17 Tricks Stores Use To Make You Spend More Money

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A big, bold "SALE" sign helps get people in the store, where they are likely to buy non-sale items.

A big, bold "SALE" sign helps get people in the store, where they are likely to buy non-sale items.
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Once you enter, there's the shopping cart. This invention was designed in the late 1930s to help customers make larger purchases more easily.

Once you enter, there's the shopping cart. This invention was designed in the late 1930s to help customers make larger purchases more easily.

Source: Idea Finder

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In supermarkets, high margin departments like floral and fresh baked goods are placed near the front door, so you encounter them when your cart is empty and your spirits are high.

In supermarkets, high margin departments like floral and fresh baked goods are placed near the front door, so you encounter them when your cart is empty and your spirits are high.

Flowers and baked goods also sit near the front of stores because their appealing smell activates your salivary glands, making you more likely to purchase on impulse.

Flowers and baked goods also sit near the front of stores because their appealing smell activates your salivary glands, making you more likely to purchase on impulse.
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Supermarkets like to hide dairy products and other essentials on the back wall, forcing you to go through the whole store to reach them.

Supermarkets like to hide dairy products and other essentials on the back wall, forcing you to go through the whole store to reach them.

Once customers start walking through a store's maze of aisles, they are conditioned to walk up and down each one without deviating.

Once customers start walking through a store's maze of aisles, they are conditioned to walk up and down each one without deviating.

Source: Levy and Weitz 1997. Read more here.

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Most stores move customers from right to left. This, combined with the fact that America drives on the right, makes people more likely to purchase items on the right-hand side of the aisle.

Most stores move customers from right to left. This, combined with the fact that America drives on the right, makes people more likely to purchase items on the right-hand side of the aisle.

Source: AllSands

Anything a store really wants customers to buy is placed at eye level. Particularly favored items are highlighted at the ends of aisles.

Anything a store really wants customers to buy is placed at eye level. Particularly favored items are highlighted at the ends of aisles.
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There's also kid eye level. This is where stores place toys, games, sugary cereal, candy, and other items a kid will see and beg his parents to buy.

There's also kid eye level. This is where stores place toys, games, sugary cereal, candy, and other items a kid will see and beg his parents to buy.

Sample stations and other displays slow you down while exposing you to new products.

Sample stations and other displays slow you down while exposing you to new products.
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Stores also want items to be in easy reach. Research shows that touching items increases the chance of a purchase.

Stores also want items to be in easy reach. Research shows that touching items increases the chance of a purchase.

Source: lifehacker

Color affects shoppers, too. People are drawn into stores by warm hues like reds, oranges, and yellows, but once inside cool colors like blues and greens encourage them to spend more.

Color affects shoppers, too. People are drawn into stores by warm hues like reds, oranges, and yellows, but once inside cool colors like blues and greens encourage them to spend more.

Source: ?Bellizzi et al. (1983). Full citation here.

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Hear that music? Studies show that slow music makes people shop leisurely and spend more. Loud music hurries them through the store and doesn't affect sales. Classical music encourages more expensive purchases.

Hear that music? Studies show that slow music makes people shop leisurely and spend more. Loud music hurries them through the store and doesn't affect sales. Classical music encourages more expensive purchases.

Cain-Smith & Curnow (1966); Milliman (1982 & 1986); Caldwell & Hibbert (1999); Areni & Kim (1993). Full citation here.

Store size matters, too. In crowded places, people spend less time shopping, make fewer purchases (planned and impulsive), and feel less comfortable?.

Store size matters, too. In crowded places, people spend less time shopping, make fewer purchases (planned and impulsive), and feel less comfortable?.

Source: Harrell & Hunt (1976); Gillis et al. (1986). Full citation here.

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Stores not only entice you with sales, they also use limited-time offers to increase your sense of urgency in making a purchase.

Stores not only entice you with sales, they also use limited-time offers to increase your sense of urgency in making a purchase.


The most profitable area of the store is the checkout line. Stores bank on customers succumbing to the candy and magazine racks while they wait.

The most profitable area of the store is the checkout line. Stores bank on customers succumbing to the candy and magazine racks while they wait.
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Finally, there is the ubiquitous "valued shopper" card. This card gives you an occasional deal in exchange for your customer loyalty and valuable personal data.

Finally, there is the ubiquitous "valued shopper" card. This card gives you an occasional deal in exchange for your customer loyalty and valuable personal data.

Now, see the tricks your brain is playing on you:

Now, see the tricks your brain is playing on you:

57 Cognitive Biases That Screw Up How We Think »

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