Advertisers are masters at using subtle strategies to encourage you to spend more than you intended at the supermarket. Curious about how they do it? Here are 17 common tactics to watch out for on your next shopping trip.
Relying on Your Hunger
Yahoo! Finance admits that one of the reasons why we spend more money on groceries is because we go shopping when we’re hungry. When we’re hungry, our spending on snacks and finger food goes through the roof. So, always make sure you have something to eat before you grocery shop, and avoid all of those glossy, colourful snack displays that are designed specifically to entice hungry customers.
The Color Red
A popular technique that supermarkets use is to list their prices in the color red. This color is known to accelerate us and entice us into making a rash decision. Think calmly about whether you need something advertised in red before adding it to your shopping cart.
In-Store Exclusives
Many supermarkets advertise certain products as in-store exclusives, meaning that you won’t find these products for sale on their website. The exclusivity of these products makes the shoppers feel special and entices them to spend money on items just because they know that online shoppers won’t have them.
Buy One, Get One Free
There’s no denying that “Buy one, get one free” deals seem like a giveaway opportunity, but not all is how it may seem. While it’s true that you will get a free item, you’ll still likely end up spending more during your grocery shop, as you likely weren’t planning to buy this item in the first place.
As Seen on TV
Some supermarkets label certain items “as seen on TV” when they’ve been featured on TV shows or in movies. This label pushes shoppers to buy the items just because they want to stay on trend. Avoid being lured into a purchase when seeing this.
Daily Discounts
Some supermarkets have daily deals on a rotary system. They put different deals on different days of the week so that they can entice you into the shop more than once a week. They know that the more you enter the shop, the more money you’ll spend.
Points Cards
Points cards at supermarkets make shoppers feel like they’re getting exclusive deals and discounts. But what points cards actually do is restrict you from doing your shopping at other supermarkets where you don’t have a points card even though you could get some of your groceries there cheaper.
Seasonal Sales
Some supermarkets have seasonal sales on goods that only come around at certain times of the year, and while it’s normal to want to get involved, don’t let it get out of hand. It can be tempting to buy everything you lay your eyes on as you won’t see these items at any other time of the year, but ask yourself – do you really need all of that stuff?
Checkout Items
Supermarket checkouts are full of low-price everyday items to tempt you to spend a little bit more money before you leave the shop. These items are put in a place where you have to stand and stare at them while you wait in line to pay.
Clearance Section
The clearance section of a supermarket is full of things that didn’t sell well and the supermarket wants to get rid of without throwing them away. But the thought of getting a good deal tempts many into spending money on things in this aisle that they don’t need.
99p
Many supermarkets use the 99p trap to make us think we’re spending less money than we actually are. 99p isn’t a pound, but it’s almost a pound. Round these numbers up in your head when shopping so you can keep track of how much you spend.
Less Than £5
Some supermarkets have a “less than £5” aisle where you’ll find a lot of low-priced items. Avoid this aisle unless you really need something. It’s so easy to find something tempting to buy here that you want but in reality, you don’t need and didn’t budget for.
Sale
Seeing items on sale in a supermarket is exciting. But before you frantically start dropping things into your shopping basket, think about it. Do you really need these items? Did you come to the shop to get them? If you didn’t, don’t buy them. Sales are clever marketing tricks.
2-for-1
2-for-1 deals at supermarkets make shoppers feel like they’ve won the lottery. The thought of getting an item absolutely free is often too tempting to pass up, and shoppers must bag the items even if they don’t need them.
Money Back Guarantee
Many supermarkets try to tempt their shoppers with expensive items by telling them they have a money-back guarantee if they find they’re not happy with a product within a certain time period (normally 30 calendar days). This encourages shoppers to spend money with more peace of mind.
Loudspeaker Announcements
Another trick that supermarkets use is announcing product deals over their loudspeaker system. This helps you get a certain deal in your head, so when you see it you’re moved to buy it. Avoid buying items just because you’ve heard them announced over the supermarket’s loudspeaker system.
Vouchers
Do you have a voucher for an item at a grocery shop? Before you buy it, think. Do you really need the item you have the voucher for? Supermarkets use vouchers to lure shoppers into spending money on things they didn’t even know they wanted. Avoid this trap.