The Grocery Store Hustle

What’s the hustle?

Grocery stores are expertly designed environments made to extract as much money from you as possible - every element is intentional.
By understanding this, you can be a more informed consumer and better stick to your budget and health goals.

Doors: The entrance doors are typically one-way to ensure you make it into the store.

Shopping carts: Bigger carts mean you will buy more.

Music: Slower music makes shoppers linger and spend more money.

Flowers and produce: Fresh things make consumers feel happy; happy consumers spend more money.

Produce misting: Misting gives the illusion of freshness, but that mist can add extra weight to your produce.

Direction of shopping: Stores encourage you to shop from right to left; more expensive items are on the right so you see them first.

Everyday items: Things like bread, eggs and milk are placed at the back of the store to force you to walk through the store.

Top-sellers: Popular items are placed mid-aisle, forcing you to walk past more products.

Ambush sales: Items are put in unexpected places to prompt customers to make impulse purchases.

Rearranging: Stores regularly change where items are located to force shoppers to move through the store.

No external cues: Like a casino, grocery stores are generally devoid of windows and clocks to get you to stay longer.

Hidden bargains: Budget items are placed on higher or lower shelves, while name brands are at eye level.

Upselling: Budget and luxury items are placed together to go at customers into “rewarding” themselves.

Multi-buy mind games: “Buy more, save more” deals and related items displayed together get customers to buy more.

Aisle end caps: This is prime in-store real estate and big brands pay big money to place their products there.

Free samples: These not only slow you down, but they also whet your appetite for impulse purchases.

No empty surfaces: This makes it harder for shoppers to dump unwanted items at the checkout.

Product bombardment: Shoppers are a captive audience while waiting in line, so the checkout lane is stocked with items that spur impulse buys.

Grocery shop on a full stomach.
Go with a list.
Try to shop alone, when possible.
Shop at the same store(s) as much as possible.
Use the smallest cart or basket possible to limit your purchases.
Shop from left to right.
Listen to your own upbeat music to move you through the store quickly.
Regularly check the time to keep you moving along.
Shake wet produce to remove excess water weight.
Look high and low on shelves to find budget items.
Do the math to see if a so-called deal is legit. Use unit prices to help you compare items.
Skip the free samples.
Give unwanted items to the checkout attendant.
Keep yourself occupied while waiting in the checkout to avoid making impulse purchases.