When was the last time you fell prey to sneaky retail tricks?
It’s neither an accident nor a coincidence that many people spend more than they planned when shopping. Retailers do a great job of luring customers into their stores, and they have plenty of tricks up their sleeves to get you to part with your money.
These marketing tools are used to target your deepest emotions and desires. From the background music to the sounds and scents you encounter, each aspect of the store has a specific purpose.
Being able to recognize these sneaky retail tricks can help you become a savvy shopper, which basically means keeping more money in your wallet. Here’s a list of 10 ways retailers trick you into spending more money!
1. They make you overspend to get a freebie (or discount)
Sometimes stores have special deals where you can get a discount or freebie, but only if you spend a certain amount of money. This is a strategy called “gift with purchase.”
For instance, spend $80 and get $30 worth of points by being part of the store’s loyalty program (the points will be on the store’s loyalty card), or spend $80 and get a free gift with the purchase. While you may be excited about the deal, you’ll want to think twice before making the purchase because it’s one of the sneaky retail tricks luring you to spend more money than you planned.
This deal is only worth it if you actually need the item(s) you’re buying. These so-called limited-time offers are used to trigger your sense of urgency to make a purchase. Don’t feel pressured to overspend just so you can get the free gift or the discount.
2. They make you buy more to get free shipping
Many online stores require customers to spend a minimum amount to qualify for free shipping. This is one of the most common sneaky retail tricks that makes people spend more money.
Have you ever added more items to your online cart just to get out of paying for delivery? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one.
If your purchase doesn’t qualify for free shipping, try to see if you can ship that product in-store for free. Many online retailers have the option to ship items for free to any store location. This may sometimes be a quicker option than having the order shipped to your house.
You can also check to see if any friend or family member wants to buy something from the same store so you can qualify for free shipping—that way you’ll stay away from any sneaky retail tricks and pay for the thing you want instead of spending extra money on stuff you don’t need.
3. They encourage you to get distracted
Many stores have lovely layouts that showcase chic outfits to catch your eye. This can easily encourage you to spend more and purchase things that you don’t really need.
Although you may think music is just for the ambiance, it’s also used to create a distraction for customers. Some stores like to play softer and slower music, which can make shopping a more enjoyable experience and lead to increased spending.
Pleasant scents in stores are also one of the sneaky retail tricks that can make you feel more comfortable and relaxed, which in turn makes you more likely to overspend. Multiple studies have found that certain scents used in stores can boost consumer spending—so, next time you’re shopping, pay attention to the fragrance used in stores.
When it comes to these sneaky retail tricks, the best way you can avoid falling prey to them is to shop online. By the way, Amazon currently has a sale going on, so have a look here if you’re interested.
4. They want you to have a good customer experience
It’s a no-brainer that we all want to have a good customer experience while shopping, but in some cases, this good experience can lead us to spend more money. Yes, the reason for a great customer experience is just one of the sneaky retail tricks meant to lure you into spending more money.
You may walk into a beauty or clothing store just to have a look, but having a friendly sales associate around who recommends products and lets you know about special promotions can make you change your mind and buy something.
These staff use these sneaky retail tricks to make you feel at ease and even compliment you when you come out of the dressing room. For some people, this friendliness may make them feel obligated to make an unplanned purchase.
Read on to discover other sneaky retail tricks!
5. They entice you to shop with their big sale signs
This happens to us all the time. You see the word “sale,” and it’s easy to feel tempted to walk into a store. This also applies when you receive a promotional email; you’re curious, so you just click on it. When it’s a store, you want to see what’s on sale, so you go inside to check it out.
Once you’re inside, you may purchase something on sale or you may purchase something at full price. Either way, you’ve fallen victim to one of the most common sneaky retail tricks.
Many people buy things just because they are on sale and convince themselves that the offer is too good to say no to it. But in reality, it’s not a great deal if you don’t need the item.
Shopping just for the sake of taking advantage of a deal isn’t wise. What you should do instead is ask yourself if you really need that thing. You can even place it in your shopping cart and walk around the other areas of the store to see if you still want that item.
Another great idea is to leave the store and give yourself a day or two to think about whether you want that thing or not. The odds are that your opinion may change, which could prevent you from impulse spending.
6. They display pricier items at eye level
Stores want to make it very easy for you to buy their more profitable items. One of the most effective, sneaky retail tricks that stores use is placing these products at eye level, which increases your chances of purchasing them. This is actually something every grocery store does.
How many times did you have to stretch or bend down for something you needed? These are the spots where products with lower price points are, so make sure you look below or above to avoid overspending.
7. They encourage you to buy gift sets
Next on our list of sneaky retail tricks is when stores lure customers into purchasing gift sets. Department stores and shops like Bath & Body Works sell lots of lovely gift sets. You may visit the store initially for one product, but end up leaving with a cute gift set since it seems like a better value.
At first sight, these may seem like a great deal since the value of these products together is lower than if you were to purchase each item separately. However, if these products are on sale separately, you may actually get a better deal than buying the gift set.
8. They put essential items at the back of the store
Supermarkets and grocery stores generally place dairy products and meat along the back wall. Have you ever wondered why they do so? Well, the reason is simple: sneaky retail tricks!
Putting essential items at the back of the store forces you to walk through the entire place to get them, increasing your chances of adding other products to the shopping cart along the way.
This is why it’s best to go to the store with a list, so you can prevent getting distracted.
9. They manipulate the price
People love to feel like they’re getting the best deal, and stores know this. That’s why they will place similar items at different price points near each other. This is also among the sneaky retail tricks most customers aren’t aware of.
For instance, you find a jacket you like, but it costs $150, so you put it back. Then you see a similar jacket next to it that’s only $50. This automatically makes the less expensive jacket look like a deal.
This strategy is called “anchor pricing,” and it allows customers to compare when valuing a product and makes them feel like they’re getting a discount when they buy their target item.
Moreover, even labeling an item as “most popular” can help make people more likely to buy that item. Since humans can be indecisive, this “most popular” suggestion paired with anchor pricing can steer people’s decisions and make them say “yes” to buying that product.
If you liked our article on sneaky retail tricks, you may also want to read 6 Brilliant Little-Known Credit Card Perks You’re Missing Out.
