New research shows that grocery stores are using some pretty sly tactics to get you to bulk up your bill. To avoid falling for them…
1. Skip the suggested add-on. According to a new study, we tend to buy complementary products that are placed next to each other on the shelves—such as blueberries and whipped cream, chips and salsa, soda and pretzels and ice cream and chocolate syrup. Yet, when we pass by the same products in different aisles, we don’t put them in our cart, reports the Journal of Marketing. Think you can’t live without pairing your fresh blueberries with the supermarket’s suggested whipped cream? Do the rest of your shopping first and see if urge is still as great by the time you’re finished to swing back and pick it up.
2. Carry a calculator. Wonder why the total on your grocery receipt is higher than the amount you figured in your head as you shopped? A new Georgia Tech College of Management study shows that the inconsistent supermarket pricing system—for instance, $1.23, $4.57 and $7.97—and the many signs crowding the store with numbers on them confuse us, making it virtually impossible to keep an accurate mental tally.
3. Don’t feel pressured by sale limits. If you see a sale that says you can only take a limited quantity—such as four cans of soup—or it’s offered for a limited time only—say, three days—think twice if you really need it. Supermarkets use limits to create a sense of urgency to make you feel like you’re going to miss out on a super deal if you don’t act fast, says Charlie Peters, founder of paylessforfood.com.
[photo: Sung Sook]
