Have you ever wished you know what exactly is going on inside your head when you’ve been shopping online? Do you want to know what’s happening with your brain when you find the perfect product or a great deal online? At one time or another, we have all been influenced by shopper psychology. It does not matter how well you think you control own decisions, there will be a situation where you’ve been influenced to the extent of making a purchase.

The human mind works in mysterious ways and major brands know precisely how to take advantage of it, investing millions of dollars into research and development of tools to influence your purchasing decisions.

One of the best examples is the free shipping trap, where retailers like TJ Maxx will offer free delivery for an item that isn’t really a good deal – but the fact that it has free shipping is often enough to lure in customers. You don’t have to let the brands win, though, you can quickly master shopping techniques and avoid being too easily influenced. Tempting eBay deals and brand loyalty are but two of many examples of shopper psychology.

Brands that know their customers and how they make purchasing decisions can give them huge advantages. You have an element of control over this though, and there are some shopping techniques you can adapt to prevent yourself being too carried away, such as:

  • buying less

  • buying second hand

  • choosing quality over quantity

  • shop close to your home

  • bring your own bag

  • set a budget

  • shop with a pre-made list.

Studies show that those shopping when they are tired, hungry, lonely, bored, or upset, shop with family friends or buy things because they are on sale are more likely to be influenced by clever techniques used by brands to influence shopper psychology.

Want to learn more about shopper psychology? Check out our infographic