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173 Comments
- crashflow, on 10/12/2007, -4/+107you mean Axe doesn't work?!?Why aren't these women fight each other and tackling me?
I don't understand...why did they lie? WHY?!? - JrGhoull, on 10/12/2007, -13/+107way #16: show you a beautiful person and tell you that either A: if you buy the product they will have sex with you or B: you will turn into that beautiful person if you buy said product.
- sikosmurf, on 10/12/2007, -3/+87Listing the non-sale price as "$4 for 2" is a great way to get people to both think it's on sale, and have them buy more than they need. My mom falls for that one all the time as i quickly remind her she doesn't _have_ to buy 2.
- Chairboy, on 10/12/2007, -3/+85Coming up next:
10 ways that Digg.com "tricks" you into visiting, such as providing a useful service with a good interface and fiendishly offering a comment ranking system that folks like.
12 ways candy tricks you into eating it, including 'tasting good' and 'being candy'.
The article describes good marketing and store layout, calling it a 'trick' is disingenuous. What would the acceptable alternative be? - sjbdallas, on 10/12/2007, -1/+699 ways women trick you into stalking them.
- Xyleene, on 10/12/2007, -6/+6715 obvious ways stores trick you into spending
there, fixed it. - kelbear, on 10/12/2007, -6/+62Step #1
Get some willpower. - Biskino, on 10/12/2007, -1/+55Thank you.
In other news: businesses focused on profit. - thewump, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5315 ways to blame someone else for your mistakes
- tizz66, on 10/12/2007, -1/+51I shopped online with a UK electronics store last week, and was horrified to see they had 'helpfully' added additional cables to my shopping basket along with my purchase. I'm glad I noticed or there'd have been hell to pay. I can't even believe that's legal.
- ray901, on 10/12/2007, -11/+56When people complain about these sales techinques they are really complaining that that they lack critical thinking skills and are easily coaxed into buying stuff they don't need. Boohoo.
- Firehunter, on 10/12/2007, -3/+47Well that all depends on what Woot! puts into said Bag of Crap. And it's really $8 with shipping.
- Jrr6415sun, on 10/12/2007, -3/+46"but the shopping carts are right there by the entrance and, oh, wouldn't it be convenient to have it so I can lean on it a bit while walking around and to put my stuff in it?"
I see the shopping carts as a pain in the ass to push around, and I only take them if I absolutely have to. - obijohn, on 10/12/2007, -8/+47Best way to fight back: Never send your wife/girlfriend to the store with your checkbook or credit card.
Her: "Look honey, I saved us $75 because this [insert-name-of-thing-we-don't-need] was 50% off!!!"
You: "No, you just lost us $75 because we didn't need it in the first place."
Her: *glaring*
You: "This means we're not having sex tonight, right?" - lpmiller, on 10/12/2007, -6/+43#17 offering to accept money for payment....bastards!
- Pile, on 10/12/2007, -1/+38#19 When they list price-by-weight (or volume) on the tags for products on the isle, they mix up unit measurements so you can't tell what's cheaper... $1 per ounce or $7 per pound?
- dogstylee, on 10/12/2007, -1/+31I work in retail and let me walk you through this list:
1. Shopping carts
--- we have about 8 different sizes, and also hand baskets. If they weren't there, customers would bitch and moan.
2. Desirable departments are far away from the entrance.
--- electronics is far away to stop thieves. Bakery/delicatessen is usually at the far end as they require electricity and other amenities, so they need to be situated where they can access this - near a wall. Pointless putting them at the front. Notice that convenient things such as cigarette kiosks are at the front, as are newspapers, yet he doesn't complain about this.
3. The toy section is far, far, far away from the entrance.
--- because kids play with the toys, and they end up all over the floor. Boo hoo.
4. Impulse-oriented items are near the checkouts.
--- where else would they be?
5. The most expensive versions of a product are the ones at eye level.
--- would you prefer if we put stuff up high so you can't reach? Or how about on the shelf 2 inches from the ground so you have to bend down?
