An experiment in human psychology.

[Sirrus]

So, as you all may or may not know, I'm trying to sell my iPod Touch. I advertised on Facebook a bit, and just for stuffs and grins I recorded the responses to each of the ads I spaced about a week apart.

First advertisement (btw, all of these were posted as statuses)
Would anyone be interested in buying my iPod Touch and iHome together for $150? The home button doesn't work on the iPod and it's only 8GB and first gen, but it works absolutely fine for a media player if you just keep it on the Music app and don't mind not having a speaker. Also it's a really good iHome, so that's where most of the $150 comes from.

Response: One person asking if they could buy just the ihome a day later, and then saying they didn't have the money later.


Second ad:
The iPod Touch and the iHome are still up for grabs; message me if you're interested.

Response: Two people messaged me within about a day, after that, nothing. One decided not to buy it after I gave them more information the product and the other didn't have the money.


Third ad:
I am going to be selling a SINGLE $60 raffle ticket for the chance to win a FREE iPod Touch*! Message me if interested!
(and then in the comments to my status:)
*Some conditions apply. iPod touch is first gen, meaning no speaker and has a broken home button, which means that you cannot change apps unless you shut it down and start it back up, but works fine as an MP3 player if you boot it up and leave it on music.

Response: Two replies literally within the first two minutes it was up.


It's not a really real experiment because I changed multiple variables from one experiment to the next, but I find it interesting how the phrasing and the amount of information given about a particular thing that someone is trying to sell. Thoughts?

[Ad Bot]

[Teneksi]

I find it interesting how the phrasing and the amount of information given about a particular thing that someone is trying to sell alters the enthusiasm of the potential consumers.

Now send it to me.

[Sirrus]

Now send it to me.

Send what?

[Sirrus]

Hey look, another person commented!

[WhoDa?]

Human psychology

[Tom Gunn]

I like to bait people too.

Or is the offer genuine?

[Sirrus]

I like to bait people too.

Or is the offer genuine?

No, it's genuine. It's just saying that I'm going to be selling a single $60 raffle ticket for a free ipod is essentially the same thing as "I'm selling my ipod for $60".

[Duckmeister]

While your hypothesis may be valid in some cases, this experiment does not confirm it.

Sure, you changed it to "raffle ticket" but you also lowered the price by $90.  I'd say that more people came for the new low price and less for the idea of a raffle.

Inconclusive experiment is inconclusive, because you changed more than one variable at once.

Try it again sometime, only this time, try it with and without raffle at $150, and then try it with and without raffle at $60, with your "without raffle at $150" group being your control.  I think you would be able to get conclusive results from that one.

And I didn't read the last part of your post where you just said you changed multiple variables.  Yes, I am a genius.  Man, I need to learn to read things all the way through.  Super duper ninja edit.

[Sirrus]

While your hypothesis may be valid in some cases, this experiment does not confirm it.

Sure, you changed it to "raffle ticket" but you also lowered the price by $90.  I'd say that more people came for the new low price and less for the idea of a raffle.

Inconclusive experiment is inconclusive, because you changed more than one variable at once.

Try it again sometime, only this time, try it with and without raffle at $150, and then try it with and without raffle at $60, with your "without raffle at $150" group being your control.  I think you would be able to get conclusive results from that one.

And I didn't read the last part of your post where you just said you changed multiple variables.  Yes, I am a genius.  Man, I need to learn to read things all the way through.  Super duper ninja edit.

and the first post was the ihome and the ipod.

[Sarge]

This reminds me of saying "Don't look!", but everybody looks.