How Box Chain Stores and Supermarkets Make You Buy More Stuff
We go to supermarkets almost daily - with many of us buying waaaay more than we came in for. Have you ever wondered why that’s the case? It turns out that supermarkets use several tactics to get you to pull money out of your wallet. Learn how supermarkets and other box chain markets can make you buy more.
Beware The Sale
We’ve all felt like taking advantage of a good sale. A perfect example is when we go to the store and see “buy one get one half off” sales. The miniature sign is typically yellow, indicating that the sale will “stop” soon—consider how we slow down at a yellow light right before we come to a “stop.” This puts the sale boldly on display and subtly tells us that the sale will end soon. The sales themselves indicate that it won’t last long, thus tapping into our sense of urgency, compelling us to buy more. No one likes to miss a good deal!
Food Placement and Carts
Food and other products are always placed in strategic places in the store. Sugary candies and cereal are usually put on the bottom row at eye level so that children can ask their parents for them. You may be able to stop yourself from buying something sugary, but if our child asks, it’s far more likely that it’s going to end up in your cart. They also do this with adults, however - vegetables tend to be grouped for ease of access.
Supermarkets consider many things regarding their carts, including how their shopping carts are created. The bigger the cart, the more you’re compelled to buy. Because of this, you’re more likely to see two-tier oversized carts than any other type of cart in your store.
They Give Out Free Samples
If someone gives you a free sample of food, you’ll likely want to buy more of it. In this case, the reasoning is that you might as well buy some since you’ve already eaten a bit. Of course, you’re also more likely to buy it if it’s delicious, even if you didn’t have it in mind when you walked into the store. This is a key way how supermarket get you to buy more. Samples are also a small bit of leverage since when we give something to someone, they’re likely to want to reciprocate.
In short, supermarkets pull out all the stops to get us to buy more. When you step into the store, they’re doing everything they can to make you want to come back. From samples to product placement, you need to be vigilant to determine what you spend money on and how you’re being influenced.
