I'm always knocking around the forum, I'm not a prolific poster, but occasionally I'll wade in with my musings and you guys always indulge me, so here's another one.

I signed up for the Dune preview and I confess I saw the leaked pictures and was indifferent at best. However, when I attended the preview I was rather smitten with the white sand and it's still on my mind. (First lesson kids, don't bother with any leaked pictures, they don't do it justice. Just say no).

I keep looking at it, I especially like the applied flags and the dial colour but despite that at no point have I contemplated buying it, even for a looksee knowing I can send it back. This is an unnatural position to be in as the usual course of events is -I see it, I want it, I then set about rationalsing how I can afford it and I buy it - even if I have to wait a bit. But no.

Then I realised it is the price. at £695 it's great value, but historically, I would have seen that price but read £595. That's where the man-maths kicked in. In my head £595 is really only £500 - "I can find that" - order placed. But now I see £695 and read nearly £700 which is too much and the possibility is removed. It fascinated me how my mind worked. The difference is only £100 but in my little head it presents as £200! And, it turns out, that is my threshold!

Now, I DO NOT want this thread to reopen the debate about vouchers. We all know the arguments and the strong one that it's only £100 on a great value watch - it just means I have to save longer, still holds true. It is only £100. In the scheme of this stupid hobby, soon to be 14 CWs and another 17 watches besides, £100 is not a material amount and it's loss could be overcome in a number of ways. But the psychology at play in my head (which I accept is not normal, if it was we wouldn't even be having this conversation) means that if the voucher still existed I would not be wasting my time on this post I would be explaining to Mrs Macdaz why I need this watch and demonstrating my clever calculations which show why it is completely affordable. As it stands, I'm drumming my fingers for the FLE.

Here’s my man-maths, Dune thought I had the other day. WereCW watches a bargain because they came with £100 off? By the same token invicta watches must be phenomenal bargains because they’re always 80% off. Well, course not. CW watches are always bargains. It took me 12 hours to put in my order but that was only because I spent the day wondering whether to put the deposit down on a Bel Canto instead

The psychology behind prices is a strange thing. I’ve paid prices for custom straps in the past that I would refuse to pay for shoes. I don’t know why as shoes are much more involved albeit made with cheaper overseas labour.

We often have our perceived value on products and a small movement each way can be the difference between whether we buy or not.

What you are contemplating is normal, and reassuringly it isn't just you!

This is one of the reasons vouchers/discounts and price points ending in 95 exist to all play with your mind as a potential customer and secure a sale where the marketing tools have succeeded.

I guess what it needs is cold, calm and objective decision making but when it is items like these it won't be that simple and emotion will creep in.

The only £100 rationale does work when comparing with the overall total you may spend but for a single decision it is still key psychologically. Especially if all of the future purchases had the £100 included rather than deducted, it all adds up eventually. Unless this is your last watch...

In isolation and disregarding the lack of voucher the CW Dune is value against alternatives so you can't lose really.

Good luck with your choices !

Your thought process makes total sense to me. I also run through similar man-maths explorations with any purchase.

When I bought my 36mm Sealander, the man-maths mental calculation involved both a voucher and an exchange rate bonus discount! All that made a good value proposition into an off-the-charts value proposition!

All of the above is why "sales" are a thing.

You can only spend your money once, so the value offered by a discount is real.
Save £100 six times, and you get a free watch.

I think the other point is FOMO.
If there is a time limit on the sale/voucher offer, then you have to make a decision now. If it's a limited edition, you have to make a decision, or the item might not be available when you change your mind. If it's a used watch, even, either from the sales corner, or eBay or some other outlet, wait too long, and it might not be available.

If there's no discount, and no expiry date, then you don't have to buy today at all, as you can still get the same watch next week.

JAFO wrote: ↑Sat Jan 28, 2023 4:22 pm All of the above is why "sales" are a thing.

Indeed. I get that. What was really interesting was to step back and watch it all playing out in my own head!

I guess ultimately it probably comes down to logic. I am physically limited to how much I can afford and perhaps I don't really like it as much as I think I do.

Well that was an unexpected consequence!

I've never sold a watch before. I get separation anxiety and I get attached to things, especially watches. I thought about it a few times. I even attempted a sales post with an unloved Laco a few years ago, but there was no interest and I always thought the money I would make from those watches that I was prepared to let go wasn't worth the bother. But the Dune has made me yearn and unfortunately, I'm skint.

I always knew I needed to get rid of some watches. Then I was on the Marloe FB page and somebody was looking for a Bonneville. I had one which I never wear. I've always discounted selling it thinking... it's an LE, WIGIG - you'll regret it. (Even though you don't like wearing it). But I bit the bullet...It's gone and I'm halfway to a Dune!

The loss of the vouchers has resulted in a complete change to my Psyche and a whole new window on watch collecting has now opened!