Don't fall for these marketing tactics this holiday season

Life Kit

NPR

Health & Fitness, Self-improvement, Kids & Family, Education, Business

4.3 • 3.9K Ratings

🗓️ 25 November 2025

⏱️ 16 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

We're surrounded by ads and sales pitches — in our inboxes, on our phones and when we walk down the street. And everyone loves a good deal, but what actually constitutes a deal? How do you know you're getting the best price or that what you're purchasing is of good quality? In this episode, we offer tips to help you make purchases you're happy with this holiday season.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to Life Kit from NPR.
0:08.0	Hey, it's Mariel.
0:09.8	You know what I like to do as a fun holiday season activity?
0:13.1	Open the promotions tab on my email.
0:15.9	I did this recently with Brian Vines.
0:18.0	He's a reporter at Consumer Reports, a nonprofit that does product testing, consumer research, and journalism.
0:23.8	Is it scary in there?
0:24.9	It's so scary.
0:26.7	Before I even started reading the subject lines of the many marketing emails that I apparently signed up for, he was like, oh, I know what they're going to say.
0:34.6	Well, they say, buy now, extra 20% off, factory sale.
0:40.6	Last chance.
0:41.7	Last chance. Last chance.
0:43.9	Lies.
0:44.7	Leave the last chance to Donna Summer.
0:46.7	There's never been a last chance since Donna Summer recorded that record.
0:51.8	Here's another one.
0:52.9	Your exclusive 20% off starts now.
0:56.5	Exclusive to me because I'm special.
0:58.8	Well, it starts right now.
1:00.6	And it starts now.
1:02.5	I think my favorite was PSA.
1:05.3	Our 72-hour clearout is on PSA, public service announcement.
	...

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