Shopping Theory

When you shop, do you sometimes feel guilty for spending your precious cash on something you regretted buying? Maybe at the spur of moment, that pretty blouse seemed totally worth your Rm80. You pay for it and leave the shop, but one minute later, you can't stop worrying about overspending on a blouse you're not sure you even like. How many of us would run back to the shop and tell the cashier, "I'm sorry. I changed my mind. Can I have my money back, please?" It's not likely you'll even get your money back.

PS: I did not buy an RM80 blouse. Yet.

On Friday, I came up with this theory for shopping; if you see something that you like, don't buy it straight away. Leave the shop and walk the entire mall in search for the same thing, or something better.Hours later, if that object is still stuck in your head, you go back and get it. When you purchase it, the feeling of satisfaction will come. No regrets :)

But what happens when you come back a little too late and that thing that you wanted isn't there anymore??

On Saturday, I was at Padini with my darling besties and I spotted a black skirt I liked. I tried it on, but then doubted if I should buy it. I told my friends I'd come back later on if I changed my mind about the skirt. Since that was the last skirt in stock, we were worried someone else would buy it. So June hid the skirt beneath a pile of sweaters in the shop, without the salespeople watching. Then we walked around the whole mall. . . and I was contemplating in my head whether to get the skirt or not. Five hours later, I made up my mind and we went back to the store.

I casually walked over to the pile of wool sweaters and reached all the way down, expecting to feel the denim of the skirt. To my dismay, it was gone! I couldn't find that skirt anywhere. I described the skirt to one of the salesgirl, telling her I'd seen it earlier that morning and then she replied, "Oh, that was the last one in stock.. it was gone this morning. Maybe someone has bought it."

I was so tempted to tell her that no one customer could've possibly found it because it was hidden underneath a stack of wool sweaters. The only ones who could've found it were the salespeople; the ones who stand there all day folding clothes into neat squares. I almost asked her: "Do you know who's in charge of that area with the sweaters?" But I didn't. I just solemnly accepted defeat; I had been too late. If only I hadn't hesitated that long over a skirt, it could've been mine.

June and Vivian went to choose stuff to try on. A few minutes later, Vivian came up to me and handed me the exact skirt I'd been looking for. The one June had hidden beneath the sweaters.
I almost believed this was magic. "Where did you find it???" I asked her.
"Oh, the salesgirl suddenly gave it to me. She said she found it somewhere over there..." and she vaguely pointed to the other end of the store.

You know the feeling you get when you break up with someone, then you want the person back so much and suddenly the person comes back to you asking for another chance? (that's never happened to me, but this is the best description I can think of to describe how I felt). I just knew I had to buy the skirt. It was like a sign; now or never. I lost it once, I couldn't bear to lose it again XD So I bought it. And I don't regret it.

Now I know how to shop effectively. Here's how:

don't rush into buying, but don't take too long deciding.

and,

Stop being so fickle.