An impulse purchase or impulse buying is an unplanned decision to buy a product or service, made just before a purchase.

I spent a few years working retail at an auto parts store.
Part of the job was to erect 'planograms' which often involve impulse strategies.

I'm wondering if many people realize they are being manipulated to buy things at higher costs on impulse?
Ever since I had that job, I now 'see' the marketing ploys that stores use to cause people to buy things they don't need or really want at prices that are far greater than cost effective.

Marketers and retailers tend to exploit these impulses which are tied to the basic want for instant gratification. For example, a shopper in a supermarket might not specifically be shopping for confectionery. However, candy, gum, mints and chocolate are prominently displayed at the checkout aisles to trigger impulse buyers - and / or their children - to buy what they might not have otherwise considered.

See, the impulse shelves are not the only places this takes place.
One trick to sell more of a given product was to make it prominent in a customer's field of view. We hinted that they needed it with promotional posters and signs thru-out the store and made it very easy for them to 'just pick it up' on their way to the checkout.

The reason I ask is there are impulse triggers in nearly anything anymore and if one is not aware of the manipulation, they do and buy things that they really don't want.

The question is, how 'in control' of yourself are you, really?

I notice on supermarket shelves containing the same product but different brands, the most expensive is usually at eye level and the cheaper ones on either the bottom or top shelf. I try and avoid impulse buys, if I see something of interest I prefer to shop around. OK sometimes I miss a bargain, but I have made an impulse purchase which I thought was a bargain and then found it cheaper elsewhere.

I was at Murphy's at Walmart getting gas.
I was waiting in line to pay and noticed the coolers that line the entrance.
A 16 oz bottle of Pepsi is $1.69. You can go into Walmart and get a 2 liter bottle for $1.00.
There is nothing on Murphy's impulse aisle that is under $1.00. A bottle of water is $1.49. Candy bars are $1.29.
What gets me is people are BUYING that crap at those prices willingly.
If there were ever a cause for a "Gibb" its for them. DUH!

By nature of my income, I have to be pretty in control. I dont make lists or shop for specifics. I do only shop once or twice a week though, so I will buy things I had not thought of before because I realize I may want or use them before the next time I feel like going to shop.

That is not the 'target' of impulse buying strategy.
The target is to get you to buy something you didn't want at an elevated cost and its effective in our current society of instant gratification.

Personally, till I had to 'set up' the arrangenents and promote the sales, I never really thought about it.
Now that I 'know' its a different story.

Next time you're in a checkout line consider that those items on those shelves are there to play on your need for instant gratification, then watch other people as they support the 'method' and make the retailers rich.

'Tis why, I never carry a credit card into a
fishing supply store.

Yeah, for me its home supply stores.
I could spend $1000 just trying to make my way to the checkout counter.
They stick that stuff right out there where you just can't walk by it without grabbing one, or two, or three, urgh!
I've left a local hardware store with bags of bulk screws, nails and fastners just because.

Go in for a qt of stain and come out with three bags of stuff!
How many cans of expandable foam sealant do I need?

All those displays in the way of shopping tend to frustrate me. They make it harder to find what you do want to buy. Enough of them and I'll go find a different store to shop in. The most frustrating are the ones clogging the checkout so you don't have room for your purchases and to pay your bill!!!!

I'm not.. I impulse buy out of curiosty.. especially on the net..

I need to stop..




.

the targeted spots almost never get me. what gets me is project planning or that widget would work there great(i am a sucker for a well made specialty tool

Years ago I impulse bought things. I broke myself of it by forcing myself to return what I bought. I began waiting until the next day to get something I really liked... Most of it I ended up changing my mind or deciding I didn't really need it.

A little impulse buying would probably do me some good now because I tend to wait too long and don't treat myself to stuff.

I know!
At the auto parts store we were constantly getting updates from corporate that required 'littering' the checkout with products they wanted to push.
There were competitions to sell certain add-ons and they tracked who made which sales.
Brake cleaner, floor dry and mini flashlights were pushed on customers constantly.
When I enter an auto parts store I notice the layout immediately now.
This transfers to any store.
Corporate would send out tests for the employees on getting customers to buy 'accessories'. As an ast manager, the tests on my screen dealt with how to arrange displays for maximum productivity.
I can 'see' in 'other' stores which managers are effective and which ones have no clue as to what they are doing.

One 'trick' was to place a display box on the counter that only had a few of the 'push' product in it. Implying that they are selling out fast. In the aisles we would keep fast moving products 'fronted' and push back slow moving products to imply a demand. It worked.

yes you should at least a little

I keep a list of the groceries I am going to buy.
I take the list but leave the pen at home.
When I get home, as I put away my purchases, I cross out the items I bought.
After everything on the list is crossed out and put away, I look at the counter and all the products still to be put away were bought on impulse.
Its very seldom, I buy only what I went to the store to get.

I've gone into a grocery store for one item and came out with 2 bags of stuff.

Careful, you might need to clear a storage space for me

Kidding... Thanks, I will work on it

lol Guilty as charge! Just the other day, I went to the store to get kitty litter and on my way to the cashier there it was... a bin full of Toffifee Caramel with Creamy Nougat And Chocolate for $2.49 each. I had not had Toffifee for years and normally would not buy it on purpose. But that day, I picked one. It was yummy!

you did better than me
i woulda bought the whole box

LOL, I buy two, just in case.
I find I buy two of a lot of things, just in case.

I'm a stickler for sauces and spices.
If there is a display that has a new (different than normal) BBQ sauce, I have to buy one of each flavor.
I have a whole shelf full of sauces, different vinegars and flavorings.
Last count, I had 7 different mustards and 3 different ketchups.

My most recent impulse purchase was Redneck Lipstick.
There were two flavors available and I bought both flavors.
One Original and one Spicy Hot.



But...that wasn't the limit to my impulse...

I also bought two different salsas.

Mrs. Renfro's
Ghost Pepper Salsa
and
Habanero Salsa.



I can't even eat really hot and spicy foods anymore.
But, I know people that do and when my son comes to visit I will break them out for him.

When I buy. I usually don't purchase on impulse. I wouldn't say I am a tight bugeter but I do watch my spending. I have a home, and single so I pay All my expenses.

I needed a Newer car last October, so I was Blessed to get a 2018 right off the rack. Thankful. !

I want a man who knows how to spend Wisely otherwise I don't need him.