6. Items that aren't on sale are sometimes placed as though they are on sale, without using the word "sale."
--- it is against trading standards laws to advertise something as being a different price to what you pay. If you see it, complain, and you'll get a gift certificate. Otherwise, stop moaning.
7. Commodity items, such as socks, are surrounded by noncommodity items, such as shirts and jeans.
--- our apologies, we'll be sure to put the socks in the refridgerated section with the milk and sandwich meat next time.
8. Slickly packaged items alternate with less slickly packaged items.
--- no, you will notice that the store brand items - ie the cheaper items - are in the same area as the branded - ie the more expensive - items, which, co-incidentally, have nice packaging aposed to the store brand's no-frills packaging. If we put the cheaper potato chips at the other end of the aisle, you'd never find them, and your shopping trip would be more expensive. Stop moaning.
9. Stop, stop, stop. You add items to your cart only if you stop, right? So stores are designed to maximize the number of stops you have to make: aisles in which only two carts can fit, colorful and attractive layouts...
--- aises are this wide because the building does not occupy a finite space, moron. You are only stopping because the customer in front of you is either too slow, or is one of those idiots who dithers for 2 minutes over which peice of celery to buy. Believe it or not, customers stopping causes problems for the staff who need to get past them. As for sample vendors - big whoop. You don't have to buy what they're promoting, but if you try what they have, maybe you'll like it and buy something you'd never normally have considered....
10. Staple items are placed in the middle of aisles, nonessential and overpriced items near the end.
--- not always designed to this end. You'll notice that aisles are segregated. Let's say it's tinned food. You'll have all the tinned beans, then the tinned tomatoes next to them, then the tinned soup, then the tinned whatever. Sure, the baked beans may have a large space, but that's because more people buy them.
11. Prices are chosen to make comparison math difficult.
--- things are priced at *.99 so the cashier has to open the till. Also if you see something for $9.99, you don't think of it as $10...
12. Stuff in bins isn't always a bargain.
--- stuff in bins is crap that didn't sell, and has been sitting in the warehouse for weeks, and now we just want to get the hell rid of it. Sometimes it may be something good - I usually find CD-Rs in bins at my local shop for about £2. Sometimes it may be crap.
13. High-markup items are made to look prestigious.
--- stuff is in cases to stop you ***** stealing it. We put razor blades in plastic cases- people try to open them. We put DVDs in plastic cases - people try to open them. People rip free disk and gifts from magazines, and steal the TV guide magazines. People pocket sample purfumes.
14. The most profitable department is usually the first one you run into.
--- hang about, weren't you moaning just now about the best stuff being at the back?
15. Restrooms and customer services are usually right by the exit or as far from the exit as possible.
--- not sure about your stores, but our restrooms are behind checkouts, next to the restaurant, so people can use them after they've shopped. Customer Services is about 20 yards inside the front door.
And for those of you complaining about impulse buying, next time you walk into a large store to buy just a drink, would you prefer if we put it right at the back of the store so you have to look around for it? And stop watching adverts on TV. Most impulse buying comes from people watching crap on TV and deciding they need it. - manmademark, on 10/12/2007, -4/+33How can you fight back?
Stop being a weak willed consumer whore. - roosterjm2k2, on 10/12/2007, -7/+35heres the roosterjm2k2 survival guide to shopping in these "evil" stores, and its only 3 steps.
Step 1) Engage Brain
Step 2) Locate Common Sense
Step 3) Enter Store
Am i the only one that actually laughed out loud, literally, when it said "Don't Stop" ... they shopping at a walmart in compton or something? - BOFH2, on 10/12/2007, -3/+30A friend of mine said something very true many times, A five dollar bag of crap, is still a bag of crap!
- liltbrockie, on 10/12/2007, -8/+34internet shopping FTW!
- brundlefly76, on 10/12/2007, -0/+25"#1 Shopping carts."
