Beware of supermarket snares on your next trip

This is a great article that does an excellent job of explaining the thought process behind the layout of a grocery store. The more aware we are of the tricks the less chance we have of being tricked.

From the Dallas News: Beware of supermarket snares on your next trip

In the battle of the budget, the supermarket is a psychological war zone.

The aroma of fried chicken greets you at the door, and the irresistible scent of fresh bread wafts from the bakery. Brightly colored fruits and vegetables beckon nearby.

“It’s like aromatherapy,” said Phil Lempert, the Internet’s Supermarket Guru. “And they’re all intended to put you in the mood to buy.”

It’s no wonder the average family of four spends more than $700 a month on groceries, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

But even in a setting where everything has been tweaked to appeal to your shopping instincts, you can trim your food bills if you stick to a plan.

“If you go in and browse, to see what you like, you’ll come out with a heck of a lot more than you intended to spend,” said marketing professor Daniel Howard of the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University.

“But if you go in with a specific list and say this is what I’m going to buy, you’ll be OK.”

That’s a challenge, though, because supermarkets are designed to appeal to the consumer’s senses, which seem directly wired to the wallet, he said.

Even beyond the sights and smells, the supermarket is something of a psychology lab.

The products you buy most – milk, eggs, meat – are placed as far as possible from the store’s entrance, so the shopper passes hundreds of products to pick up a pound of ground chuck. That’s a lot of opportunity for an impulse buy.

Other popular items are placed in the middle of an aisle for the same reason, stretching the time spent shopping.

“They learned that lesson from Las Vegas – the longer they keep you in the casino, the more you spend,” he said.” …finish reading

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