It seems that there is little opportunity for price-ignorant purchases. At almost any store -- supermarket, hardware store, etc. -- the prices are out there to begin with. There seems to be significant incentive for the stores to do that, because sooner or later the consumer will find out the price, and, if they do not want the item at that time, can refuse to purchase it (requiring the store to re-shelf the item, have workers who are able to handle higher levels of customer interaction, etc).
As for restaurants, well, in some places a burger is $0.99. In others, $6.99. From bar to bar, drink prices are roughly the same, I think. The only other place I've seen this is at a coffee bar, or, more precisely, when people order coffee. Last night, for example: I went out to dinner w/some friends, and, after eating, the waitress asked if we'd like anything else. One friend got a coffee. She didn't know how much it'd cost; there was no menu in front of her, and she hadn't checked the price when we ordered the food. But she knew, roughly, how much the drink costed. I'd assume the same is true at bars -- drinks aren't (usually) priced differently from place to place. My guess? People don't go to bars for the beer (or coffee, etc.). They go for the atmosphere, to meet people, whatever. Similarly, my friend didn't go to the restaurant for coffee -- she went for the food. Although I bet should would have been pissed to find her coffee costing $13. Dan Lewis [EMAIL PROTECTED] At 12:49 AM 2/3/02 -0600, you wrote: > >Last night I went to a bar, and the woman in front of me ordered a large, >fancy drink. It was poured, and the bartender said "$13.00," at which >point the woman objected. "Sorry," said the bartender, "once it's poured, >there's nothing I can do." > >Many bars seem to have no price lists, and people generally seem willing >to order without first asking how much the drinks cost. > >(1) Where else do people buy things without knowing the price first? >(I've been thinking and have been unable to come up with any examples.) > >(2) Why does this happen in bars? > >- Joel > >
