How Stores Trick You Into Buying More Things

We all like to think we’re savvy shoppers, but we’re still vulnerable to these common psychological tricks.

Sources:
The Zero Price Effect: “How Small is Zero Price?” Dan Ariely, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

How the Offer of ‘Free Shipping’ Affects On-line Shopping

On Orbitz, Mac Users Steered to Pricier Hotels

How Amazon Tricks You Into Thinking It Always Has the Lowest Prices

[elliottanderson]

Thanks. I feel like a real schmuck now; and I thought I was a clever, considerate shopper. Damn and blast!

[gfhfuzr]

I hate psychological pricing, all these $4.99 and £299.98, ugh

[normanoro]

I think maybe this clip gives these tactics a bit too much credit in influencing behavior, but it's good people know about them (having worked in corporate America and being an MBA, I kind of hesitate to call them tricks). Ultimately, all of these tactics to induce people to buy things they don't really need can largely be negated by a little comparison shopping that can be done on most smartphones. Also, if shining a light on a product or surrounding its listing with a box is enough to induce you to buy a product you otherwise wouldn't get, you can probably afford it; and in fact, you may enjoy consuming conspicuously to show others just how little money matters to you (win-win in this case).

[Crazytesseract]

"Technology does not bring progress, but only an illusion of progress."
Say this every morning when you wake up and every night before you retire. You'll thank yourself.

[ChristineLGolden]

I've been thinking lately about what things are 'worth.' What does that mean, anyway? I do believe worth is subjective, so how to think about what is a fair price for something?

[EReaderChannel]

If the product that a customer could buy with the 20-dollar gift card is worth 6 dollars, then the person choose 20-dollar gift card is using 7 dollars to buy 6-dollar worth product, which lead him to lose 1 dollar. The person who choose 10-dollar gift card is getting 3-dollar worth of product at no expense. The question is that does the gift card have that 20 for 7 ratio. Does it make sense?

[carmendevine]

The witch didn't place the breadcrumbs.

[amazingbollweevil]

Like the wicked witch leaving a trail of breadcrumbs for Hansel and Gretel? Oh, lord. It's bad enough that you chose a bad analogy, but then you didn't even understand the original story's message.

[alexandercranford]

As an ex-chef what you are saying about restaurants is correct but don't think the business is a gravy train, it is anything but. The more up market you, the narrower the margins. Running a restaurant takes much energy for not much profit. Not a business I would recommend anyone to go into.

[kell_checks_in]

Good video, but Hansel spread the breadcrumbs.

[moonlight-jntd]

I always buy what ever I need and that’s it 😂
Like I’ll buy something and it could be “buy 2 get one free”... I’ll only get the 1 I need

[StefanNeher]

This might be a moot point, considering the age of this video, but I work for Nordstrom, and shipping is free, no matter how much you spend. Our company only has the $100 and above threshold for purchases made on NordstromRack.com.

[SixtoPinon]

Topic: Building Grit
Topic: Getting Organized

[joanjackson]

How does someone become a senior editor of a national news magazine without knowing the real story of Hansel and Gretel? Mr. Thompson, you bring shame to storytellers everywhere! What version of the BG story did you read where the witch EVER left breadcrumbs? And who in the world is "Hansa Gretel"? Finally, you completely missed the moral of the story: Never trust a stranger. And "Leave the breadcrumbs on the ground"? Are you talking to the witch in your version (if yes, why?) or to the birds in the BG story? Please correct your errors and connect the dots if you're ever to stand a chance of redeeming yourself.