Comment from Susan
Date: March 4, 2008, 9:29 am

I have to admit…I loove going to Costco and sampling all the free food they have at those little stands scattered througout the store – although I almost never buy the item featured, it does make me go to Costco over other stores.

Comment from Rudy
Date: March 4, 2008, 11:57 am

Stores try to pimp me their charge cards regardless if I’m paying cash or not. 99% of the time, I pay using credit card. So I politely answer: I already have 3 credit cards, I don’t need any more.

Comment from Shamim
Date: March 4, 2008, 12:45 pm

Nice list. I have been exposed to all of them on a regular basis. But I have seen ShopRite did not create a “maze” in the store.

Comment from Eddy
Date: March 4, 2008, 12:48 pm

The main reason I don’t like this article is that the writer makes people out to be compulsive buyers unable to say no. Put on blinders, don’t look at anything but what’s on the list or you’ll grab it, once you’ve filled your list run as fast as you can to the checkout lane. Throw cash on the counter, exit without making eye contact with anything. Once you’re outside…..breathe. Here is the cliff notes minus the meth addict mentality. Make a list before you go to the store. Stick to the list. Ja-Bang!

Comment from Daniel
Date: March 4, 2008, 12:54 pm

I used to work retail, and our most important aisle to keep stocked was the “impulse aisle”- the one with all the candy, gum, and magazines.

Comment from inetiatic
Date: March 4, 2008, 1:12 pm

most of this is obvious, but subconciously its easy to fall to the mistakes

Comment from Kris
Date: March 4, 2008, 1:16 pm

Target is terrible about trying to convince you to sign up for a store credit card. Every time I get to the register and the cashier asks “Would you like to save 10% on your purchase today?” I respond with “Sure, if you can give me the discount without making me sign up for a Target card.” That shuts them up pretty quickly.

Their bulk pricing is also ridiculous. I frequently see items bundled together for a higher per-unit price — $2.69 for one deodorant versus $6 or more for a two-pack of the same exact item. Do people really fall for that scam?

Comment from Sara
Date: March 4, 2008, 1:40 pm

What a huge, sad game. How to get people to buy what they don’t need. How to resist buying. I work in a small bag shop, and never employed any of these sales tactics. The only thing my manager ever said was
1) You get no commision, so dont ever push someone into something they dont like.
2) Generally leave the customer alone to look through the bags, unless they have a question.
3) Always give them their money back if they return a bag in decent condition, with or without receipt.
Maybe that works better in Europe, or maybe this store is actually different.

Comment from Catharine
Date: March 4, 2008, 1:56 pm

A tip on store credit cards – if you’re making a big purchase like during the back-to-school or holiday season, the discount credit card can be worth it. A lot of stores now let you pay your balance w/ a check at the store. When making a big purchase, I let them open up an account for me, and immediately give them the check, then cut up the card asap!

Comment from pablo
Date: March 4, 2008, 2:25 pm

I had fun reading this during my break today. Too bad you didn’t dig futhermore into the subject: “under the microscope and analyzed by the retail industry”.
“all the essentials — are all in the back of the store” so true!!

Yes Kris, we are surrunded by dumb people.

Regards

Comment from Evilsoup
Date: March 4, 2008, 2:34 pm

As consumers have wised up to buying in bulk, certain staple products that we go through a lot of will cost more per unit of volume in the larger size a smaller size. I’ve noticed this buying orange juice that the 64 oz container is more expensive than buying two 32 oz containers. A lot of us instinctively reach for the larger size knowing it will be the most economical, and most of the time it is, but once in a while they’ll get you. It helps if you pay attention.

Comment from Tyler
Date: March 4, 2008, 3:01 pm

Kris,

Please remember that the people that you are being rude to are just doing their job, going through lines that they are issued to go through. I have friends who have worked for such retailers as Old Navy, and they were forced to push credit cards at the threat of their job.

Most people don’t care so much if you sign up for one or not, so a simple “no” usually does the trick.

Just remember that they’re the middle-man when it comes to the evil corporate world, so try not to shoot them.

