store uses, or the store's clientele.

Price tags are there so the customer can easily figure out what the price of a given item will be, and so the store employees do not have to memorize every price, and do not have to check the computer every time someone wants to know.

However, sometimes I feel less like a Sales Associate and more like a Tag Reader, because more times than I can remember, a customer will walk up to an item (that is tagged) and ask, "How much is this?"

It is at this point that one of two things happen. Usually, I'll tell them the price, and they acknowledge this and go about their way. They've shown a lack of observatory skills, but that's as bad as they got.

But sometimes, things don't go so smoothly. To understand this, here is what the tag in question says.

Only
$199
20% Off
Reg. 249.99

When I say things don't go smoothly, I mean that the customer will then ask something like this:

"So is it 20% off of $199?"

"Is it $199 and then 20% off of that?"

"Oh okay so its like $160?"

I don't get it. Why would we put out a price tag if we were then going to make the customer do math to figure out what the price was? Especially since it gives them the regular price before the discount? Isn't it obvious that the price using the largest type on the tag would be the price you pay?

So here's a poll, let me know if this tag is clear as to what price you'll be paying, what's been discounted, etc. I may just send the findings to corporate if it turns out these customers have a legit observation and that I'm just crazy.

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

I don't think this is a question about reading comprehension, as much about the logic of the tags.

The "20% off" shouldn't be on there; it only confuses things. In my eyes, having both the new price and the discount on there means that there will be an extra 20% off from the new price. That's what some shops do; they simply let the old prices on the tags, and put a big 20% sticker on there for the discount; so yes, people assume that they'll have to do maths if they want to know the actual price. Perhaps as some sort of marketing ploy by the shop to feel cheaper. I'll also assume that the 'old price' is actually some sort of industry-standard price, as you see with a lot of stuff, so I'll be comfortable in the knowledge that it's 20% off from the smallest price advertised. I'll feel cheated if I find out otherwise when checking out.

Why not simply have a tag that has the new price, and the old one with a big stripe through it? If they really want to know the difference in percentage, they could always do the math themselves.

 

[All Seeing Eye]

well 20% off of $249.99 is infact $199.99 but who's really bothered about the 99 cents.

To me the tag clear shows that the price now is $199 and that this new price is due to a 20% discount already given in the $249.99.

So I would expect to pay $199.

But what you have to realise is that a lot of people are really really really thick as pig shit and therefore have no grasp of common sense or intelligence. Such is the world we now live in.

For these idiotic people you should make a tag like this:

20% Discount.
WAS: $249.99
NOW ONLY: $199

 

[StolenThunder]

I would look at that, understand that a 20% reduction on $250 is $200 - and so assume that the sale price is $199.

At the same time, it's not uncommon for stores to sell things that are reduced beyond an initial decrease so I can sympathise with those that expect it to be cheaper. If I were trying to make it less ambiguous I might move the 20% off to either the top or bottom lines.

Incidentally, I always have had to 'do math' in American stores because the practice of not adding sales tax to the sticker price is frustrating!

 

[Spot's Meow]

Well, if all stores did their tags in the same way, it wouldn't be so confusing. But some stores DO expect you to do the math. There will be price tags on items and then a sign, or a sticker on the tag, that says "20% off" but doesn't say the new price. This seems to be especially common in clothing stores for some reason. So you have to do the math to figure out what you will really pay.

Now with the tag example you gave, I would assume that I would be paying $199 because I'm cynical and always just assume they are charging me as much as possible, but it could be presented in a much less confusing way. The 20% off shouldn't be included at all. As someone else said, the tag should have the old price slashed and the new price in big print. Otherwise it may be read like the 20% is off the lower price, because some stores do have it that way.

 

[Tiberius Jim]

Okay, I can see now where some of the confusion could come from (though I still don't know why people always ask to know the price when the tag is directly under the item). I guess since I look at these things all the time that I take for granted my understanding of them.

I wish our tags were like those from my previous employer, as they were much easier to understand.

Regular Price: $249.99
>>>>>>>>>> -$50
Sale Price: $199.99

 

[trampledamage]

Okay, I can see now where some of the confusion could come from (though I still don't know why people always ask to know the price when the tag is directly under the item). I guess since I look at these things all the time that I take for granted my understanding of them.

I wish our tags were like those from my previous employer, as they were much easier to understand.

Regular Price: $249.99
>>>>>>>>>> -$50
Sale Price: $199.99

Yes this would be much clearer. For me, the answer is in the fact that you do list the regular price so the $199 is clearly the sale price. But I guess I lot of people see the $199 and the 20% off and don't go any further.


I agree with Stolen Thunder, as well, I hate that US and Canadian prices don't include tax.

 

[Scout101]

Neither of your options really works very well. Easy enough to guess what the price really is, but it's a poorly laid out sale sign, and needlessly open to wondering.

Given all of that, you can't really fault people for asking to make sure (much less berate them in your head for doing so) when the store couldn't bother to eliminate confusion on a simple concept.

 

[StolenThunder]

^ Especially when it's a not unsubstantial amount of money.

 

[An Officer]

I would think that comes with the territory, Flux. There will always be those who can't decipher signs, no matter how simple they might be. That's why you're there. Could all be computerised otherwise, as is happening in many modern supermarkets.

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

Why not simply something like this; it seems to work very well in those shops who use it:

 

[Mallory]

I agree with Stolen Thunder, as well, I hate that US and Canadian prices don't include tax.

Ours do. We don't have a sales tax. Bwahahahaha!

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

I thought all countries included tax on their prices.

We do, except in direct business2business stores.

 

[trampledamage]

I thought all countries included tax on their prices.

We do, except in direct business2business stores.

The problem with the US and Canada is it isn't just a country-wide tax, each state / province has their own tax too. That's why it's not included in the price.

(makes note to go shopping in Oregon... )

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

So the prices are a bit different; they could still include it on the tags, or am I missing something?

 

[An Officer]

If they're a nationwide chain, could prove costly to print different prices for each shop.

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

Good point. Not if they print them locally, but I doubt those chains who don't do that are fond of such a prospect.

 

[Spot's Meow]

^Not only is it different by state, but it also can differ by county, and vary widely at that. It's a hassle really! I don't even bother calculating sales tax unless it is a really expensive item. I just make sure I have at least a couple of dollars more on me than what the item costs for low purchases (though usually I don't even pay with cash).

 

[Captain Ice]

Individual cities also have differing sales tax rates.

Different types of sales within a city or county may also have different tax rates as well. For example, the city of Flagstaff, Arizona has a special 3% sales tax in addition to the regular sales tax rate on hotel rooms, liquor sales, and restaurant meals.

 

[Roger Wilco]

The fact alone that some people have a problem understanding the tags indicates they aren't clear enough. So either change them or continue explaining them to anybody who's confused about it. Whining about the customers' stupidity is rather pointless imo.