Do not stockpile merely because of crossed-out prices or shopping festivals
The first number you see anchors judgment, and later adjustment is often insufficient. “Was 999, now 499” can exaggerate perceived savings. China's cited promotional rule uses the store's lowest actual transaction price in the preceding seven days as the discount reference; a crossed-out price may never have been charged.
What it takes
Free, but you may miss genuine discounts. Remember normal prices and resist sale-day bulk buying.
What you may gain
Anchoring systematically raises perceived bargains when a high initial price is shown. The cited Chinese rule in force from 2020 requires a discount baseline tied to the same seller's lowest transaction price during the preceding seven days. The crossed-out figure need not represent an actual previous sale.
Context & considerations
Anchoring is experimental evidence, not a measured amount lost to stockpiling. Hidden costs include expiry, storage and using more because supplies are plentiful. Bulk-buy only when shelf life is long, you will certainly use everything, and the unit price is genuinely below its usual price.
Research & references
Tversky A, Kahneman D (1974). Judgment under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases. Science 185(4157):1124-1131. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.185.4157.1124 ; State Administration for Market Regulation of China (2020). Interim Provisions on Regulating Promotional Activities, Order No. 32, Article 21. https://www.samr.gov.cn/zw/zfxxgk/fdzdgknr/fgs/art/2023/art_cae53a080be2401e8f91c6d6291539f8.html