Those greedy psychopaths, offering me a deceptively convenient wheeled cart to place my purchases in AND RIGHT NEXT TO THE ENTRANCE!
I'm glad someone finally revealed the psychological games these people are playing with our minds every day.
I'll show them next time how I can balance a week's worth of groceries with my bare hands, but they will probably kick me out of the store so the other patrons will not be alerted to my cunning subversion. - BOFH2, on 10/12/2007, -0/+24Even that is getting bad, at newegg they have the "accessory" items when you click on add to cart.
- Battlecry, on 10/12/2007, -3/+23Most of these just aren't true.
If stores didn't provide shopping carts, people would complain about having to carry around all their stuff. That's why they also provide those little baskets.
Just because something is desirable to you, doesn't make it so for everyone else. I don't go to the store for light bulbs every day. It wouldn't make sense putting them at the front of the store. And could you imagine a store where the toy department is right by the entrance to the store? Having to traverse the mine field of children shooting each other and throwing balls around?
Most stores alternate name brand and off-brand merchandise. Not to make you buy the expensive stuff, but to buy the cheap stuff. Stores like Kroger make more money if you buy the kroger brand cereal than if you were to buy that box of rice crispies.
Also, the more expensive stuff isn't at eye level. The more adult-oriented foods are at eye level. The kids foods and whatnot are lower. Not only do they sell more that way, but it wouldn't make sense the other way around.
It's not a big conspiracy. Yes, stores are driven to profit. How else would they stay in business? - sjbdallas, on 10/12/2007, -0/+19EXACTLY
People are so quick to blame someone else for their own failures. If I walk into a store and buy something, it's my doing -- not the store's for TRICKING me into buying something. We are a society of envious consumers who always want to have something better than someone else. It makes me sick. Drive through a poor part of town and count the new cars if you want to see an example of this kind of thing. - liltbrockie, on 10/12/2007, -1/+17THIS NEWS JUST IN - Super Markets employ tactics to make you buy stuff from them!
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+19Should be renamed to "15 ways stores try to maximize profits" just because you're fatass has to buy those pork rinds every time you pass them is because you're a sucker, not cause the store tricked you.
"7. Commodity items, such as socks, are surrounded by noncommodity items, such as shirts and jeans. If I'm looking to buy some socks, I have to traverse through a number of racks full of different types of clothing in the clothing section just to reach them.
Why? If my mind is already open to the idea of buying clothes, I would be more likely to look at other clothing items."
...or socks just happen to be in the clothing section. If you want to buy socks, then just buy socks. This article only applies to suckers, buried as innacurate. - dorianh49, on 10/12/2007, -3/+19@ jud420: You said walk 'buy' instead of walk 'by'. Sounds like those subliminal messages are starting to get to you!
- liltbrockie, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1428 ways film producers trick you into watch a film.
- tizz66, on 10/12/2007, -2/+13Ah, all the 'don't be a dumbass' people are coming out as usual. Are you saying you've never bought something you didn't need? Would you have bought it if it wasn't conveniently nearby? Everyone has made an impulse purchase, it doesn't make you a dumbass, it makes you human. The problem with impulse buying comes when you really can't afford to do it.
- themarq, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1411. Prices are chosen to make comparison math difficult. Instead of selling the 100-ounce detergent for $6 and the 200-ounce detergent for $11 (making it easier to figure out the better deal), they sell the 100-ounce for $5.99 and the 200-ounce for $10.89.
Most of the products in my usual store show the price breakdown per milliliter or ounce. So whether the bottle of maple syrup is big or small I can see the exact price per standard unit.
As with most lists, this one is also *****. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+13#18
Sell things at a slightly reduced price (even at the same price as normal), however set a limit "Only X per customer". People feel inclined to purchase more are there seems to be a limited supply. - alpinweiss88, on 10/12/2007, -2/+13I don't think the article is about blame, I think it is about educating people. Some of the tricks they do are obvious, some are not. This list had quite a few obvious ones. Too many people are mindless consumers. We need to be better educated consumers.
