Hi Gordon,
That brings up something...
I listened to an audio summary of Dan Ariely's "Predictably Irrational" (the summary produced by
www.Blinkist.com )...
Ariely says that we are lazy-brained, and we always compare something to something else.
For example, if you go to a nightclub, the opposite sex will assess you by comparing you to the others around you.
So, he says, if you want to have more success at nightclubs... Bring along a friend who looks a little bit like you, but is less attractive.
Lazy-brained people will compare you to your friend - and you'll look attractive!
Elmer Wheeler figured this out years ago, with his saying...
"Don't ask If, ask Which!"
Waiters shouldn't ask if they want wine with their meal. Waiters instead should ask, would you like the red wine, or the white?
Then customers are more likely to choose a wine, since instead of thinking "wine, or no wine", we lazy-brained types (which means all of us) think, "red, or white?"
Don't ask, do you want to subscribe. Ask, do you want the basic subscription, or the premium subscription?
Apparently, there are even "decoy products"... These are products which the business doesn't expect the customer to buy. They are just there to make other products look better!
For example, a restaurant may have a very expensive item at the top of the menu. That's there to make everything else look more reasonably priced!
Much of it is implied by Elmer Wheeler's genius saying, "Don't ask If, ask Which"...!
Best wishes,
Dien