Comments on: How Much Money Do You Save By Wearing Nice Clothes?

By: Writers Coin

Writers Coin — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:36:05 +0000

I was a weird dresser in college: one day I'd be casual and the next I'd be dressed up. Don't know why I did it, but I could feel the different treatment from other people. More interestingly: I felt different inside. Less reserved, more apt to strike up a conversation with a stranger, etc. So there's definitely something to this. Writers Coin´s last post ..My Stock Pick for 2010

By: Money Hacks Carnival #96, December 23rd, 2009 – The Holiday Edition.

Money Hacks Carnival #96, December 23rd, 2009 – The Holiday Edition. — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:02:44 +0000

[...] presents How Much Money Do You Save By Wearing Nice Clothes? posted at Bible Money [...]

By: Craig Ford

Craig Ford — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 09:58:37 +0000

@Everyone. Thanks for your comments. Sorry I didn’t get back sooner. I can’t reply to everyone, but just wanted to say thanks for leaving a comment.
@thisisbeth
As for the church study the guy dressed up in a suit one week and dressed as a homeless person the next. He wrote a book about his experiences. If I could think of the title I’d tell you, but I’m getting too old to remember.
@Chistine
If I ever end up working at a restaurant I’ll be sure to dress up. Thanks for the tip.
@Shawna
Hate to say this, but I think as a male if I tried touching the salesman’s arm it might not have the same affect.
@wojciech
There was a guy who was a rich farmer in our town. He went to buy a Corvette in cash. Since he had on overalls they wouldn’t even let him test drive the car. He went to another dealership and bought the car. Of course he stopped at the first place to let them see his new purchase.
@Meipe
Ahh. The good old fashion sneak attack. Smart.
@Kevin
Seriously? Blue jeans instead of first class. Give me a tux and Id wear it to go first class. Ha! I guess God made us all a little different.

By: Johnny H

Johnny H — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:16:53 +0000

LOL, I learned this phenomenon early on in adulthood.

I generally look like a vagabond. But when I need customer service to treat me well -I always dress nice.

When returning something, especially without a receipt, dressing nice makes my success rate go way, way up!

By: Kevin@OutOfYourRut

Kevin@OutOfYourRut — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:38:12 +0000

When it comes to air travel, I’d rather be comfortable in my clothes than sitting in first class, especially on a long flight. I’ll gladly give up an opportunity for a seat in first class in exchange for a pair of well worn bluejeans.

The possibility of getting a better deal in a store because you’re dressed better might have to do with the fact that the wearer looks and feels more confident about his-/her-self, and might feel more compelled to ask for better. Or it could be that the store is prepared to give a discount as an incentive to keep an apparent clothes horse coming back for more

That church situation is disappointing, but I’ve heard it many times. It’s a poor statement on the Church, where ever it happens.
“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”–Heb 13:2
Kevin@OutOfYourRut´s last post ..Ten Common Sense Ways to Reduce Our Identity Footprint

By: Twitted by FiscalFizzle

Twitted by FiscalFizzle — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:48:12 +0000

[...] This post was Twitted by FiscalFizzle [...]

By: RC@Thinkyourwaytowealth

RC@Thinkyourwaytowealth — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:20:08 +0000

I think there is definitely some truth to it. One of my professors in college used to frequently dress up for the friday class, because he would leave on weekend trips after class. He said he dressed up in case he got pulled over for speeding- and said it was easier to talk his way out of a ticket if he dressed nicely! Apparently, he had a lead foot and based on his experiences, it worked. RC@Thinkyourwaytowealth´s last post ..Open an Online Checking Account from ING Direct and Get $121 Bonus – Today Only Black Friday Deal

By: Meoip

Meoip — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:10:32 +0000

I disagree on some points (the airline and church part I agree with). For other purchases I go for the casual scattered look, jeans, brown sneakers or hiking shoes, and a untucked polo shirt; I buzz my hair leave a 5 o’clock shadow. I’ve found when I dress this way seller assumes I won’t negotiate / won’t know better when they try to rip you off. I get them to assume the easy sale then I turn the game around and seize control. While the scramble to save face and the sale I work a price. It’s not negotiation, I simple remind them that Consumer Reports said this was a problem with that product and Kiplinger didn’t care for it. If they don’t bite I hand them my card which says I’m the CFO of a company (It’s a side business, but they don’t know that) and ask them to call when they can give the price I need.
When I went to buy a car, I dressed as usual left my wallet in the car so I would need to get it before a test drive. When I went to get my wallet I walked back to the sales rep reading Kiplinger and holding Consumer Reports the poor guy was taken off guard (I’d led him to believe I new nothing). I simple stated, I’ll take the car for $12,000 without a test drive and that I was in a hurry to pick my wife up for dinner. He closed the deal and I got a good deal.
I did the same with my re-finance, I kept insisting my wife took care of the original mortgage, I had to keep calling her with questions (how much is insurance, how much do I make, how much does she make), the lender thought I was an idiot. I let her get most of the paperwork done, then I announced I would need a better rate than she was offering her rate would only save me $110 a month I needed to save 160 which meant I needed 1/8% lower then the rate she was peddling. I didn’t get it but I got my closing costs wiped away.

By: Wojciech Kulicki

Wojciech Kulicki — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:12:33 +0000

My father-in-law likes to do this regularly just to taunt the sales people. He puts on work clothes and will walk into a jewelry story or any other expensive retail joint, and start walking around and looking at things. Most of the time, he's not greeted at all, or if he is--he's treated like the scum of the earth who can't possible buy a thing. What's fun to watch is the face of the clerk when he tells them which piece of jewelry he'd like to buy, no questions asked. I had a similar experience too, when my wife and I were walking around a bathroom store (BBB, or one of the other ones) and walked into the crystal section. We were wearing weekend clothes (shorts and tees). The lady behind the counter said something like "Oh, won't it be nice once you can afford these?" It took me about 5 seconds to take in what she said, and thankfully I was already out of the area or I would have said something I probably would have regretted. Wojciech Kulicki´s last post ..How to Stay Frugal and Focused in a Recovery

By: Larry

Larry — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:57:41 +0000

This made me think of a post that argues exactly the opposite – that dressing up makes people think you are rich and makes them less likely to negotiate. Check out this post by Dr. Thomas Sanley, who has been researching spending habits of the rich for over 30 years. His “Millionaire Next Door” book is probably my favorite in the area of personal finance and living frugally.

http://www.thomasjstanley.com/blog-articles/67/Costumes%3A_Not_Just_for_Halloween.html

I’m sure different situations call for different “costumes”, and even different stores or contractors could be influenced differently, but I thought it would be interesting to read this opposite viewpoint.