10 Clever Ways to Trick You Into Spending More
Every day, stores try to convince us to put more in our carts and bill more at the checkout. From strategic displays to all that yummy freebie, stores are trying to make shoppers look like a fool (and unnecessarily waste year round). So, in the spirit of the season, let’s take a look at how stores convince us to open wallets, which can help us spend a little less.
This post was originally posted on DealNews .
Layouts designed to get you to buy
Ever wondered why the item you’re looking for is always in the farthest corner of the store? Whether you go to a department store or a grocery store, this “coincidence” happens by chance.
By forcing you to walk along the entire store, you have many opportunities to be seduced by every window that passes by. Yes, that is why the dairy shop is inevitably on the sidelines. Intricate stores like IKEA, which resemble a maze, will force you to hand over as many items as possible before leaving. The more items you see, the more chances you have to take home.
Distribution of gifts
Giving away free samples of everything from food to cosmetics is a staple of retail, especially on busy weekends when more people are shopping. A grocery snack can spice up your grocery trip, but for retailers, it’s another way to convince you to buy. Not only are you testing new products, but you may feel obligated to buy something, taking someone else’s time.
Be useful
Some shops try to be helpful. Think of the Apple Store , where employees meet you at the door to ask you what you need and direct you to the right place. Then there are even more employees who can showcase products, answer questions, and even provide technical support.
It’s more than just good customer service: it’s the kind of service that tempts you to buy a new iPhone when a low-cost smartphone might work just as well. In addition, a friendly face can make shoppers feel compelled to choose a product, whether they know it or not.
Calling you to stop
You can’t put something in the basket until you stop, which means it’s in the seller’s best interest to make you stop as often as possible. So, as you take the long stroll around the milk store, you’ll find that your progress is stalled by an obstacle course made up of narrow aisles, brightly colored displays, friendly staff giving out gifts, and more.
The crowd can become a bottleneck in these areas, and while you are stuck, this is another opportunity for you to pick something up.
Attracting attention with stubs
You’re sure to find plenty of eye-catching, flashy items at the end of the aisle, while the things you buy are often in the middle of the aisle. Result? You need to walk past these other, more tempting things twice before you can checkout with what you need.
Catch your eye
The next time you’re at the grocery store, think about what’s at eye level, because that’s what the stores want to direct your attention to. Often these are products of famous brands in stylish packaging or products from well-known brands at an attractive price. Anything that a store is less interested in selling will be on higher or lower shelves, where you are less likely to see it.
Likewise, in toy stores or toy aisles, you will find the most coveted goodies at child’s eye level. Even if these objects are not striking, your children will definitely see them.
Careful product placement
The way stores arrange groceries on a rack or shelf also plays a big role in encouraging you to buy. Imagine buying a coat and seeing the $ 250 designer number you want. There is a similar style per rack for just $ 199. Naturally, you pick a cheaper coat and walk away, thinking you’ve made a deal without bothering to peek around the corner where there is another similar coat that costs $ 50.
Correct sounds and smells
Shopping goes far beyond what you can see and touch: background music and even the smell of the store create the mood for shopping. Slow music can encourage you to linger by unknowingly following the rhythm. A light scent of baby powder in the infant compartment or a faint tropical scent in a swimsuit can be a little reminder of a purchase.
Giant shopping carts
The next time you go to the grocery store, try skipping the shopping cart. When you need to carry your purchases on your own, you should think twice before purchasing additional items. But when you have a shopping cart, this additional purchase may not seem like a big deal. Or worse, you find yourself trying to fill your shopping cart completely.
We encourage you to accessorize
Complementing the sale with accessories is an easy way for a store to improve its bottom line, especially with electronics. Let’s say you are buying a new TV. After you choose a model, the salesperson will helpfully offer you to show the racks or wall mounts. Maybe you could use a new Blu-ray player to go with it? Or a high-end cable set? Or an increased warranty?
At the time, these unnecessary additions may not seem like much, especially when you are buying a big ticket. But they add up quickly.
While companies aren’t necessarily looking to cheat you, they have a variety of ways to convince you to spend a little more. But by knowing their best tricks ahead of time, you can save a little more money in your wallet for your next shopping trip.