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標題: 6 ways stores trick you into spending more [打印本頁]
作者: Alcoholic    時間: 2008-1-24 09:42     標題: 6 ways stores trick you into spending more

What do you guys & LYK C9's think about this:

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by Jeffrey Strain
Thursday, January 17, 2008
provided by thestreet.com

It's one of life's ironies that retailers try to lure you into their stores with low prices, only to do everything in their power to make sure you spend more than you intended once you're inside.

It's important to understand these methods so you don't fall for them.

Double Discounts: Retailers know that most people aren't good at math, and they take advantage of this. More and more are using double discounts to earn more money while making customers think they are getting a better deal than they actually are.

For example, if you are given a choice of buying a $100 item at 45% off, or buying the same item at 20% off with 30% additional taken off at the register, which would you choose? Most people simply add the 20% and 30% and assume that they are getting 50% off the item.

When you do the math, however, it doesn't work out that way. Taking 45% off of $100 means the item sells for $55. But if 20% off $100 is $80; taking 30% off that $80 leaves you with an additional $24 discount, for a price of $56, or a dollar more.

A 2007 study published in the Journal of Consumer Research indicates that shoppers are likely to feel the double discount is a better value.

Fight Back: Do the math before buying. If you can't do the calculations in your head, purchase an inexpensive calculator and carry it around when you go shopping. If you see an item that comes with a double discount, the store may be attempting to make you believe you are getting a better price than you are.

Pricing items at $9.99 vs. $10: Studies have found that when prices end in 9, consumers end up spending more money. While this might seem strange, there are various theories as to why this happens. Most note that when people process information, the first number they read has a stronger impression than the following numbers. So $9.99 seems much lower than $10.

Another theory is that pricing items this way makes it more difficult to calculate and compare unit prices. For example, if a 200-ounce package of an item is $3 and a 400-ounce package of the same item is $5, it's fairly easy to calculate that the 400-ounce package is a better value.

But when the same items are priced $2.99 and $4.99, respectively, they may appear to be the approximately same price, since the first numbers are what register and two is half of four.

Fight Back: Instead of looking at the first number, make a conscious effort to round everything up when doing your calculations. This is another reason to take a calculator when you shop: it can help you work out the true price if you have trouble doing calculations in your head.

Three for $9.99: Stores will often offer multiple items for a single price, such as three for $9.99. Most people assume that they need to purchase three of the items to get this "special" price so they buy more than they really need.

The truth is that unless the items are marked at higher individual prices or the label says something like "must purchase quantity stated to get discount," you can buy a single item for $3.33.

Fight Back: Get in the habit of purchasing only the amount you really need.

Buy One, Get One Free: This is another promotion that can mislead you into thinking you're getting a good deal. It's often difficult to tell whether you would pay half as much for purchasing a single unit or, for that matter, whether the price of a single unit has been inflated to take into account the extra item being "given away."

Many times the "buy one, get one free" offers are not better than the regular price of purchasing two items.

Fight Back: Before purchasing a buy-one-get-one-free item, find out what the regular price of that item is. Then do the math to see if you're really getting a bargain.

"Sale" doesn't mean a discount price: Retailers play on the assumptions you make. Consumers are trained that "sale" means a good price and these items are usually advertised in big, bright lettering at the end of store aisles. The problem is that what the stores call a "sale" may not give you a very good price. (Check out The Grocery Store Game (Janine Bolan), page 28, for other tips of this ilk.) So the casual passerby will see the item is "on sale" and buy the product assuming it's a good price, when it isn't necessarily so.

Fight Back: Don't assume things on the end of an aisle or that are marked as "on sale" are actually a good price. Make a grocery price book so you know a good price and always compare the prices with other similar items.

Putting things at eye level: When you walk down the aisles of the store, notice what items are at eye level. They will be the ones that are the most profitable for the store, which usually means the most expensive ones. This is because stores know you are much more likely to see and choose something at eye level than something on the top or bottom shelf.

Fight Back: When shopping, be sure to look high and low before deciding which product to purchase. You'll often find what you're looking for at a lower price on another shelf.

