3 Supermarket Tricks that Make Us Spend

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3 Supermarket Tricks that Make Us Spend

Submitted by: Ray @ Tip Hero 10/15/2009 12:22 AM

Charlie at Paylessforfood.com has a great article on three psychological tricks that supermarkets use to make us spend. These include:

1. The Limited Quantities Trick - where supermarkets put an arbitrary cap on the amount of a sale item you can buy to give the impression it's such a good deal they have to limit quantities.

2. The Limited Time Sale Trick � where they put items on sale for a very short period of time -- say 3-days -- to give shoppers the impression that they must pounce immediately in order to get an extraordinary deal.

3. The Sucker Sale � we've all seen these: the sales that aren't really sales when you end up doing the math. I've been the victim of this one a few times.

Be sure to check out the full article as Charlie goes into more detail on each of these psychological tricks. Also, be sure to check out PayLessforFood's Supermarket Pricing Trick's section, which features over a dozen articles on all those little tricks supermarkets use to get you to spend more.

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Comments:

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The word "sale" means just that. The store has stuff there "for sale." It could be implied that products are on sale for less, but assume nothing and do the math.

I just bought 6 interior doors at a home improvement store. I went back for other items a week later and found that interior doors were "on sale." The price was identical to what I paid several weeks before.

Eye glasses are the same. We needed glasses and were there during the get 2 pairs for $99. What we needed was $250 a pair and that is what we paid last year.

Most sales are just hooks to get you in the door.

Rule of thumb is that I use the sale pages to line my bird cage to add to their value.

Posted by james77777 on October 15, 2009 2:00 PM

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Here's another sucker play that I've seen happening more and more at Walmart: charge a higher unit price for the larger size.

Normally, if you buy a larger size item, e.g. 32 oz jar of spaghetti sauce vs. 16 oz, the price per ounce (the unit price) is cheaper on the larger size. I always check the unit price and, if it's not posted, do the math in my head. I've recently noticed Walmart charging a higher unit price for larger sized items. They appear to think consumers have been conditioned by the long tradition of larger size = lower unit price. Caveat emptor!

Posted by G. E. Swain on October 15, 2009 7:06 PM

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YOU ARE 100% CORRECT,JAMES.ONE STORE WILL PUT SOMETHING'ON SALE' AND THE STORE DOWN THE STREET HAS THAT SAME ITEM AT REGULAR PRICE AND IT'S CHEAPER THAN THE SALE PRICE!

YEP,THE BEST ADVICE TO GIVE IS KNOW YOUR PRICES AND DO YOUR HOMEWORK.YOU CAN SAVE MONEY BY KNOWING WHAT SOMETHING IS WORTH AND FINDING THE CHEAPEST PRICE FOR THAT ITEM.HOW MANY STORES DO YOU KNOW THAT'S BEEN 'GOING OUT OF BUSINESS' FOR YEARS.

I FIND USEFUL NEW THINGS AT YARD SALES,FLEA MARKETS AND BAZARRS ALL HE TIME. OF COURSE THEY DON'T HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED!!

Posted by GALE OSBORN on October 15, 2009 8:04 PM

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Walmart tries to trick people all the time. For example, they don't always align the merchandise above the correct item price. So unless you really pay close attention to what the unit price is you might grab the higher
priced item instead which is their intention.

Also, many times an item is 'on sale' but rings up the full everyday price when you go to check out. If you aren't watching each item ring up, then you might not catch the error, which sometimes is only a few cents, so many people won't bother going back to the store for their change, because that might mean standing in line at the service desk and asking for a very small amount, which is just not worth
the effort to those of us who are busy. It's better to make them ring up the correct price.

KNOW YOUR PRICES!!

Posted by Trish on October 18, 2009 12:09 AM

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I don't believe the article's claim that the reason stores limit quantities of sale items is to make people think they're a good deal. When we buy a sale item and quantities are limited, it usually *is* a good deal--so good that it's almost certainly a loss leader for the store. They are selling that item at a loss as a way to get people in the door in the hope that they will go on to do the rest of their weekly shopping at the same time.

However, since they are losing money on every sale of that item, they don't want someone coming in and filling up a whole cart with it--so they put a limit on how much each customer can buy. I don't think the author of this article knows what he's talking about.

Posted by haverwench on October 18, 2009 5:16 PM

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I hate when the market has something on sale and I go there the 1st day of the sale and the shelf is empty. I now have learned to ask for a rain check every time. I carry a pad and paper and write if down or I forget. They lure you in and then oops we are out. I have also complained to the markets about this issue. I am not letting them get away with this anymore.

