I think it’s pretty safe to say most of us are bargain hunters, always looking for the best deal. But could it be true that some of us are paying less than we should?
China Ervin, a Target customer, thinks so. She said, “I just seen a jacket for $45 for women’s and it was for men, I think it was $39.99."
Jason Marvec, another shopper disagree.
“I think we pay equally. I think there are so many men that are metrosexuals out there that want to look as good as women so I think they’re paying the high dollar.”
Are they? Or is being a woman more expensive than being a man?
Kay Strong, Economics Professor at Baldwin Wallace University, said, “there is a good deal of evidence that shows amongst many of the products that women buy or women buy for female children that there’s a substantial price difference.”
A recent study done by New York City’s Department of Consumer Affairs found that gender-based pricing or the 'pink tax’ starts as early as baby products with boy items being significantly cheaper than girls.
“It’s a division of the markets and it’s perfectly legal to do that,” Strong said.
I stopped by a local Target to put it to the test and was amazed at what I saw.
I found two razors both claiming to do the same thing including rotate and have multiple blades, but the men’s razor was $11.49 and the women’s razor was $12.99--that’s a whole $1.50 difference.
In clothes, I found two pairs of almost identical jeans, both by the same manufacturer. The one for men priced at $24.99 and the one for women, $29.99.
“I think that is unfair," Ervin said.
I even found a difference in toys, which matched the study’s findings that girl toys cost 11 percent more than boys. So why does this happen?
“Marketers can charge whatever they want to,” Strong said. “Women tend to be less responsive to the price because we don’t see any other substitutes. It’s like believing that there is a monopoly on these products.”
Now with Ohio legislation on the table to tackle the issue, some shoppers believe the solution is very simple.
“Men don’t even like shopping half the time, so why should they get the deal?” Ervin said.
Marvec said, “I think you have to, it’s where you shop, how you shop and how smart you shop.”
While I was shopping around, I did find a few products that were the same or a bit more expensive for men than women.
But to be a smarter consumer, Strong told me women especially should shop around and don’t be afraid to purchase male-targeted products.
