Do Not Get Carrefoured Away!!!

Do not get carrefoured away!!!

HAVE YOU EVER DROPPED IN TO Carrefour for a jar of jam and come home loaded with a blanket, a set of champagne glasses and a six-pack of Heineken? If you have, then you have fallen prey to the sneaky marketing strategies of large supermarkets, which only exist to encourage unnecessary and unplanned spending. However, understanding the way in which Carrefour entices you to buy things that you really do not want can help you to avoid falling for their sly tricks.

First of all, just because supermarkets are famous for offering products very cheaply, do not assume that everything in Carrefour is a bargain. From time to time (usually on Saturdays) they significantly reduce the prices of only a few items, such as oranges or a brand of shampoo, which is enough to make you believe that everything is cheaper there than elsewhere. Therefore, it would be a good idea to compare prices at several locations before you go shopping.

If, after all, you have decided to empty your wallet at Carrefour, notice that basic goods, such as bread, milk and vegetables are always spread throughout the store so that you have to wander between the isles in order to find them. So, if you often go for the same products, remember where they are. Also, always carry a shopping list with you, even if you go for just a few items, as it will keep you focused and prevent impulse buying.

Similarly, the frozen food section is the focal point, as most people want to buy this type of food last. Having it in the middle requires you to go through half of the store again to get there. The goal, of course, is to increase the chances of an impulse buy, since the golden rule is “the more you roam, the more you take home”.

Then, you are likely to come across the so-called “stoppers” in various parts of Carrefour. These are the mountains of special offers, such as the latest edition of cereals, a popular brand of tea or just extra large packages of toilet paper. Sometimes these are cut-price goods, but first ask yourself if you urgently need a huge jar of poor quality coffee with a cup attached!

In addition, you never hear an employee of Carrefour ask “Can I help you?” because it would limit the possibility of buying a lot of other useless products before finding what you really need. When you are overwhelmed by so much choice, it is very likely that you will fill the trolley to the brim. So, if you cannot find what you are looking for, do not be afraid to ask, even if it means pursuing the poor employee if s/he is reluctant to help you.

Another trap to be taken into consideration is that usually most related items are displayed together to increase the momentum of purchases. Graters and peelers situated near fruit and vegetables, corkscrews alongside bottles of wine, egg slicers along with the eggs and can openers between the stalls of canned food are just a few examples of this strategy.

Buying a tub of ice cream and finding an ice cream scoop close by may be very convenient, but if you find yourself going for a frozen pizza and end up with a pizza cutter, a family-sized bottle of ketchup and an insulated bag to keep your pizza frozen, then you have probably let yourself be taken in.

Yet another Carrefour technique is to appeal to customers’ senses: smell, hearing and sight. Fooling consumers means fooling their minds, and this is done largely by deceiving their senses.

Firstly, the aroma of fresh bread and rolls, fruit or sausages (which are sometimes grilled, as part of the promotional campaign) is likely to compel you to buy some, but if you eat before