Stores are quite sophisticated when it comes to getting you to part with your money. If you understand how they are trying to manipulate you, you are less likely to fall into these traps and hold onto more of your hard-earned money.

Copyrighted, TheStreet.Com. All rights reserved
作者: hoshi    時間: 2008-1-24 10:03

I'm an extremely cheap guy so I always do the math.  I don't think I have fallen into any of these traps yet.  
作者: LOK    時間: 2008-1-24 10:07

原帖由 hoshi 於 2008-1-24 10:03 發表
I'm an extremely cheap guy so I always do the math.  I don't think I have fallen into any of these traps yet.  

I don't think that's "cheap", I think that's "smart".
作者: Alcoholic    時間: 2008-1-24 10:39

well....
the only problem is, sometimes we never know when the next sale is going to be. & even if we know, it doesn't guarantee the next sale will have better deals...
作者: SAZABI    時間: 2008-1-24 10:51

My honey doesn't bring a calculator to shop.  She just brings me and I have to work out the math for her. Plus, pulling out my credit card too.  
作者: fibbi    時間: 2008-1-24 11:03

yeah sometimes we can wait for better sale..but the sizes could run out...

In general, for grocery, 99% of the time super store has the best deal. Even though items in safeway or save on food are on sale but the price could still higher than super store. One time my mom bought two big pack of suger (because buy one get one free) but end up the unit price is still more expensive than super store! safe way has just huge markup!
Even today, the butter in save on food is on sale for around $4.8 but in superstore the "regular" price is $4.67!

For clothing... if u really like...sometimes can't wait on sale because the size may be gone by the sale time...
作者: Alcoholic    時間: 2008-1-24 11:15

Yeah...
for groceries, i just try to get everything at Superstore. even their prescriptions has a lower fixed fee.

For clothing, it's pretty hard. the sizes always run out. the only store i would probably prefer to buy at regular price is Zara for work clothes. cus nothing can beat a pair of dress pants for $50.

Sazabi,
no method la...she is your WIFE. a pretty one too.
作者: SAZABI    時間: 2008-1-24 11:21

alchol...

I really don't think she is pretty at all lor... just not PC is good enough for me.

(poor Alcho's hubby, must be expected to pay everything for the WIFE, esp a pretty one)
作者: Ovaltine    時間: 2008-1-24 13:04

Buy what you need is the most important, in the age of capitalism, retailers, wholesalers fool you into buying stuff you don't need. The problem is marketing, they make all these products look so wonderful, "You gonna be happy when you buy it" But all these materialism, does it really make you happy?

haha i am in my hippie rambling again..x_X
作者: Alcoholic    時間: 2008-1-24 13:21

ovaltine,
i know... what you say is true. just like those make-up companies get me EVERY SINGLE TIME. every year, there's a "new collection" for every season. how many girls need new eyeshadow, nail polish, lip gloss every 3-4 months before a "new collection" is launche? ME lor.... fcuk~ i just came back from lunch & bought a new Chanel nail polish...   geez...they get me every time i swear. i know it & i still do it!!!! ARRGGHHH

Sazabi,
no, he didn't pay for my new nail polish at lunch   wife pays for 90% of her toys ga!
作者: utopia    時間: 2008-1-24 13:26

原帖由 Alcoholic 於 2008-1-24 13:21 發表
ovaltine,
i know... what you say is true. just like those make-up companies get me EVERY SINGLE TIME. every year, there's a "new collection" for every season. how many girls need new eyeshadow, nail p ...



Hahaha, twin, you are like that too??
I stopped doing that for a year after receiving constant lecture from caveman ...

Every single time I meet up with my sister-in-law; we are like selling each product to each other like "You know what? It's such a magic product that make this and this and this and this"....

Then when you open our drawn............there are unlimited supply of cosmetic kakaka

Then this Christmas, I went back to the island.. and she started to promote some lip gross to me... hahaha, then I looked at her and asked "I thought you just told me the other lip gross is the best....... "

I am not sure about how those cosmetic got ya...

