“Online Sales Scams and Supermarket Fraud: A Practical Guide”
Know how you are forced to choose what they want to sell.
While in a rush to buy a new phone or any product From Amazon/Flipkart’s big billion sales, how many times, did You try to find out if you actually need the product or not?
Could you think that even not buying is also an option for you?
The same is true for supermarkets. There might be a product of good quality available but the product with good branding, finally makes it to your basket.
“In a world of infinite choice, the best way to navigate is to become an informed consumer.”
6 Marketing Tricks Companies Use To Make You Buy More at the Supermarket.
- False Urgency and Scarcity- Creating false urgency and scarcity about product availability is a popular strategy used by a lot of brands. By showing that they Have a limited stock of a product, they make people buy more than their needs.
- Eye-catching, Strategic Positioning- This method is used in most grocery stores. Store place the products with high margins in front and place the items with less margin behind. We have this habit of noticing things that are near to us and this makes us buy food products that are placed close to us. Products placed in supermarket racks are also according to strategies for making customers buy things that are not for daily purpose use. For example, things like soap and detergent are placed back but cold drinks, chips, etc are placed in front.
- Using attractive eye-catching colors- Most of the popular fast-food chains use red and yellow colors in their logos and banners as these are eye-catching and can easily excite anyone to eat.
- The expiry date- Most of the food products that we buy have expiry dates that are not true. A lot of products can remain safe even after a long time of expiry dates have been crossed. Companies put less time on the labels because people will have to use them faster or replace them if they go bad before use.
- Advertisements- Using popular celebrities in brand endorsements makes consumers build trust in products. To attract kids, cartoons are used in advertisements. Most celebs don’t care for the quality of the products they are endorsing as they get big money for that.
- Bulk is cheap- People tend to buy products at a sale. Food items are mostly sold in bulk numbers by giving a small discount to customers. In this process, buyers tend to spend more money than they need. A lot of food gets wasted also in bulk quantity.
“Bad shopping habits die hard.” Tori Spelling
12 smart ways you can save yourself from falling into the above marketing traps.
1. Create a Personal Budget- This can help you limit your purchases and encourage more mindful shopping.
2. Set Clear Priorities- Before shopping, identify your top priorities or needs. Having a clear list can prevent you from being influenced by attractive marketing tactics.
3. Use Price Comparison Tools- Utilize apps or websites that compare prices across different platforms. This can help you find the best deal without falling for promotional tactics.
4. Delay Purchases- Implement a waiting period for non-essential items. This “cooling-off” period can help determine if the purchase is truly necessary.
5. Educate Yourself About Brands- Research brands and their practices. Understanding the quality and ethics behind a brand can lead to more conscious purchasing decisions.
6. Practice Mindful Shopping- Engage in mindfulness techniques while shopping, such as focusing on your breath and being present. This can help reduce impulsivity and enhance decision-making.
7. Limit Exposure to Advertising- Reduce time spent on social media or avoid ads by using ad blockers. Less exposure to persuasive marketing can decrease impulse buys.
8. Involve a Friend or Family Member- Bring someone along when shopping. They can provide an objective perspective and help keep you accountable for your budget and priorities.
9. Keep Track of Purchases- Maintain a record of your purchases to analyze your spending habits. This can highlight areas where you might be overspending or buying unnecessarily.
10. Promote Consumer Education- Advocate for or participate in community workshops that educate consumers about marketing tactics and smart shopping practices.
11. Review Return Policies- Familiarize yourself with return policies before making purchases. Knowing that you can return items may reduce the pressure to buy on impulse.
12. Consider Alternative Shopping Methods- Explore second-hand or local markets where products may be less influenced by aggressive marketing tactics and often offer better value.
Implementing these strategies can empower you to make more thoughtful purchasing decisions, ultimately leading to greater satisfaction and reduced waste.
