"Life is lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road and we stand on the mountain looking back through the valley that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale.” Jill Savage

Saturday, June 02, 2012

Saturday - Service Announcements



PSYCHOLOGY of SUPERMARKET SHOPPING
by Dr Mercola  

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.

 

56 comments:

BECKY said...

Hi Sandie! Just stopping in to say Hello!

The Boston Lady said...

Perfect timing as I'm heading to store in a bit... Ann

Nancy said...

Great advice on the store shopping -- especially since we do it on a weekly basis! :)

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

I'll start by commenting on your ending...yep, we do have to keep our minds open. Things are constantly changing and if we don't stay open to it, we can miss the boat. As for shopping, there are people whose job in life is marketing and ways to make us want all that stuff...Remembering to buy only what you need and not what you might want is a great way to save money.

Hope your Saturday is a super one!

Anonymous said...

I have heard of this "trick" by markets etc, and we just have to load up on wisdom in our purchases...thanks Sandie for the "wisdom"...Happy Saturday

MadSnapper said...

cool pencil sketch. and i shop with a list and buy only what is on the list most of the time. i am tight with my pennies and make them scream before i let go of them, they do all this stuff, but it doesn't work on me because i am cheap cheap cheap. another thing not on the list is there are many items in the every thing is a dollar stores, that can be bought cheaper at WM or Target.

Unknown said...

My hubby does all the shopping, cheaper that way! lol

Jeanie said...

I'm sure I fall for all the grocery marketing tactics. I don't love grocery shopping and usually just want to get it done as fast as possible. I do check the unit price on things.

Debbie said...

i am a horrible shopper, period!!

love that pencil!!

jack69 said...

Great entry. Some of the lists I have known but some I have not. The rough floor is just an aggravation to me, I have noticed it, but never thought of a reason. Thanks!

It is strange sometimes I do the math and find the prices of well known brands are just as cheap as the store brands (but only some time!) Shopping, as you are saying here, is a time to pay attention.

Liked the entry. Very informative.
Love from here.

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

My hubby does the shopping for us and has it down to a science. I tend to be the one who assumes that the larger sizes or generics are better buys ... he will do the math to determine which really is the better buy. And that's why he does the shopping. ;-)

Susannah said...

Good and useful informtion. Somethings in the store I have already noticed... but others I have not. Thanks, Sandie.

Anonymous said...

We have probably all been suckered in a grocery store... I know I have. We are trying to be smarter though.

Marti said...

With the cost of groceries constantly rising, it is good to be aware of the store's sell tactics. Another tip, shop when you have a busy schedule--you are less likely to waste time browsing, and don't shop when you are hungry, otherwise all kinds of things will look good. Have a good day.

Susan said...

Good Saturday morning, Sandie. I believe every single one of those supermarket strategies to get consumers to pay more $. I've tested the theories, for sure. Thanks for the savvy reminders. We have to be vigilent as consumers on budgets.

Hope you have a super day today. Here it is dark, dreary and rainy and we have to make our own sunshine today! Susan

banning brewd said...

when i worked at a grocery store they had different music for different times of day and even for when they were running certain specials.

betty said...

LOL about the pencil and the drug message.

All great tips about grocery shopping. I know we have looked more carefully at prices over the past year. The biggest trick I've learned to look for is when they say "buy one, get one free". Sometimes the price of the one is a lot more than another comparative thing so you aren't really saving with the buy one/get one free concept. It is a business, so we must remember they are going to do their best to get our money :)

have a great day!

betty

Anonymous said...

I can't read half the signs inthe stores so I suppose what I can't see can't hurt me! Great post!!!!
I didn't know facebook could do tha\t!!

I have been to hungry Girl's website,

Anonymous said...

Also, a lot of stores will move items around every few weeks so that it's harder to find them-thus giving customers more opportunity to pick up other items in their search.

TexWisGirl said...

i laughed at the pencils. :)

and the grocery stuff is interesting - especially flooring! i read the tags on the shelves to show pricing per ounce or lb. or whatever. i use those to compare to find the best deal.

Debbie said...

Excellent! I recently had a conversation with my younger daughter (Whimsy) on stuff like this. She's a marketing major. I need to show her this post.

I wholeheartedly agree about the size of the carts. I'm positive that is why Walmart offers so few hand baskets. It's also the reason that I like to carry my own market basket around.

I should blog about that...

Great post!

Linda said...

Very good shopping tips. Very much needed especially in this day and age.

Elaine said...

I always check the top and bottom shelves..some of us know their tricks. Thanks for sharing some good tips to us blogers

Denise said...

My husband has done all the shopping would you believe for 36 years.Because He loves to do it,it makes His day.He's great at it too.I know He would enjoy your list.I would be willing to bet tons of money that He would know most of them already-Maybe not the one about the $ sign.Advertisers really rub Me the wrong way.Enjoy your day My friend-Denise

Angela said...

I want to know how all of these women get their husbands to do all of the shopping! lol I have always done the shopping except when I'm sick or we run out of something. I will say my husband has been going shopping with me since my surgery though. I've not really went in the store without him. I need to get back to my coupons but I've been shopping at Sams Club where you can't use them.

Mevely317 said...

I'm such a poor shopper, and would totally BOMB on the Price Is Right ... so this is great information!
Little wonder, DH does 99% of our grocery gatherin'.

Wishing you a GRAND weekend!

