Are there supermarket tricks that exist to unwittingly coax you into spending more each time you visit? If you’ve ever popped into the supermarket to grab “just one or two things” and found yourself having to hunt down a basket or trolley because your arms are suddenly full of things you “need”, you’ll know that something tricky definitely goes on in supermarkets! Here, a former employee gives us a few tricks of the trade – including one you definitely need to know!
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This week we spoke to Charlotte, who used to work high up at a well-known supermarket chain. She shared with us some tips to navigate the supermarket, without failing into some of the little traps they set up to trick you into spending more.
She says that most supermarkets follow a similar blueprint around the world to ensure they reap in the most cash possible.
“The number one thing you should know about shopping at the supermarket is that you should always go high, or go low,” she says. “Typically, they put the top-of-the-range, most well-known, most expensive option at eye level. If you’re in a hurry, and you’re looking for a type of product, that’s where you’re going to look first, see the product and grab it. But, if you have a look up high on those shelves, or down low, you’re likely going to find cheaper versions.”
Charlotte says one of the sneakiest aspects of this, is that the eye-line spot that is the most valuable, is also typically where a kid is sitting in a trolley.
“Anyone who has shopped with a grumpy toddler knows that at some point they’re going to want to reach out and grab something off the shelf,” she says. “And what a surprise. They’re just going to grab the biggest, most well-known expensive brand when they do. And good luck getting that back in the trolley! This one is particularly true if you’re in the baby/toddler aisle. What a surprise that the pouches that are $3 or $4 a pop are at eyeline, while the $1.50 ones are on the top shelf where there’s no way a toddler can see or reach them.”
Charlotte says she only does her shopping online now, in a bid to avoid some of the tricks.
“The whole layout of the supermarket is designed to make you buy more,” she says. “If you’ve ever had to do a quick run in to buy milk or bread – two of the most commonly bought items – you’ll find that they’re at the very back corner of the store. That means you have to walk past so many other items, and specials to get there. That means the store has more opportunities to trick you into buying more!”
She says another trick that’s employed is to put products next to each other that often go together. “Say you need more tea bags, or coffee,” she says. “What a surprise – biscuits are right next to them!”