Comment from Dave
Date: March 4, 2008, 3:37 pm

Holy crap what a stupid list. I work in retail, so let me rip it apart for you.

1) shopping carts/baskets

Would you prefer to do your weekly shop by carrying 1 hundred items in your hands? Would you prefer if there was just a sack you could throw everything in and drag it around the floor? No? Shut up and take a bloody cart. If you’re doing a big shop, take a big one. If you’re doing a small shop, take a small one. If you’re getting 10 items, take a handbasket. Also, I see loads of people every day with a hand basket that’s flowing over the top, and they’re struggling around with it. Just take a bloody cart.

It’s not a trick. They’re there for your f**king convenience. And put them back when you’ve finished, don’t leave them in parking spaces.

2) Mirrors

What? There are a few mirrors in the clothing section so you can, SHOCKING I KNOW, see if a garment suits you before buying it!!! Maybe we should remove them all, as well as the changing rooms, so you have to buy your shirt, take it home, decide it’s not for you, then try to bring it back!! What about those little mirrors by the sunglasses? They’re not there to lure you to buy some sunglasses! They’re there so you can see if a pair of shades suit you!! Imagine that!!!!!!!!!

3) Buying in bulk

There is always a saving for buying in bulk. If you’re that weak and have no willpower that you simply *must* get the huge item because you’re saving a few bucks, then you suck. Also those people walking around the store with a calculator look like idiots. Don’t do it.

4) Power displays

I don’t work in IKEA so I can’t say we do this. The reason we don’t do it is because we’re a grocery store, and you customers are F**KING MESSY B*****DS! If we made a huge pyramid shape display, you would destroy it. It would be all over the floor. There would be crap dumped all over it.

5) mazes

The milk and stuff is at the back because it’s refrigerated. Large grocery stores are set out so that people can do their weekly shop, so you don’t want to get your ice-cream at the beginning, it would melt. So it’s at then end.

6) Bargain Bins

Bargain Bins are there to get rid of crap merchandise that we’ve had in stock for ages and don’t want. There is no longer any shelf space for it as there is a new product there. So it’s thrown into a box or something for you idiots to dig around in.

7) smells

Yes, freshly baked bread smells very nice. We know this. But you can only smell it when you’re in the bread area. You’re already there, buying bread. It’s baked so it’s fresh. It’s not a conspiracy to get you to buy more bread.

8) Charge Cards

You mean store credit cards? Are you really that weak that you sign up for EVERY SINGLE CREDIT CARD APPLICATION THAT YOU SEE?? Oh look you’ve been pre-approved for the 5th credit card this week. Woo sign me up!!!

9) Kids

Yes YES YES please leave your annoying kids at home. Especially if you’re one of those crap parents who has NO PHYSICAL CONTROL over your annoying little brats.

10) Checkouts

Yes we do put stuff by checkouts. It’s called Impulse Buys. It’s not a conspiracy. We’re not going to make millions for those few packs of gum that gets sold from the checkouts.

Now, here’s my list of things you “consumers” do that you need to stop.

1) Stop making so much f**king mess. Don’t drop produce bags on the floor. Don’t leave your goddamn McDonalds garbage on our shelves.

2) Just take it from the top. There is no need for you to dig to the very bottom of a display to get something. Just take the f**king top one. The date codes are only short on fresh items. If you dig to the back, you may get one that has 1-2 more days on it. Woo.

3) Stop dithering. Seriously, it does not take 4 minutes to choose a cucumber. They are all the same. Just take one and bloody move.

4) Control your kids. Stop shouting at them for every bloody thing they do, the entire building can hear you shouting at your ugly brats to stop doing whatever minor infraction they have committed. And don’t tell them “if you don’t behave the man will throw you out.” No we won’t. One day I may snap and actually physically throw some little brat out, and you won’t like it.

