Posted on 08/07/2018 8:19:44 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
You know how good a cool shower feels when you come home from a long, sweaty run? Well that shampoo and body wash you love so much could be costing you more if you’re using products marketed towards women—a price discrimination commonly referred to as the “pink tax.”
Research confirms this is a real thing. The New York City Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) compared the cost of various products sold throughout New York City and found a stark difference between the cost of products marketed to men and those marketed to women. And a 2010 Consumer Reports study found that products such as shaving cream, antiperspirant, razors, and body wash directed at women—through packaging, description, or name—cost more than similar products for men.
It turns out that women pay about 48 percent more for shampoo and conditioner, 11 percent more for razors, 6 percent more for body wash, and 3 percent more for deodorant. Women also pay 8 percent more for comparable clothing, including 3 percent more for socks and 15 percent more for shirts.
“Generally, the justification has been that it costs more to package and market products that appeal to women,” says Nitasha Mehta, director of vendor marketing at Boxed, an online delivery service that sells things like groceries and personal care products in bulk. “But there's no information showing that it costs more to develop a woman’s product, or that the product itself is different than the male version.” Plus, Mehta doesn't believe those costs shouldn’t be passed on to the customer—and most would agree.
That’s why, when Mehta and her team noticed this cost difference, they discounted overpriced female products to better match the male equivalents.
(Excerpt) Read more at runnersworld.com ...
The so-called pink tax only exists because women are stupid enough — or vain enough — to buy those products.
Reminds me of an old comedy routine of Steve Martin. He was talking about women’s cigarettes. He asked what the difference was. What do they have on them that made them female, little breasts?
Private industry - they can set their prices any way they please and Mehta and her cohorts can go to Hell.
I have one piece of bar soap, and one bottle of shampoo in the bathroom.
At last count, my wife has 11 different bottles and tubes.
Actually, Amazon has such a large share of the online market that naturally, prices on some of their offerings has gotten higher, sometimes much higher, than it would be on other sites. You could say Amazon is getting rather monopolistic in some of its pricing. So also look to Walgreens online, etc.
I do not want government-enforced equity, either.
this has been known for some time, especially the clothing...
I suspect a lot of men don’t care what kind of shampoo they use because they don’t have much hair on top...
There is no such thing as a pink TAX... women choose to buy the pink versions... it is not a tax if you have a choice in paying it.
You choose to buy the overpriced highly marketed items that’s your own fault... no one forces you to do it.
Why do you think wedding dresses cost thousands and tuxedos are rented? Because women are willing to pay it.
That’s not a tax.
Men buy generic products. Women buy products with 47 degrees of alleged differentiation.
And whose fault is this?
Because a fool believes that a razor is better because it has a pink handle and costs twice as much as one with a gray handle, doesn't make that the manufacturer's fault. In fact, the manufacturer could triple prices and the same fools would continue to buy them.
I remember when there was a fight over the cost of cleaning/pressing men’s shirts VS women’s blouses in Los Angeles over 25 years ago.
The women got into a tizzy because they ere being charged MORE for their blouses than a man’s shirt.
Cleaners tried to explain that men’s shirts were pretty standard, and women’s blouses were all different.
The end result?
ALL THE PRICES ON THE MEN”S SHIRTS WERE RAISED.
some people never learn.
I have one bar of soap. However, I have 2 sets of shampoo & conditioner. I live in N Nevada, where the average humidity is 14%, and has been around 4% for weeks. I have learned to switch back & forth to keep my hair from getting brittle dry.
Perhaps men would rather buy cheaper generic brands which is why the name brand items are priced cheaper than females.
These particular female products might have some price inelastic conditions too. It's about profit, not biology or privilege. Don't buy the stuff ladies, buy generic or "male" brands.
then women’s auto insurance should be priced the same as men’s as well, and women should be registering with Selective Services when the reach 18. sigh.
Better idea, women should just buy men’s products, drop impact the sales of women’s products long enough and I guarantee prices will drop.
Since males do not require the additional hydration, their products are less expensive
All razors are too expensive. They just keep adding more blades to keep the price up. I just bought shampoo at the market for less than 4 zlotys. The American brands were twice as much.
I enjoy the commercial for women’s personal shavers where the pretty actresses are standing behind small bushes. Pure advertising gold.
Yeah. I’ve noticed amazon prices going up too.
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