Dan_Moore comments on [Link] Is the Endowment Effect Real? - Less Wrong

7 Post author: Matt_Simpson 26 February 2013 10:47PM

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Comment author: Dan_Moore 27 February 2013 03:17:39PM 6 points [-]

Also, in my experience, I buy stuff all the time, but I rarely sell anything. If someone asked to buy my toaster, I would decline. I know it works. If I replaced it with the proceeds of the sale, I might get a lemon.

Comment author: Desrtopa 28 February 2013 01:50:07AM 1 point [-]

Also, in my experience, I buy stuff all the time, but I rarely sell anything.

I think it's plausible that this is a major component, possibly even the entirety, of the basis of the endowment effect. Selling one's possessions is, in general, an unusual activity which requires a break in routine, possibly stepping outside one's comfort zone, and usually requires more effort than buying something. The differences between WTP and WTA may be due at least to some degree to the different levels of inconvenience between the processes.