5) Stop dumping items everywhere. Okay you suddenly decide you don’t actually need that packet of ham you spend 3 minutes carefully choosing from the very back of the shelf. Go put it back. At the very least, put it in a fridge. Do you realise that any perishable food – anything that comes from a fridge or freezer – that you morons leave on an ambient shelf/leave in your trolley and wander off/wherever else you leave it, gets thrown in the bin? If it’s not found within a few minutes, we throw it away, that’s right! So next time you decide you don’t want that fresh chicken, go return it to the goddamn meat fridges.

6) Stop asking us stupid questions. We’re more than happy to assist you if you’ve got a valid question, and you’re polite. If you’re too thick to find something that’s right in front of you, don’t ask. There are usually signs with pictures on hanging by what they’re pointing to. Look at them!

7) Don’t open things. I don’t give a s**t if your ugly little kid wants to eat an apple or a bag of crisps. Show it some discipline and make it wait UNTIL YOU’VE PAYED FOR IT.

8) Do not give your kids grapes. Do not open the grapes. Grapes are the biggest cause of slip accidents, because you imbeciles give them to your urchin kids who drop them everywhere.

9) Don’t argue with us presuming you’re right. If we say we’re out of stock of something, then we haven’t got it. It’s not the end of the world like some of you act like it is. “You haven’t got any broccoli what will I doooo???” We don’t care. Move on.

Comment from ilana
Date: March 4, 2008, 3:40 pm

Yeah, this article definitely hits the nail on the head, and these are some pretty awesome tips. But honestly, society has raised us all to think that we need to look better and buy more in order to feel satisfied, so these tips might be somewhat useful, but they aren’t going to change the foundation of our socially constructed minds. It’s pretty sad though, that we are still forced to give these places our business, even when we do see how they play games with our heads.

Comment from Bruce A
Date: March 4, 2008, 3:59 pm

Have you been to a supermarket where there were random displays in the aisles? Pay attention to the placement of those displays. They’re often near non-staples and they create choke points where people tend to get backed up. The hope is to force you to pay attention to and buy the crap you don’t need. Kroger is especially guilty of this tactic.

Speaking of Kroger, another thing they like to do is price a store brand with a low price and then mark the brand name version of the same item at 5/$4. The store brand item might be $0.89 while the brand name item is $0.80. Because you naturally assume the store brand will be the better deal you’re less likely to think about it and just grab the store brand. Always, always, always take a calculator with you and USE it if you’re at all unsure about a price.

Comment from bex
Date: March 4, 2008, 4:23 pm

Here’s a tip I use every time I go grocery shopping-try going to the produce section first, it’s usually the cheapest stuff you can fill your cart/basket with and can help fill that seeming empty space,plus looking at healthy things in your cart can keep you from filling it full of junk food! P.S., I’m totally NOT a vegetarian :)

Comment from ben
Date: March 4, 2008, 5:37 pm

drive a bicycle/trailer to the store, you will buy less.

Comment from C
Date: March 4, 2008, 5:52 pm

I work retail for a living, and I can tell you that the best way to get a sale and keep the customer coming back is to offer very good customer service. You become known as a great retailer when your sales associates consistently go the extra mile for customers. I don’t like this attitude that people have thinking that retailers are out to get them. Retail has largely changed over the past ten years. Most stores have exceptional return policies, and offer great deals for customers who shop around. Retailers understand that customers like to get a good deal, and like to be treated well. If a business does all these things, they’ll make the money. It’s worth it to them. Every business I’ve ever worked with stresses this fact.

Also, I’d like to mention that clerks offering credit cards are just doing their jobs. Please do not be rude to them. The only reason any customer would lose out getting a credit card is if they failed to pay the balance off. Most retail cards have a terrible APR– and this is how companies make money off of it. If you’re responsible, you’ll save money by getting a retail card.

Also, the point the article makes that retail credit cards cause people to spend more money at the time of sale is pretty ludicrous, in my opinion. Retail cards are almost always offered at the end of the sale at the cash register. The transaction is completed as the card is opened. Most customers get in line after completing their shopping with no idea that they are about to open a card, and I have never seen any of them go back to grab something while the card is being processed. It just doesn’t work that way– they’ve finished their shopping and just want to get out of the store. The last thing on their mind is adding more onto their bill. They are just glad that they managed to reduce the total of their purchase.

