Supermarket secrets: Why your cart is always fuller than planned
Supermarkets are specifically designed to encourage maximum customer purchases. The interior design and layout of store elements result from carefully crafted strategies. A fascinating example of these strategies is how cart wheels function.
Most of us do a large grocery shopping run at least once a week. Typically, we plan to buy only the essential items and leave the store quickly. However, we often end up with a full cart and a hefty bill. Why does this happen? The answer lies in the psychological tricks implemented by supermarkets. What exactly is behind this?
Can shopping be a "test" for a person?
Before you even enter the store, you encounter the first tricks. Rows of carts greet you—often too large for your needs, but the lack of alternatives compels you to use them. Moreover, some of them have problems with wheels—wobbly, locking, not moving smoothly. This is not accidental. By moving more slowly between the aisles, the store benefits right from the start.
Moving through the store at a slower pace means more products catch your attention. At the end of each aisle, attractive promotional offers beckon, and discounts are particularly tempting. As a result, the cart quickly fills up with items not originally part of your shopping plan, simply because they seem economically appealing. Additionally, a large cart makes it look almost empty, prompting us to add more products.
It's worth paying attention to details
Have you noticed that supermarkets rarely have windows and clocks? This is intentionally designed to keep you inside the store; seeing the time change might prompt you to leave sooner. Another psychological trick is the gentle, relaxing music, which encourages a slower pace and longer stay in the store, making shopping more comfortable.
Also, pay attention to how products are arranged on the shelves. The most expensive and profitable products for the store are at eye level, while cheaper ones are on the lower shelves, where we are less likely to notice them. However, there is an exception.
Expensive candies are placed lower so children can easily reach them. Clever, right? These techniques often lead us to finish shopping with many unnecessary products in our bags. Sometimes we even forget what we initially came for and go home missing items, which forces us to shop again, repeating the cycle.