If you ever shop at grocery stores or CostCo, they give out food samples. I have bought several things that they give samples of, because they were good. After all, I am there to buy food. I am always looking to try something new, and often times new items are priced lower to get you to try them.
This list says just look at price and size? Umm, how about ingredients? If you are just buying food to spend the least amount of money possible, then you are missing out. It isn't always about just buying the cheapest item. I don't care what brand of peanut butter is on sale, I like Jif better than all others I have tried. That is what I buy.
There is only 1 piece of advice when shopping - make good choices. Whatever "good" means to you. If it means that you go in and grab the first thing you see, because you are a lazy bastard who can't take 30 seconds to evaluate other products, then good for you. Should you always try to find the lowest price? Not in my opinion. My roommate in college would nearly run his car out of gas before making a trip to see his girlfriend on the weekends, because gas was 4 cents cheaper a gallon where she lived (an hour away). He went through all the time, planning, and risk to save 40 cents.
You have to evaluate what your time and effort is worth. Would you drive to 3 different stores to price-compare an item where you might save $10? You probably just blew your savings in gas. That is why the internet is so great for price comparison, you can do it will just a little bit of time and effort. You can drive yourself crazy, and waste a lot of time and effort by always trying to get the best deal. Just make good choices, and be willing to pay for quality. Sometimes, that can save you money in the long run as well. Don't forget used items! My 27" TV just went out. I purchased a used 32" Sony Wega from someone who upgraded to a flat panel. I could have gone to Wal*Mart and probably gotten a new one for the same amount, but a) I don't shop at Wal*Mart for moral reasons b) A high-quality used TV is better than a new crappy TV. There is always some risk in buying used, but you can also get very good stuff at a fraction of the cost. - sjbdallas, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12I've read through this list twice now and it's clear that the title should be changed to "15 Excuses your wife has for spending money you don't have"
- SiliconRain, on 10/12/2007, -4/+13I disagree. Candy bars tasting good and Digg being fun is called providing the consumer with what they want. Marketing in the sense that this article talks about it is a trick, in that it uses misleading tactics to coerce the consumer into making a choice that is probably against their own interests and that is different from the choice that they would be likely to make if given an objective comparison of their options.
Apples are better for you, cheaper and taste (in most people's honest opinions) about as good as a candy bar. People buy snickers because it has a slick wrapper and big signs pointing to it saying "Wow! Awesome!".
As the great Bill Hicks would point out, marketing people are low-life *****-suckers of Satan who put dollar signs on everything, regardless of the morality of their actions. - black27696, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9Business Marketing:
#1. Make shiny stuff really obvious, hide dull stuff
#2. Remember, the people that will fall for this stuff are idiots, so cater to idiots
#3. Money is good, make more. Sort of the goal of a business.
Smart Customer: "I need to buy some detergent. I like this brand, I think I'll get it"
Dumb Customer: "I need to get some detergent. Oooooooo shiny! I want this! Wait what is it? Who cares it's glittery!" - BobsYourUncle, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11If you need this list, you also need to immediately cut up your credit cards.
- shoegal82, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9"Restrooms and customer services are usually right by the exit or as far from the exit as possible. Why? If you need to use either one in the middle of a shopping journey, you have to walk by a lot of merchandise to reach the needed service, thus increasing your chances for an impulse buy."
Where else are they going to put the bathroom in a box store? In the middle? A bunch of squat pots in automotive? - brstilson, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9"along with overpriced beverages and candy."
Maybe this is different elsewhere, but where I live the prices for candy and soda at the checkout lane are identical to what you'd find in any convenience store.
As far as shopping carts, if I'm only buying a few things, I use those convenient baskets at the entrance - Makubex, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8They forgot the most important tip.
11. You do the shopping instead of letting the wife or significant other do it... That way you avoid that whole "Oh honey, look what I picked up for the bathroom at Target!!! It will look great with that frog shaped toothbrush holder I picked up last week! It was only 20 bucks!"
