Women dish out at least $200 more than men for personal hygiene items each year. FOX Fort Wayne’s, Marchelle McConnell, sifted through items at some major stores and found penny for penny women are paying more for the exact same thing.
IPFW Marketing expert, Gokan Karaatli says it's no secret women pay more. Karaatli
says “Because women are valuing these products more and are willing to pay more, companies feel like they can get away with charging women somewhat more than men.”
He's says marketer's have plenty of reasons to bump-up of the price. Karaatli says “Women do a whole lot more shopping than men do. Women actually have perhaps more needs. Women tend to be a little bit more demanding as far as what they expect from personal care products.”
We found brother and sister shaving creams, made by the same company. The women's is $1.79, the men's $1.12. They have all the same ingredients except one. The women's has Aloe Vera, but the women's can is 9.5 ounces, the men's, 11 ounces. That means women pay nearly double per ounce.
Women typical pay more for deodorant, and dry cleaning. But men take the prize in some other areas. Karaatli says “But we have to be fair; there are certain categories men still end up spending more. For instance in audio visual equipment.” Men can also pay up to $15 more than women for razor refills.
Karaatli says marketers aren't all to blame for price differences. Customers have purchasing power. Karaatli says “If they are not willing to pay a certain price, then the marketer no matter how dazzling the commercial's or emotional connection created with the consumers, the consumer will not buy.”
Karaatli says price blame is equally split between buyers and manufacturers. He also says when it comes down to it women care more about how they smell and feel.
