We have explored the marketing strategies that most online stores apply and compiled a list of tricks you should consider to make the most of your budget when shopping online.
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1 Read reviews, but don’t depend on public opinion totally.
Retailers collect information about their customers’ buying statistics and can show it on their website. Although this can give a customer with the assurance that the product is really excellent quality, it can as well make them doubt their own judgments and contribute to hasty purchasing. Customers have no way to test and make out if these statistics are accurate and sometimes fall under social power.
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2 Ignore a false sense of rush.
Many retailers stress their customers by producing the delusion that they’ll fail to spot an once-in-a-lifetime deal if they don’t purchase a product immediately. They advise them to make a purchase, or else the discount will end and they’ll never get such a grand deal ever again. This approach creates a tense state for a buyer and triggers concern, making them take action without thinking. So they proceed hastily and purchase things they don’t truly need.
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3 Check to perceive if the discount offer truly is that “exclusive.”
Retailers draw customers’ interest by offering unique personal deals or selling special high-quality goods. In some cases, these deals are true and shops apply these techniques to increase sales, but sometimes retailers just slightly increase their prices in advance and then offer a discount. So “exclusive” products may turn out to be just the products that retailers want to sale fast. If you have time, it’s better to evaluate offers in diverse online shops and think about other factors that could impact the price: expiration date, delivery fee, the quantity of product you have to purchase at once to get the discount, etc.
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4 Don’t fall for free shipping.
Most consumers don’t like to pay a shipping charge and retailers know that. Customers even want free shipping more than the fast delivery. Though free shipping is a great alternative if you’re really fascinated in buying certain items from this exact retailer, occasionally it makes you settle for lower-quality items or it persuades hasty purchasing, as you feel like you’re already saving money on the delivery.
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5 Don’t give too much importance to the recommended items.
While sometimes it can be helpful to be reminded to purchase certain products, in most cases retailers just apply this trick to get more money out of you. They may recommend products that are associated to the items that are now in your cart or that match up to your browsing history. These products generally don’t cost a great deal and make you feel like you’re somehow upgrading the item you’re purchasing. If you desire to splurge less, stick to your shopping list and don’t give in to the enticement to spend more than you’ve planned. If you can’t disregard the recommended items section totally, try to observe it more as an ad than a useful tool.
Do you know any other marketing tricks that online shops apply to make us splurge more? Share it in the comments.