You are assuming that people see through this, but they don't. Furthermore, from my observations, I can tell you they are people who _like_ these kind of tricks

You are assuming that people see through this, but they don't. Furthermore, from my observations, I can tell you they are people who _like_ these kind of tricks. They kid themselves they got such a massive discount, feel happy about it and sometimes even think "Oooh I got $1000 discount, maybe I can treat myself and buy something else with that "saved" money?" Their mental accounting tells them they suddenly have a windfall that they can spend frivolously on something.