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Stinky The Clown

(67,799 posts)
Tue Jan 24, 2023, 10:03 PM Jan 2023

What's the magic in $19 per month?

Kids in desperate circumstances, dogs and cats in desperate circumstances, Hospitals that do great medicine and don't charge bother patients, wildlife guardians, and many others, when asking for our financial support, ask for $19 a month.

Tonight it was the ACLU asking for $19 a month.

Please don't take this as quarreling with any of the organizations who ask for our subscription of $19 a month. The question, simply, is . . . . . . What's the magic in $19 per month?

18 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
What's the magic in $19 per month? (Original Post) Stinky The Clown Jan 2023 OP
Not sure, but Mike Huckabee wants $25 a month House of Roberts Jan 2023 #1
Mike gets a bigger cut. Sneederbunk Jan 2023 #8
Mike needs to make up BlueIdaho Jan 2023 #10
Gotta be some marketing theory... Wounded Bear Jan 2023 #2
It's marketing. The reasons things sell for $9.99 or $19.99. haele Jan 2023 #3
I heard this idea when I was a kid Marthe48 Jan 2023 #6
Honestly, I didn't think it was at all nefarious. Stinky The Clown Jan 2023 #7
Yep... Somehow $99.99 Sounds More Appealing Than $100.00 GGoss Jan 2023 #16
I think I have read that studies have shown Mr.Bill Jan 2023 #4
This. It's a mental breaking point. Ferrets are Cool Jan 2023 #13
It's not $20? Rebl2 Jan 2023 #5
I have no idea what you're talking about. brooklynite Jan 2023 #9
Watch the infomercials. Not only charities Mr.Bill Jan 2023 #14
Sorry. I haven't seen that pricing for anything in particular. brooklynite Jan 2023 #17
Count yourself among the fortunate. Mr.Bill Jan 2023 #18
It's just 63 cents a day ornotna Jan 2023 #11
I am so sick of those commercials MiniMe Jan 2023 #12
Not too much but not too little is my guess... Raine Jan 2023 #15

haele

(12,657 posts)
3. It's marketing. The reasons things sell for $9.99 or $19.99.
Tue Jan 24, 2023, 10:12 PM
Jan 2023

In American currency, there are cultural "steps" in which a purchaser will pause for a moment to consider if they're getting a deal.
Americans love deals.
So, $19 sounds like a "deal" when one would normally expect to pay $20. The charity is more likely to get donations at $19 (especially with internet/online donations) than they would at $20.
It's not nefarious or anything, simple psychology.

Haele

Marthe48

(16,963 posts)
6. I heard this idea when I was a kid
Tue Jan 24, 2023, 10:16 PM
Jan 2023

My older brother mentioned it. My Dad and Mom owned a grocery store and I think we all learned a little about the psychology of spending.

Stinky The Clown

(67,799 posts)
7. Honestly, I didn't think it was at all nefarious.
Tue Jan 24, 2023, 10:20 PM
Jan 2023

Its just that seemingly every ad asking for money uses this same number.

 

GGoss

(1,273 posts)
16. Yep... Somehow $99.99 Sounds More Appealing Than $100.00
Tue Jan 24, 2023, 11:38 PM
Jan 2023

And actually influences buying decisions.


Mr.Bill

(24,294 posts)
4. I think I have read that studies have shown
Tue Jan 24, 2023, 10:12 PM
Jan 2023

that $20 is a threshold where it gets more difficult to get people to donate money, or buy gimmick/gadget products. It's an amount that most people have in hand and would part with easily compared to amounts over $20. Part of the same mentality in retail that prices many things in a number ending in nine.

Mr.Bill

(24,294 posts)
14. Watch the infomercials. Not only charities
Tue Jan 24, 2023, 11:31 PM
Jan 2023

but products they are selling. Sometimes if they are selling something worth more than $20, they will break it into payments of $20.

Mr.Bill

(24,294 posts)
18. Count yourself among the fortunate.
Wed Jan 25, 2023, 12:01 AM
Jan 2023

Usually these kinds of commercials run in the off hours when commercial time is cheaper.

MiniMe

(21,716 posts)
12. I am so sick of those commercials
Tue Jan 24, 2023, 11:07 PM
Jan 2023

Those and the Medicare rip off plan. They used to go through the end of the medicare sign up season, which is Nov or Dec. They never stop now. Grrrr.

Raine

(30,540 posts)
15. Not too much but not too little is my guess...
Tue Jan 24, 2023, 11:37 PM
Jan 2023

they always ask that for products too like those bulb head ones ..... but wait you get two!

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