Comment from Joe
Date: March 4, 2008, 8:28 pm

I work at target and most of these are true. I am a cashier and we are told to ask customers (guests) if they want to save 10% by opening up a target credit card. Honestly, we couldnt give a crap if they do it or not. If anything i want them to say no so i could get the transaction over with faster.

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Date: March 4, 2008, 8:28 pm

[...] Joe consumer has a great post highlighting tricks and techniques retailers often employ to get you parting with more cash than you originally intended. [...]

Comment from Tyler
Date: March 4, 2008, 8:30 pm

It’s so easy to walk into Costco and spend several hundred dollars, only to get home and realize I didn’t really buy much for all the money I spent.

Comment from Elf M. Sternberg
Date: March 4, 2008, 9:02 pm

My absolute favorite is the box with the blurb “32 OZ! 150% of our 24 OZ box!”

Uh, no duh. I whipped out my calculator and discovered that the price per ounce was the same.

My other discovery? The “meal deal” at Johnny Rockets was the same price as a burger, pop, and fries buy separately.

Always Do The Math.

Comment from udass
Date: March 4, 2008, 9:15 pm

great article
i must appreciate the analysis and work done
every bit of it fits perfectly

Comment from Dave Greiman
Date: March 4, 2008, 9:24 pm

How about getting some self restraint?

Comment from James
Date: March 5, 2008, 6:33 am

Having worked at a grocery store for a few years, this list is incomplete. There are many more subtle psychological ways that the stores mess with your minds. These are just the obvious ones that anybody can see.

Comment from Bubb Rhubb
Date: March 5, 2008, 6:58 am

Oh give me a break. Retailers aren’t “tricking” you into buying things. The title of this posting makes it seems that these companies are employing nefarious means to get people to do things against their will. They aren’t. People have free will and can choose not to buy anything they don’t want or need.

A company that truly tricks people by lying about product characteristics or guaranteeing something then later refusing to honor those guarantees, yes, they are tricking people and should be nailed to the wall. However, what you mentioned here is not dishonest at all.

Comment from Kyle
Date: March 5, 2008, 8:08 am

Yeah it’s funny what they do. I have a preferred card (not credit card) for my local grocery store. It’s free to get. Most of the people are morons with this card. For example, in the yogurt section it says buy 8 for $6. But when you go check out and swipe your preferred card, they ALL come out to be 75 cents, no matter if you buy 1 or 100. I know someone that falls for these tricks all the time. They do not even do the math to see what is a better deal. Instead of buying 1 item for $3 they see the same item (differnt brand name) “buy 2 for $7″ and get that. Some people are jsut retarded.

Comment from Brad
Date: March 5, 2008, 9:16 am

Damn, Dave…you wrote a lot of shit. I’m glad you got that all off your chest but you’re an idiot.

Comment from regisphilbin
Date: March 5, 2008, 12:29 pm

I thought the local WalMart’s removal of hand-baskets was to keep people from having an option to carry something smaller, forcing them to use a cart in which they could fit more purchases. An employee later told me that the store couldn’t keep replacing all the baskets people would break, leave in the parking lot to be crushed by cars, or just steal. And keeping refrigerated foods at the back of the store is reasonable–less distance to carry from the truck means less chance of it getting warm, and less time to checkout once people reach the back of the store (when ppl are nearly finished with their shopping). Not everything retailers do is evil, though it still pays to be cautious.

Comment from ConcernedShopper
Date: March 5, 2008, 12:45 pm

Article aside, I’d like to know which supermarket Dave @ 3:37pm works at because I sure as hell wouldn’t want to shop in the store that employs him to round up all the carts from the parking spaces.

Pingback from Ultimate Stupidity » Blog Archive » Links
Date: March 5, 2008, 2:50 pm

[...] How retailers trick you in to buying stuff you don’t need. [Joe Consumer] [...]