You won't believe the money that you'll save. - dweeb79, on 10/12/2007, -11/+18The best way not to spend money.......
If u don't have the money then DON'T BUY STUFF!!!!! - Nougat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7@JKylman (#6376916)
That shopping cart statistic is sooo bad. Ever think it's possible that people who *were already intending* to buy many items (and hence have a higher average ticket) would take shopping carts, while those who *were already intending* to buy only one or two items (and hence have a lower average ticket) would not take shopping carts?
I think it's much more likely that a customers shopping intent as they are entering the store is the cause of whether or not they take a cart, not the other way around. - meatloafsurpriz, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7This list is such *****:
"7. Commodity items, such as socks, are surrounded by noncommodity items, such as shirts and jeans."
Is it just me, or should socks be placed where other clothing items are sold?
"9. Stop, stop, stop. You add items to your cart only if you stop, right? So stores are designed to maximize the number of stops you have to make: aisles in which only two carts can fit..."
Clearly stores make aisles only 2 carts wide to make you stop more often, and not, say, to maximize the amount of aisles found in the store...
"11. Prices are chosen to make comparison math difficult. Instead of selling the 100-ounce detergent for $6 and the 200-ounce detergent for $11 (making it easier to figure out the better deal), they sell the 100-ounce for $5.99 and the 200-ounce for $10.89."
I didn't know rounding up was so hard for people to do
"15. Restrooms and customer services are usually right by the exit or as far from the exit as possible. Why? If you need to use either one in the middle of a shopping journey, you have to walk by a lot of merchandise to reach the needed service, thus increasing your chances for an impulse buy."
Damn them for not placing bathrooms every 10 feet in a store. - ywwg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6"6. Don't stop unless you're actively selecting an item."
They make it sound like customers shopping in a store are helpless morons. It's not like they have mind-control rays forcing you to buy stuff you don't need. What's next, suggesting people put on horse blinders so they don't get distracted by the pretty packaging? - XenophobicAlien, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I thought the frog was kinda cute..
- unfinite, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6What about the ones like...
$20 for 1 item
$30 for 2 items
$35 for 3 items
Damn bargains - mtalon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Men = hunters. Identify, stalk, capture. Happy.
Women = gatherers. Identify, gather, compare, gather some more, evaluate, reject some, gather more, consider, etc.
Yeah, it's a generalization, but it holds up. It drives my wife crazy when I demand she stick to a list, and I drive her nuts by picking the first thing I find that satisfies the criteria (cost, need) rather than comparing ingredients etc. - obby, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6pile - Right now, in Canada all fruits, meats, bulk are measured in pounds. At the register, they will ALWAYS come up in kilograms. So now we have to do the 2.2 x a lbs for a kg trick and by the time you think you're being ripped off, you're in your car.
I used to work in a grocery store (YAA....) anywho I was always given the job of updating the "mistakenly priced items" to their properly listed price. Let me tell you, we put items "on sale" but never changed the price all the time. Meat and Fish were the worst offenders because the weight is always changes. My advice is to complain if you have the slightest feeling that the price is wrong. Here in Ontario, many retailers offer a $10 off (or free if under $10) if the item comes up scanned at the wrong price. - Zipko, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5A tip I've found that works for grocery shopping is to eat a big meal before going. I find that if I go shopping on an empty stomache I end up buying all kinds of junk food I don't need because I'm hungry and it all looks good at the time. If I just ate the last thing I want to do is look at food again, so shop faster and only get the things I know I'm going to need for the week.
- ldkronos, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5@ubuwalker31
Or better yet, don't be an ass...figure out what you don't want BEFORE you get it line. I bugs the ***** out of me seeing all these morons that just leave items they don't want sitting at at the checkout (or even just dropped on a random shelf somewhere in the store). What bugs me most is when the morons do this with refrigerated/frozen food. When that packet of lunch meat you dropped off on the magazine rack has been sitting there for 12 hours, the store can't sell it anymore (or at least I hope they don't). -
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