$$$ vs $ – The New High and Low Price Signalling

Last week I was driving down New Settlement Road and drove past a car on the side of the road. The window had painted phone number up top and a $ sign of the same typography size just below. And I thought to myself, “hmm, must be in need of cash”.

My brain has seen this signal all over the internet, it’s a quick and easy explainer on what you should expect from a price.

$ – low price, $$ – medium price, $$$ – high price.

Could this explain the hollowing out of mid-tier products?