But those make-up demo from TW show......make me WANT TO HAVE THEM RIGHT THE WAY, NO MATTER WHAT~~~
作者: Alcoholic    時間: 2008-1-24 14:10

if you come over tomorrow night or sat.... you will see i have enough makeup for 2 professional makeup artists lor.
JUST blush ja... i have SEVEN (Dior, Dior, Ipsa, Amarni, RMK, Chantecaille, Shiseido) aiiiii you do NOT wanna know how much eye shadows, liners, powder, palettes etc i have of each.

those companies' sales/marketing stratagies are absolute inteligent lor
作者: utopia    時間: 2008-1-24 15:02

原帖由 Alcoholic 於 2008-1-24 14:10 發表
if you come over tomorrow night or sat.... you will see i have enough makeup for 2 professional makeup artists lor.
JUST blush ja... i have SEVEN (Dior, Dior, Ipsa, Amarni, RMK, Chantecaille, Shiseid ...



Guess I don't have to bring anything and I just need to sit there and let you to do professional make over on me
作者: utopia    時間: 2008-1-24 15:03

原帖由 Alcoholic 於 2008-1-24 14:10 發表
if you come over tomorrow night or sat.... you will see i have enough makeup for 2 professional makeup artists lor.
JUST blush ja... i have SEVEN (Dior, Dior, Ipsa, Amarni, RMK, Chantecaille, Shiseid ...



Well, I threw away a lot of aged old cosmetic in my draw when I moved over...

So I try to stay away from Metrotown or Downtown ..........hahaha, or else my hand will be itchy hehehehee
作者: asmok    時間: 2008-1-24 22:20

When you have a close friend that studies marketing, you'll know all the tricks including those that are not listed.
作者: yungfourfour    時間: 2008-1-24 22:35

Those are true.... but quite out-dated
Prices in safeway and superstore showed Price/volume nowadays...

For $9.99 thing ... it works in places where additional taxes don't apply....just my 2 cents

For consumer items.... if I like it and the price is good I'd buy it.... instead of choosing b/t 20% then 30% off or just 45% off ga ma
作者: puZZle    時間: 2008-1-25 00:42

原帖由 asmok 於 2008-1-24 22:20 發表
When you have a close friend that studies marketing, you'll know all the tricks including those that are not listed.


interestingly, i learned much of the tips from soci instead of marketing
作者: 阿邊個邊個    時間: 2008-1-25 16:54

原帖由 asmok 於 2008-1-24 22:20 發表
When you have a close friend that studies marketing, you'll know all the tricks including those that are not listed.



that's so true....after i took marketing courses, i have became a smarter customer, not buying into the bait the beauty/ cosemetics company lure d out.... but it is funny that my best friend took more marketing courses than i do and yet she still buy stuff... a complusive shopper i must say... sometimes when we shop, i am the one who hold back and she is the one that ended up spending $100+....
作者: hoshi    時間: 2008-1-25 20:00

I really don't think anyone needs to study anything.  As long as one is poor, he/she automatically won't fall into those traps.  On the same token as long as one has spare money to spend, he/she would buy no matter what they have studied or knew.  
作者: blueprint    時間: 2008-1-25 22:02     標題: 回復 19# 的帖子

I think it depends. There are people who likes to get things this and that even though he/she can't really afford it.  They may try to get $ by trying to swipe master cards, visa cards, whatever.   So I think the spending comes down one important thing: self-control.
作者: asmok    時間: 2008-1-27 15:31

Knowing all the tricks in how advertising works only helps you if you use your knowledge during your shop. If the person don't think before they buy, then no body can help them.  For that reason, we should thank those that buy on their impulses since those people helps the economy growing.

I agree with blueprint, poor people can still fall for the traps. It's only rational people that won't fall for traps.

The easiest way to prevent compulsive shopping is to walk away from the things you really like and go back to it later.  The more you look at it, the more reason you have to buy it.
作者: Intelstan    時間: 2008-1-27 16:53

Even though I studied some marketing before, I think I still fell into the double discount traps a few times.



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