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Banking on Boredom, Insecurity and Greed = BIG bucks. Posted on 8 Sep 2011

Banking on Boredom, Insecurity and Greed = BIG bucks. Posted on 8 Sep 2011


A few days ago, I brought my son, D, for his facial - gasp! Yes, real men do take care of their own self-grooming. This is for those who do it so sporadically, that once in a few months, it is good to just let a teenage boy go under the expert hands of someone who knows how to coax those angry outbreaks and clogged pores into submission. 

While waiting with a book for company in the relaxation room,which is rather conducive for a nap as well, in strolls the relationship manager who politely asks if I wanted a hot drink. Why not, I said, and nodded approvingly - thinking, good service here. 

She returns with a cup of ginger tea, ( great for flatulence ) and lingers on to chat. She - " Why don't you do a facial as well?" Me - " I just did it here last week. You had a promotion for a complimentary treatment." She - "Would you like to try a special facial for dry skin?The results are very good." Me - " I am happy with your basic facial treatment. I think the results have been good." She - " How about a massage or foot reflex treatment?" Me - " I have other packages elsewhere." She - " Why don't you try ours here ?" Me - " I am happy with my regular masseuses at other outlets, thanks."...and so on and so forth. 

A good 15 minutes later, she finally left me to my book, both of us feeling rather drained from the encounter - she from wasted efforts, and I from having to say no repeatedly, nicely, but firmly. In the end, persistence paid off, my way.

What is it about merchandise and services that screams " Buy me" these days? After the latest encounter at the spa, I narrowed it down to three factors - boredom, insecurity and greed. If I had been bored ( thanks for saving me, book ! ) I could have succumbed to that "extra" treatment to kill time. 

If I had been insecure with my face, body, whatever, the lure of some special treatment promising to restore or turn back the clock some twenty years would have snared me.

 If I had been greedy, the special promotion for limitied time only gimmick would have gotten me too!

I regretfully told her that I was not the proper target customer. " Why don't you go for the tai-tais who can and will spend a whole day at your spa to be pampered from head to toe? I suggested, torn between trying to be helpful and trying to get her off my back. She - " Oh, we do have tai-tais, but we need customers like you too." Sigh, no one gets let off the hook, everyone is fair game.

Armed with a heightened sense of consumer alertness, I begin to scrutinise every "BIG" buying decision. Buffet - don't overeat just because you are paying one price for all you can eat - greed, and many calories to count, later. New gadget, for me it's kitchen anything - novelty - oops, getting bored with the traditional stuff. Accessory - don't I already have 101 of those already? - eeks, boredom, insecurity and greed. Books - already spilling out of their shelves, pristine and unread. Upgrading - dare not go near there. It's a serious turnaround when shopping, which used to be the no. 1 favourite past-time, no longer appeals or seduces anymore.

 The good things in life are free or relatively cheap - like library audio books, sermons on podcasts, on-line news, accenture radio. Running out of ideas - just check out You-tube for how-tos and free instructions. There is too much going on for good fun without BIG bucks
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