Why prices ending in 9 sell best: MIT study

Why the number nine is so powerful

[ba-pullquote align=”right”]Finding the right price to attach to a product or service is an art.[/ba-pullquote]Pricing your product or services may be one of the most stressful parts of owning a business. You know your service is valuable. You know there is an audience out there that understands that value. But finding the right price to attach to a product or service is an art. If you price something too high, you won’t be as successful. If you price things too low, customers may not think your service is valuable and you won’t be making what you deserve. Finding the perfect balance is important, but it’s also about knowing how customers view prices, especially prices that end in the number nine.

We’ve all seen pricing that ends in the number nine. Take purchasing gasoline, for instance. It always has the same formatting, no matter which gas station you frequent. You’ve seen it in nearly every store you’ve walked into. So, how do you take all of this and apply it to your own pricing? First you must understand the effect that ending a price with a nine can have on your customers or clients.

Experiment: women’s clothing

[ba-pullquote align=”right”]The $39 item sold the best, even better than the cheaper price of $34.[/ba-pullquote]MIT and the University of Chicago conducted an experiment with prices on women’s clothing. They had three basic prices, $34, $39, and $44. Surprisingly, the $39 item sold the best, even better than the cheaper price of $34. However, they did find that sales prices that are listed by the original price can easily beat out a price ending in nine. One reason is the mind sees the first set of numbers and registers it as priced in the 30-dollar range, even when it’s closer to the 40-dollar range. Purchasing an item for $39.99 will seem more of a value than purchasing the same item for $40 even. It’s only different by a penny, but that one penny seemingly takes the price to an entirely lower level, thus increasing the value and the deal.

Customers also sometimes prefer to pay a middle price rather than either end because it can feel as though they’re getting a great deal and it’s better quality than the lowest price. Customers are looking for bargains and value, and that combination can be difficult to come by. And that’s where you and your business come into the picture.

Pricing your own services

[ba-pullquote align=”right”]Be open to change and improvement. Be open to progression.[/ba-pullquote]When pricing your services, consider offering a few price points and end them with a nine for good measure. You may find that your most popular service is the one priced right in the middle. Don’t feel as though you’re trapped once you choose your prices. You can always switch them if they’re not giving you the response you’re looking for. Be open to change and improvement. Be open to progression. That’s when you’ll find success and reach your professional goal.