Why is the number 9 so popular in prices?

Question

You know - gas is 2.59.9 or 3.19.9, your cableTV is 39.95, or 39.99, your computer is 1599, or your this or your that is 59.95 - and I think most of us in our heads go ahead and round it up to the next "10" anyway, so why don't the pricers do so, too? What's the deal with nines?

Answer 1

dont know but i get frustrated with all the 99 crap. when ever i see 6.99 i change it to 7

Answer 2

I'm not an official at this but my guess is psychology. When you see a price like $12.99 most people don't think $13. they round down to $12. Listen to people next time you go to a store. They'll see one item priced at 13.05 and another one at 12.99. Yes the 12.99 is cheaper by 6 cents but you will hear people say, hey its a dollar cheaper.

Another reason that I heard is that the store is really cutting down on prices. The catch is that for Miltie million dollars companies every cent counts. 12.99 is one cent shy of 13. That is true for you and me but for the company 1 penny here and one Penny there adds up fast. Especially when is world wide.

Answer 3

In order to keep their jobs, marketing people have to come up with ideas all the time. Some are good, some are not. Many years ago, a marketing vp told his boss, Station X sells gas for $2.60, if we advertise $2.599, people quickly driving by will see 2.59 and think ours is a penny cheaper and buy from us. Every business jumped on the bandwagon.

Answer 4

it's called psychological pricing. say something is £5.99, you look at the 5 and think of £5, the 99p is not as relevant so you believe that it's a better deal than what you would if it was £6 (when this is only 1p extra). it's a kind of con to make you think subconciously that you are getting a better deal.

Answer 5

The nine is popular because its sounds better than for example if it was 10 dollars if you say 999, even though you are not really saving anything. Its jus an illusion.

Answer 6

I know that being a realtor, the price looks more attractive to buyers if it is $124,900 than putting it over the $125,000 price range. It is just that next higher number that throw some people off.

Answer 7

it goes way back... there was a newspaper mangent (sp?) that pushed this in I believe New York... at that time, the newspaper was a penny, so he got the retailers in the area to make their prices to end with a 9 to bring extra pennies to the people so they could buy the papers much easier on impulse.

Answer 8

The whole dollar amount is less. For instance, if I am selling something for $5.00. It appears less if it was priced for $4.99. Consumers recognize the 4 first and it sticks in their mind.

Answer 9

Because it gives the consumer the illusion that the item isn't more expensive. It is all a psychological marketing ploy~ and it works.

Answer 10

9 makes numbers seem less than they really are. Like which sounds better: PAY 1,000 DOLLARS! or, pay only $999.95! It makes the customer think they arent paying as much.