Comment from Awake In Rochester
Date: March 5, 2008, 5:38 pm

These are some good tips. I never thought about the desire to fill a basket or cart up. Leave your kids at home is an interesting tip. Starting your shopping at the back of the store is a good idea where the milk, bread, and eggs are is a good idea.

Comment from Golan
Date: March 6, 2008, 2:50 am

I have to say that leaving in a country that has only recently opened up for the big retails industry (Romania), I have seen the consumerist mentality develop over a very few years time spam.Mentality has switched from “aha, I can save money by shopping here” to a sort of “shopping religion” that is really sickening to watch.

And yes, retailers have exploited each situation properly, adapting and having plans anticipating the change of mentality.

Now shopping is exhausting because so many commercials and hidden marketing strategies bombard you at each step.

Having all this said I do have to say that it is normal for marketers to try and convince you that you need to buy, it is normal for shops to make you want to shop and it is NOT OK for you not to use your brain and get fooled into buying:
– things that you don’t need;
– more things that you really need (this is really bad for the environment too, man is the only predator that eats more than it really needs to survive, MUCH MORE…)
– things that are over your buying capacity… credit is bad: you pay more than it really cost, that means you will have less money than supposed to.

It is the consumers responsibility to consider his/her own pocket!!! and his/her health.

Rule No 1 : Have a list and stick to it after you have considered alternatives!
Rule No 2 : At least the first time you buy a new product, read carefully the labels! (you should also read about the ingredients and how products are made nowadays which is much different than in the old days!)

This is very important. Because people still buy crap food and low quality products, the industry still makes them. If people would learn to buy healthy food and quality products, the industry would adapt and there would be more of this available at lower prices (competitiveness on an market with great demand and diversity).

Especially what you are buying for your kids you should really know if there good or not! I see so many parents taking children to junk food restaurants (no names, as they are many). It is so sad that they take so little time to discipline their offsprings and prepare them for the future.

It’s up to you to leave a better a life.

Comment from Sam Critchley
Date: March 6, 2008, 5:37 am

What about these two gems:

1. Putting all the fruit and vegetables at the entrance to make the place look inviting. Even though it means your bananas get crushed by all your other shopping.

2. Warm, red lighting shining on the tomatoes and other fruit/veg to make them look ripe when in fact they’re practically translucent white!

Comment from elsie
Date: March 6, 2008, 7:15 am

The goal of all business is to make money. People these days seem to think that is evil for some reason. The marketing techniques used are not illegal or dishonest but it helps to make consumers aware of the methods employed. Some people. especially young ones, need to have this pointed out to them at an early age so they do not form bad habits.

The real issue is that people need to have self-control but why would we have it while shopping when we have it no where else in our lives?

Aside from his unnecessary rudeness, I agree with 99% of Dave’s March 4 comment.

Comment from Rudy
Date: March 6, 2008, 7:33 am

@Bubb Rhubb:

The Nile is not just a river in Egypt.

Comment from TEDFumbler
Date: March 6, 2008, 12:49 pm

Dave … clean-up on aisle 3 … moron.

Great article.

Comment from Divers
Date: March 6, 2008, 7:03 pm

The funny thing is… This ain’t no mystical wisdom. A lot magazines and newspapers comment on these things and people are aware of them – so… is a trick, that’s suposed to be secret, still working when everyone knows about it? Furthermore, I can’t disafree with some of the stuff that Dave and Elsie posted earlier…

Comment from Dick C. Flatline
Date: March 8, 2008, 9:13 am

Yes, there IS a conspiracy. We USED to rotate fresh items like produce, but then we realized that 80% of you fat hogs would always root right to the bottom of every pile or stack, so we saved a lot of labor costs–and spoilage–by just piling the new stuff right on top. Then we realized that you actually DO believe that our minimum-wage employees are personally responsible for soaring food prices on a global scale (you MUST, because you harangue THEM instead of your CorpGov overlords), so we put a 16-year old cashier in Cleveland in charge of prices worldwide. Thanks to you, or CEO’s now get even bigger salaries and perks, and never ever hear a complaint.

