Saturday - Service Announcements

PSYCHOLOGY of SUPERMARKET SHOPPING
by Dr Mercola  

(Thank you Crystal Mary)

Okay guys look how we are tricked in the grocery store.

Supermarkets employ all kinds of strategies to spend more money, food manufacturers are applying ever more sophisticated tactics to sell. 

Daily Finance recently listed a few ways to avoid the most obvious traps, including:

• Resist the smells: Some grocers even pipes in artificial scents to inspire you to buy more.
• Forget the end caps: The spots at the ends of each aisle contain "sale items" which aren't very cheap but conveniently placed.
• Scan top and bottom shelves: The most expensive stuff is often deliberately placed at eye level. Take a moment to scan the entire shelf.
• Appreciate the plain stuff: Product packaging is usually exceptionally bright. Less-gaudy house brands may be cheaper.
• Don't fall for hyped numbers: Signs may say "10 for $10," or "2 for $5," but you'll usually get the same price if you buy only one, so do the math!  

How You're Being Subconsciously Manipulated to Buy, Buy, Buy

What kind of "magic" made this shopper respond according to their predictions? Through sophisticated "trials" such as these, they've determined:

• During lean times, primitive survival instincts kick in, prompting purchase of items appearing to be "limited" in some way. In this case, by restricting the sale to three cans per customer, the shopper's subconscious drive to hoard was aroused
• Displaying a dollar sign on the display decreases the likelihood of making a purchase, because it's instinctively equated with "cost" or "spending." As Lindstrom says, "Removing the sign helps the consumer sidestep harsh reality of outstanding bills and longer-term financial concerns."
• Larger shopping carts equate to increased spending
• The quality of the flooring can increase or decrease speed when shopping. Flooring making "clickety-clac" sounds, tends to automatically slow down pace, which increases the likelihood some well-crafted sign will catch attention, lead you to make a purchase not originally planned

While this may sound simplistic, these tactics can be profoundly effective. By simply changing flooring in this section of the store, removing the dollar sign, adding a three-cans-per-customer restriction, sale of that particular canned food increased sevenfold!

"The next time you go grocery shopping, take a look at the signs, the type of floor, and even the carts. Everything has been designed with an eye towards getting you to grab those three cans of something that was not on your list. The more attention you pay to the details, the more aware you'll become of how you're being manipulated," Lindstrom writes.

Be Aware and Prepared When Shopping to Reduce Wasteful Spending

You can avoid some of these manipulation tactics by:

• Shopping with a list: Preparing a list will help keep focus ideally on fresh whole organic foods. Only buy what you need
• Shop the store's perimeter: The outermost supermarket area contains healthier non-processed foods. Once you become serious about healthy eating, you'll rarely have to venture into those isles
• Focus on fresh vegetables: The deeper and more vibrantly colored produce is packed with the most nutrients. They're also usually less expensive than canned versions
• Check the nutrition labels: The label helps you to identify ingredients, maximize nutrients and compare products
• Do your own math, and check the per unit price: Bring a calculator to the store or use a smartphone. As previously stated, signs boasting "2 for $5" may not be an indication of a bargain at all. Check individual price to determine whether buying two is really cheaper than one.
  
  Okay - I thought this was interesting to me - hope you learned something.
  

 

Do you want to know how facebook could hurt your credit rating?    Click here.
 Thank you Angela.

Okay have you ever heard of Hungry Girl?  Click here. It is a diet website of healthy foods. Check it out.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

A closed mind is a wonderful thing to lose.