The psychology of shopping
Has anyone else noticed that they persist in buying things they THINK they like rather than making purchases of the items they TRULY like, the ones that actually SUIT them?
I’m starting to think I might do that, sometimes. Online, at least. In ‘real life’ you get to try things out first and get a better idea of what is right for you. Online, it is more difficult. You buy what you’ve already made up your mind is ‘you’.
How sure are you that you really KNOW you?
Let’s take chocolate as an example. I like chocolate a lot, and it smells great. I hate florals and spices…their scents are too piercing and often give me headaches. This is something I’m sure of. So when I shop for scented items…bath products, perfume, candles, etc…I know what I’m looking for. Citrus and other foodie items.
A recent few purchases lead me to believe that I’m deceiving myself. I find that chocolate in perfumery is too meek, and I prefer citrus…at least I was right in that…with a very soft floral undertone. But I persist in buying chocolate because I convince myself that rose just isn’t ‘me’! And for the longest time I decided I couldn’t stand hearts…heart jewellery and barrettes were too ‘cutesy’ for me. But as my taste slid further to the ‘cute’ and I realized that was what looked best on me, I STILL resisted buying cute heart-shaped items that would have looked much better than the geometrics I bought instead.
WHY? Why do I resist admitting that my tastes have changed, or that I didn’t know enough to be sure of them in the first place?
Another example…I love this bag:
But I suspect I would buy it and then never use it because it’s unusual enough to need matching with special outfits only. I LOVE this bag:
And I’d likely use it regularly. It’s a purse that looks like a book! Of course I’d use it. But lately, knowing me, I could buy both, intending to give one to a friend, and end up not liking the one I bought for myself and LOVING the one I bought for my friend.
IS there some sort of psychology to this? Anyone got a theory?
These purses, by the way, can be found for sale on Etsy by Theothersister.
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