Global dumbing is REAL, people.

Comment from Dick C. Flatline
Date: March 8, 2008, 9:17 am

Oh, yeah, and HANG UP THE CELLPHONE, GET YOUR FAT ASS OUT OF THAT CART THAT’S MADE FOR *HANDICAPPED* PEOPLE, and STOP *WHINING* THAT WE’VE ONLY GOT 439 OF THE 451 FLAVORS OF YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM, you pathetic lardass!

Comment from Lori
Date: March 8, 2008, 1:09 pm

Make this rule and stick with it – especially when shopping with your kids! Don’t ever touch (you can look) anything in the checkout counter. This will keep you and the kids from being tempted by these items that you really don’t need nor want. And it helps to keep the kids from rearranging the shelves. My kids (ages 4 and 6) know that we’ll never get anything from the checkout counter, so they don’t even bother to ask, nor touch. This rule sure shown for us one day at Meijer in a long checkout line. The lady behind us picked up a magazine to leaf through and her 5-year-old was picking up and touching everything in sight, and of course asking for it all. Finally, she noticed how my boys were not touching anything, nor asking for things – they were basically being as well-behaved as little boys can be in a long, boring checkout line. So she had to ask. I told her my rule and explained I have to set the example by not touching anything myself. She got the hint and immediately put the magazine down.

It was nice to see the comment about starting at the back of the store and working forward. I have been doing this for years because I found in most stores, the non-perishible stuff is located in the back, and the frozen, refrigerated, and crushable stuff is located in the front. To me, it just made more sense to pick out the frozen, refrigerated, and crushable stuff last. So I always first head to the back of the store.

Oh, one other shopping hint I have is to shop the 24-hour stores late at night. These stores are stocking for the next day, so employees to help you find things are readily available – no searching for them like during the day. There are hardly ever any shoppers there (especially if it’s snowing), and the cashier staff gets to know you. I’ve had the store supervisors literally open up a lane for me when it’s time for me to check out (personalized service and no waiting!). I’ve also found those until-noon-Friday-after-Thanksgiving sales are still going on at 11 pm that Friday night. The store may have run out of the item earlier in the day, but in the meantime, another shipment arrived.

Pingback from Daily Links: Catching Up on Guest Posts ∞ Get Rich Slowly
Date: March 10, 2008, 3:19 pm

[...] Joe Consumer explains how retailers trick you into buying crap you don’t need (and how to fight back). We covered a lot of this info in my review of Why We Buy, but that was two years ago, and it never [...]

Comment from April
Date: March 11, 2008, 5:02 am

“I work retail for a living, and I can tell you that the best way to get a sale and keep the customer coming back is to offer very good customer service.”

That’s very true. Nordstrom’s might not be the cheapest place to shop (though they have great sales), but I’ll trek across town to give them my business because they deserve it. I have always been more than satisfied (and at times amazed) by their level of customer service. They’ve pulled every pair of jeans in a certain brand in my size and put them in a dressing room “for when I arrive” (all I did was call to ask if they carried the brand–I never, ever expected them to offer to do that). They’ve written (and I mean the sales associate hand-wrote) thank you notes to me. They have truly helped (not half-assed) me find exactly what I need and items that fit perfect, instead of just looking to make a sale off of me. I always try to shop there first.

Comment from Outrun1986
Date: March 12, 2008, 8:25 am

I think this is stuff we have known for a while, is it that hard to walk into a store and come out with only what you need (or if you must splurge maybe a few new products that you might ACTUALLY use)? Are we all supposed to make a list of things we need and stick to that same list for 20 years, I don’t think so. Its perfectly reasonable to check out new products and buy stuff that you might actually use or need. Its not a waste of money if your buying new products that you will actually use, its a waste of money when you buy something and it sits in your house and rots without any use, or food that you waste. So I ask myself is this an item that I will actually eat or use, if the answer is no I don’t buy it. If I go into the store to buy a particular item I have already decided it is something that I need and will use. I have never had the urge to fill a cart to the top or stop at mirrors and I am not that insecure about myself that I feel I have to buy new clothing items every time I shop or every time I look in the mirror. I wouldn’t want to fill the cart to the top because then it just makes for a cart that I am not even able to push because it would be so heavy. I don’t take the items at the checkout unless I am out of breath mints, which is rarely.