Ginny Hartzler said...

I love Hungry girl, I subscribe to her e-mails, which are great, and I have one of her totes in pink. She used to have a T.V. show on food Channel Sunday mornings. The grocery tricks are sneak all right.

Raindrops and Daisies said...

Great information as always Sandie.

I'm just back from the supermarket
it is really a job I don't enjoy.

I couldn't open the link to
Hungry Girl, said it is broken
I will google it and see if anything comes up.

I'm trying to be good and eat healthily so any tips are most welcome and I am a hungry girl!!!

Have a good weekend.
xx

Vee said...

You always have such interesting things. I've heard of these things before, but was recently surprised to learn that the worst thing one can do is to carry one of those small baskets and now I can't remember why. HA! Oh well, if I think of it I'll be back.

Grandma Bonnie said...

Great shopping tips. I need to share this with my kids. Hope you have a great weekend.

Knitty said...

Save money at the grocery store and energy at home...eat out! ;-)

Love the lazy comment the most. Have a good weekend!

Karen said...

Very interesting! Love the thought for the day...

Jill said...

Yea...those darn supermarkets tricks!

I've been to Hungry Girl but love skinny taste for recipes. You might like it too. :)

Debbie Jones said...

Always good reminders about how to avoid spending too much on groceries. My husband loves to grocery shop...in fact he and my son went out to do that this morning while I rested. Love your ever fresh and interesting blog!

BlueShell said...

I'm learning! LOL


Hugs

Laura said...

I hate going to the grocery store, but my child is so picky (she eats chicken & pizza), it's usually a pretty quick trip.

I love the 'why drug companies shouldn't promote on pencils. That is pretty funny!

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Blondee said...

Excellent tips!!
Thank you for sharing. :)

Arkansas Patti said...

Goodness, we don't stand a chance in grocery stores do we? lol I have found the way to limit my purchases if I have only a few items in mind is to get a carry basket instead of a cart. Carts make it too easy to pick up unscheduled impulse buys.

Shelly said...

That pencil cracked me up! Great tips~

Thistle Cove Farm said...

sometimes stores raise prices then give a 2/1 "special" that's not a savings. it plays to pay attention when shopping!

Lois Christensen said...

I always check the unit price on food. I actually showed my girl this in the store last week as she was trying to figure out which size of an item was the best buy. I showed her the unit price and we purchased the smaller size item because it was the best according to the unit price. Going to look at the Hungry Girl site now! Enjoy your Sunday!

Paula said...

You always have the most interesting things in your blog and that pencil is certainly worth paying attention to.

barbara l. hale said...

Good advice on the grocery shopping. I try to obey those rules when I go. Unless I forget my list on the counter at home. Drats!

Rob-bear said...

Great shopping information. For those of us who shop. And watch out of those misleading ads.

And as for a closed mind, the opposite is an open mind. I knew a guy who as so open-minded that, one day, his brain fell out.

Blessings and Bear hugs.

Wendy @ E-1-A said...

I'd never heard about the supermarket tricks before but this is a bit of an eye-opener!

Some wonderful facts and tips Sandie! It's not long before they follow suit in the UK (probably been doing these things already and I've been tricked)!!!!! Grrrrrrr - I'll get my own back - I'll grow some fruit and veg - that'll show 'em!

Marie said...

Terrific tips! I do carry a list and I read the price stickers which tell you how much you are paying per ounce. I've recently learned about dog food. I was paying big bucks for dog food that was only 346 calories per cup. Now I'm paying the same, but this food has 440 calories per cup! More for the money! I've love learning and saving money!
Have a wonderful Sunday!
Love,
Marie

Lynn said...

Hey - I wanted to see that Hungry Girl diet - the link didn't work.

Great tips on the grocery shopping!

Ann said...

since I work in a grocery store I'm aware of all those tactics :)

Unknown said...

Great advice in the shopping :) usually reasoning with myself while shopping...do I really need that? Keeping my spendings low at the moment.
Have a great Sunday!

Eva

Granny Annie said...

1.) Always take a list and stick to it.
2.) Never go grocery shopping on an empty stomach.

Those are my easy remedies.

Bank loans will continue to be easiest to achieve with a great credit rating and strong credit scores. If the lenders start asking for access to your facebook page, you in turn should just ask for access to theirs:)

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

I'm a perimeter shopper and this is absolutely true- all the junk food is located in the middle aisles!

TARYTERRE said...

GREAT shopping tips, each and every one of them. I use a scooter so I have limited space when i'm at the store. But truth be told, I can pack things in there when I have too. LOL Hope you had a lovely weekend. take care.

SquirrelQueen said...

Oh Sandie, I don't have to look next time I'm in the grocery store. I was employed by two very large manufacturing companies over the years. I have worked with grocery chain planners and had some input on shelf layout. Everything is calculated to pull you into the store and keep you there as long as possible.

Millions are spent on market research each year so stores can keep up on the latest trends. The favorite one recently is that store card that gives you the best deals, it tracks every item you purchase and turns your spending habits into statistics that can be used for future store remodels. I just saw an app you can install on your phone that will do it even better.

Happy Shopping!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Very interesting! I shop with a list...for sure! I still come home with a lot more though!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I didn't get the hungry girl link to work...but I'll google it! Thanks!

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Love the pencils! One of the reasons I don't go shopping is because they see me coming!!!!