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Beating the grocer at his own game is half the fun, the other half is going home with money in your wallet and a cart full of groceries. Here are 5 more Dirty grocery store tricks the retailers wish we wouldn't tell you!- Unmarked Goods - How many times have you picked up an item only to discoverthat there isn't any price. You diligently search the shelf, nothing, the surrounding area, still nothing, you might even believe that it was overlooked or accidental. Chances are, it wasn't, it was simply another marketing ploy to get you to place item in your cart and move along. I have a rule when I shop- if they're too lazy to price it, they obviously don't want me to buy it. I put it back and move along.
- Sale Patterns - avid couponers are aware that grocery stores use sales patterns. You'll see that items are available during their particular season at a discounted price. Learning when these patterns occur and taking advantage of them will ensure that you always get the items you want at the best price.
- Bulk Packaging- It used to be that when you purchased an item in bulk - you would receive considerable discounts. However, the last couple of years this has reversed. While shopping, compare the unit price per ounce (or pound) on the shelf sticker. Chances are you'll save money buying the smaller packages.
- Slow Music Sells Groceries- It's been scientifically proven that music with a slower beat, played in a major chord compels consumers to purchase more. I can hear you asking aloud, "How?" Simple- we, as consumers SLOW down. We take our time, lolly-gagging in the aisles,all the while filling those over sized grocery carts. Money saving tip- listen to upbeat, fast paced music on your ipod or mp3 player while you shop- you'll move faster through the store and be less inclined to add items you don't need to your cart.
- Crowded Isles- Perhaps you wondered why they crammed so many things into the aisles near the checkouts, rotisserie chickens, tables upon tables of baked goods, crammed all together, making it nearly impossible to pass other customers. You may have thought this was poor design, they ought to make the aisles wider, easier for people to pass. This is another type of intentional staging, statistically speaking, people who are stressed are more likely to "treat" themselves for their "hard work". (After all- desserts is stressed spelled backwards!) This is why these tables near the front are usually loaded with high fat, sugar laden foods such as bakery items (cookies, brownies, tarts, pies, donuts, etc). Money Saving tip: Shop early in the day or very late in the evening. Avoid Shopping between 4pm-8pm when the stores are more likely to be crowded and you're more likely to be enticed into purchasing junk food as a "treat".
Here are a few other Dirty Little Tricks Retailers Play
Presenting . . .
The average family of 4 in the United States spends more than $700 a month on
groceries alone. In the “2012 Family Guide to Groceries under $250 a Month" the
author outlines how and where to cut grocery expenses to get spending under
control while opening the consumers eyes to little known dirty manipulation
tactics employed by retailers to seduce unsuspecting customers into spending
sprees.
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