Thursday 12/10/09: It's a marketing ploy: "30% more!"

This is the first of an ongoing series I'll have on marketing ploys that are designed to get you to buy items but don't necessarily save you money.

Marketing research as shown that people are more inclined to buy something that has a special label on it such as "50% more!" or the like. Sometimes this means that the product contains 12 ounces instead of 8 ounces and is sold at the 8-oz price, which is a good thing. However, make sure you read the small print on the label! The other day I saw on a product, "30% more!" in big happy letters, and underneath it said in tiny letters "than the 5-oz. size." No price difference, just more product. Beware of this scheme and make sure you're getting a good deal.