Next time you need to make a purchase (such as a car, appliance or new home), watch out if the salesperson does this: He begins by flooding you with facts, technical jargon and even nonsense words. Then [more…]
Posts tagged as:
shopping
Think you know a bargain when you see one? Maybe not! A study in the Journal of Consumer Research reveals that by simply making the right-hand digit of a sale price smaller, your brain perceives the discount as larger than it really is. For instance, an item on sale for $211 from the original price of $222 is perceived to be a better deal than an item on sale for $188 from an original price of $199—even though both discounts are $11. So keep a calculator handy the next time you go bargain hunting!
[photo: Cosmic Kitty]
And the savings aren’t only on items at tag sales. A national study by Consumer Reports finds that more than 90% of folks who asked for a better price got it on brand-new [more…]
Trying to tally your grocery bill as you shop? Need to cut a recipe by one-third? Stumped by your kid’s homework assignment? Try talking aloud as you do the math. When researchers from the University of Granada in Spain videotaped students working on tough math problems, those who spoke aloud while doing the equations found the correct answers faster than those who did the problems in their head. This easy technique helps you understand the problem better and come up with new ways to reach the right solution, the researchers say.
[photo: MelvinSchlubman]
Wednesday! That’s when you’ll find the steepest discounts on women’s accessories, shoes and clothing, according to a recent study of 100 online retailers by shopittome.com. [more…]
It’s the one you drool over. A study published in the Journal of Consumer Research reveals that not only are shoppers more likely to purchase more products when we’re attracted to the salesperson, we’re also willing to pay more for the items! The reason? We subconsciously rate products as being higher in quality when the person selling them to us is good-looking.
[photo: atp_tyreseus]
According to a recent study, while an impressive 71% of men are now doing at least some of the grocery shopping, they’re not necessarily getting better at it. For instance, if they can’t find a certain item, they generally won’t look for substitutes. They tend to get overwhelmed when faced with a lot of choices. And they’re about as likely to ask for help finding products as they are to ask for directions. To make it easier for your mate, hand him a grocery list with lots of details—such as the size, brand and flavor you want, and even where the items are in the store. And be sure to include alternatives in case the product you want isn’t on the shelf.
[photo: Ollie Crafoord]
You don’t have to travel far for great discounts. Offeretti.com rounds up all the sales and promotions from stores, restaurants, salons and other businesses right in your own neighborhood, then pinpoints them on a map so you can easily find them.
You are if you wander aimlessly through a store, randomly pick up products and appear distracted. This sends the message “I’m an impulse shopper” to salespeople, who then [more…]
Find that you’re less active during the colder months when blustery weather makes it hard to bike, hike, garden, swim and do all your usual outdoor exercises? Then, you’re also missing out on the great benefits from being active—such as a stronger heart, more energy, a smaller waistline, a brighter mood and less stress. Luckily, there are lots of easy, inexpensive ways to make indoor workouts just as enjoyable as outdoor ones:
* Relive your childhood with a hula hoop. They’re not just for kids anymore. Adult-sized versions are slightly heavier to give you an easy workout that tones your hips and tummy. [more…]
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. [more…]
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