Posted by Justine on October 19, 2009 10:58 AM

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While I cannot always afford to pass up a truly good and authentic deal, for the most part, I have given up on chasing down chain store deals. I give my business to local stores that have fair pricing, ethical business practices and good customer service. Walmart completely frustrates me....I just won't go in there. I don't like their meat or their produce, and they do not always have the best price anyway. Plus, these MEGA stores are just too much. Ugh!!!! One exception to the chain stores is Trader Joe's.....I love them. Good products, good prices and never a sale to worry about! (PS: if you are a vegetarian like my daughter is, you can get Morning Star and Boca products at Trader Joe's for atleast a buck less per box than at your local grocery chain.)

Posted by Teresa on October 22, 2009 3:43 PM

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Another Trick That Walmart or other Stores will do, is put say garbage bags at $1.00 dollar for Ten 30Gallon bags. When too many people have started to buy those particular bags week after
week they raise the price. it happened today at Walmart. I went to get these and found the price to be $1.68 68% more then a week ago.

Posted by Davypoet on October 22, 2009 5:49 PM

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Most Wal mart stores will give you the price posted under the item if you call this to the attention of the customer service manager or even the checker. I think you might find this in most any store. You pay the price posted if it is the same brand, size, etc. even if it is not the correct price.

Posted by anonymous on October 22, 2009 6:03 PM

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I buy a case of diet coke every week, for ages, at Walmart, it has been , $ 6.98, last week , it was $7.98, but on sale for $6.98.! Do they think that we are stupid ?

Posted by anonymous on October 22, 2009 6:07 PM

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yes I think wal-mart does think we are stupid. If you want to see a good film on wal-mart google Frontline then look for the episode on wal-mart. what an eyeopener this was. but you know I think wal-mart may be in trouble ( yippee). They are reorganizing their stores. I live just out side of Boston and a lot of the products are just getting cheaper and cheaper quality wise. they have reorganized their food stuffs ex. thomases english muffins were the only brand on the shelf, but I notice this in a lot of stores.they seem to be limiting choices! please some feed back after you see the film.

Posted by silentwarrior on October 24, 2009 8:49 AM

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You'd think that with walmart's promise of lower prices everyday....most of their stuff would be free by now! (A large portion of it should be!)

Posted by anonymous on October 24, 2009 1:02 PM

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I noticed alot of items/ products I use and buy alot of are no longer being carried. Esp. the ones I have coupons for. the gum I like is no longer being carried. They are carrying their own line of products made in white display cans, boxes, etc. You can't miss them.

I was told by a manager that the redoing of most Walmarts was to expand the electronics dept. and make a new party items dept. Trying to get the party store and dollar store business.
Not likely.

they did away with the sewing depts and most of stores have one isle of crafts and some barely have half isle.

I shop only for the items now, that I know for sure have a better price than anywhere else. I give my business to local stores as much as I can. They are local families and are trying to make a living not get rich. Even if it's a few pennies more, it's worth it. I would rather pay extra for the individual customer service.
I owned my own business for 12 years and it is not easy, long hours and very little money.

Walmart and big box stores like them are why I live off the land as much as I can. I redo, reuse and recycle most everything. all my food is home grown, canned or frozen.

If we don't take care now, in the future we will be without anything to redo, reuse and recycle.
Thanks for letting vent.
Happy Deals

Posted by Mom to 6 house rabbits on October 25, 2009 11:26 PM

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Walmart is a big scam. They advertise a sale with a little ticket under the item and MOST times, when you are getting checked out, it rings at the regular price. You need to know
every single price and pay attention as you're being checked out.
I think they depend on people not paying close attention and not wanting to waste time at the service counter asking for a few cents back.

I just bought a large Tide detergent..sale priced at $9.99. It rang at the regular price of $10.94. I'm glad I was paying attention so
I got the sale price, but missed the cream cheese which was on sale for $1.92 and paid $2.08.
They do this intentionally, it gets to
where the cashiers don't even question it when I tell them.

I shop at that store less frequently than ever before..because I'm finding that King Soopers (Krogers) is nicer and has regular sales more than ever. King Soopers will actually give you the item free if it rings up incorrectly. Not Walmart, they'd be broke.
Walmart shame on you!!

Posted by trish on October 26, 2009 4:17 PM

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I HATE Walmart. Join me and just say no to Walmart!

Posted by Karen on October 26, 2009 7:48 PM

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I Say No to Walmart by not even driving there.

I order from home and save 30 to 50% on my orders, which by the way are delivered free!!

They also guarantee lower prices...find it cheaper and they will double the price back to you...

Hey, FREE Tour!!

Posted by Kevin on January 28, 2010 12:19 PM

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