the thesis for tactic 14 is:
> Anchoring not only works for prices, but it also works for any number, regardless whether that number is a price.
the SSN example demonstrates anchoring based on price (not just any high number). the results of this experiment would have likely been the same if people rolled dice.
and the only experiment [#4 of 5 from adaval and monroe (2002)] which tested "irrelevant dimensions (e.g. weights)" vis-à-vis priming with high/low prices seems to have been poorly designed and produced questionable results. (it should be noted the test methods were also sufficiently different than the UX illustrated in the article.)
so based on the cited research there's nothing that leads me to believe it makes sense to use "any high number" to make my price look better. and if i've understood adaval and monroe (2002) correctly this could actually create a contrast effect (and diminish value perception).
additionally, the suggestion in the article -- "join 2,387 happy customers" -- could also be an example of social proof, making it difficult to ascertain the cause of behavioral change. (was it any high number, or all those happy customers? or both?)
and lastly/separately, why base pricing strategy on the offline behaviors of a bunch of starving students looking for extra credit? it's 2015. where's the shopping cart data?