I have to agree with not using the wheeled carts unless you have a genuine disability and need them. It seems there are way too many people using these just because they don’t feel like walking. If you can walk into the grocery store without assistance then you can probably walk around enough to get what you need. I am not trying to judge anyone here but the people I see taking these carts look and act perfectly able. And geez maybe if you walked a little bit you might lose some of that weight and not have to use that cart anymore! Ironically the ones that use the carts are the ones who spend their whole shopping trip in the snack foods aisle, if anything it inspires me to hit the produce so I don’t become a 500lb person who has to use a cart just to get around.

Comment from phydeaux
Date: March 12, 2008, 8:29 am

Even better – I teach my kids about these types of practices. At 12 & 14, my girls are already looking at unit prices and seeking out store brands if the situation warrants. I’ve taught them all about how stores are designed with milk and eggs in the back to get you to buy more stuff as you pass through, how the more expensive items are at eye level, how the colorful, sugary cereals are at kids’ eye level, etc. I’ve also demonstrated how to dissect some of the pitches in commercials.

I love it when it pays off. The other day we were watching TV and some car ad came on and a woman was talking about how “this car made her young again.” My youngest just shook her head and said, “a car can’t do that.”

Comment from Sandra
Date: March 12, 2008, 9:27 am

I know exactly how you feel about the Target card! I used to be a cashier at Target and the supervisors were always nagging us to push the card. They’d hover over you and ask “Why didn’t you ask that customer if he wanted a Red Card?” and it was like Um, I don’t think he cares about saving 10% on the lone bottle of soda he bought. Ugh. And then when someone actually did want the card, the application process was so long and faulty, lots of times the customer would get fed up and leave.

Comment from Zyada
Date: March 12, 2008, 10:13 am

My, that’s a big basket you’ve got there

Who the hell puts something in their basket just because there’s space? Please, if you are one of these people, please start in the family planning section!

Mirror, mirror on the wall…

This is a foreign concept to me. I avoid looking at myself in the mirror whenever possible, and would not go to a store where mirrors were pervasive. This might explain why so many clothing stores have those horrid flourescent lights, though.

Buy in bulk and save?

I agree 99% with Joe Consumer on this. However, if there is an item you know you use regularly, won’t go bad, and the bulk price is as cheap or cheaper than the grocery store price, it is worth buying in bulk. I buy chicken broth and canned tomatoes like this. The advantage? Less need for runs to the grocery store for that one can I need to make supper.

How did they stack all those boxes like that?
I would think that power displays are there to entice you into buying the product they feature. As for the maze stores? I wonder how well they are going to do in the long run – Central Market here in Texas does the same attempt to force you to go past every thing they sell tactic, and it seems to generate some resentment.

To get to the cheese, you have to get through the maze
You can almost always tell how much mark-up there is on an item by where it is in the store. Front, center and eye-level? That’s were all the profit margin is. This is especially bad for people who have to use those grocery store scooters – the only items they can reach are the items that have the biggest mark-up.

Bargain bins and going-out-of business sales
I must confess that the company I work for has been known to put items in the clearance section at 10, 5 and even occasionally 0% off. Part of this is the tyranny of the corporate driven store layout – if an item loses its “home”, then the clearance section is the only place for it to go. But if the executives really considered this a problem, they could do something about it.

IMO, any time you buy something, you should know how much it normally costs, and how much it is worth to you.

Oooh, something smells amazing!

Every frugal and dieting grocery shopper should know to eat something before they go shopping – hunger is the best way to end up with a huge stockpile of buyer’s regret food. However, I think samples are good for the store and the customer – who wants to buy something only to find out it’s nasty? Just don’t let guilt make you buy something that you wouldn’t otherwise because some nice lady gave you a bit.

