People use numbers to illuminate or obscure. Salespeople and marketers occasionally use numbers to sell a bad deal. Remember a common sales technique is to use numbers without comparison and without context.
Only by looking at numbers in context and against other alternatives do we discover misinformation.
Is $5,000 a good deal for an engagement ring? Maybe. What does it mean to the person who will wear it? What is the average price for a ring? Can it be paid for now? Would CZ or a smaller ring be more desirable for the recipient? What do other Jewelers charge for similar rings? Does it matter if it was previously priced at $7,500 or is the intrinsic worth more important than the discount?
Numbers don't lie but people are prone to manipulate numbers to support their beliefs. Put numbers in context and compare numbers with other options to prevent manipulations of numbers.
Warning: don't be fooled when people use percentages instead of numerals to sell a concept or product (e.g. % of Titanic survivors vs. total number survived by class).
Recent Comments