One note – my husband works in the gourmet cheese section at a grocery store. They will occasionally sample out cheese because it is getting close to its expiry date (not past, though – he will throw that out). Make sure that if you buy what you sampled, that you have plenty of time to eat it before it expires. On a related note, he will cut up any cheese in his case for a customer to sample (and possibly some of the other items they sell in that section as well). If you have a person behind a counter to ask, ask for a sample of what you are considering for purchase before you buy it. The worst they can do is say no.

Save even more with our charge card!
IMO, if you have more than one charge card, you should get credit counseling.

Retailers love to put children to work “helping” you find things
And for god’s sake, don’t give the little rug rats one of those miniature carts. Even if you don’t mind spending your whole shopping trip with little Timmy grabbing every sugar bomb and sparkly package they can reach, we don’t want to hear you bitching at him to “put it back”.

Checking out? One last thing…
If you are really trying to be frugal, don’t get anything in the checkout area. It’s all fluff.

Comment from some_d00d
Date: March 12, 2008, 10:52 am

Good list, but I have to disagree with the “leaving the kids at home” idea. This would be good for parents who actually don’t parent or spend time/talk with their children. But taking your kids shopping with you is a great way to: 1) teach them these little tricks early so they don’t have to break bad habits that they learn on their own and 2) teach practical math application (dividing cost per unit) in the “real world”. Once they’ve been taught the right way to shop, they can be really useful at finding bargains and getting you to see past your own issues in not getting caught up in the hype.

Comment from Jason
Date: March 21, 2008, 6:12 am

I love the psychology of retail and after reading this article, I’ve definitely noticed these things. The one I hate the most is the fact that I have to walk across the entire store to get my milk. I’ve also picked up the habit of just using a basket, so I won’t purchase unnecessary things.

Comment from Kat
Date: March 22, 2008, 2:09 pm

Hey Dave,

We didn’t need you to tell us that you work in retail…. you have a bad attitude – that says it ALL.

Comment from Jagat J Saikia
Date: March 27, 2008, 2:23 am

Very informative. Something similar that we learnt during our MBA days. Some people’s tricks and tips are some people’s science. Afterall, the business of business is business and competition is always out there to get you outta business!!

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Comment from Melissa
Date: April 14, 2008, 3:36 pm

Dave, you’ve made me that much more resolved to not buy from the sorts of places that give you a job. You take your customers for granted. Maybe you can spend some time reflecting on that in the coming years when you find yourself unemployed because people have realized it’s better for themselves, the planet, and their communities to buy locally or grow their own. If you hate your job so much, you should quit.

The person who made the comment about providing exceptional customer service is correct; I will gladly pay a bit extra if I know I will have an easy, pleasant experience.

I think it is a mistake to read this article as evidence of a conspiracy. I don’t think there is one. Although I knew most or all of these things already, this article is useful at the very least to remind us that those who are trying to sell us things have done their homework (and lots of it) so to suggest that we should put some time into thinking about how we spend our money is just wise financial advice, regardless of your opinion of large corporations and how much money they make.

Comment from Massage Therapy Guy
Date: July 17, 2008, 11:40 am

Nice article. This retail psychology stuff is really interesting. I’ll learned a lot about it in my advertising class and afterwards noticed it quite a bit and my old retail job. Keep up the nice work.

Comment from Jason
Date: July 22, 2008, 6:38 am

I think that is a smart comment to eat before you go shopping. So many time have i went shopping on a hungry stomach only to leave the store with a bunch of stuff I did not need!

Comment from Dave’s my fave
Date: July 24, 2008, 6:26 am

Dave, you have a great attitude! I hope that you don’t let any of those whinny customers treat you like shit, because they will. They don’t care who you are or how much you help them. They just want you to bend over backwards and then bitch behind your back. Retail’s a bitch! Good luck! Somebody’s got put up with the bullshit, unfortunately.