10 ways shops trick you into spending money

A silk worm cocoon - made of a 500m long strand of silk!

Hello all!

I just got back from a fab week in Turkey. It was a really cheap trip because the flights and accommodation were subsidised by three Turkish companies. In return, the group had to visit these establishments (a jeweller, a carpet-weaving co-operative and a leather shop - vegan Mum was not amused!). Their aim was to sell enough of their beautifully crafted but ridiculously expensive products to make it worth their while.

Unfortunately for the salespeople, I don't have a budget of several thousand pounds for a necklace, rug or jacket! Still it was interesting to watch their sales techniques.

In each of the three locations, their first aim was to split up the tour group. People are much easier to influence on their own! They all described their wares as an investment, which would hold their value over the years (only if you can find someone to BUY them off you though!). They also insisted that you touch/try on the product, which even I know makes a person more likely to identify with and purchase an object.

If you're anything like me, you hate being tricked into buying anything. Here are some things to look out for closer to home:

• Items placed near the entrance to a shop are there to encourage impulse buying whilst you're still in the mood to shop!

• Similarly, fresh fruit, veg and bread are often located near the front of the store to give you the impression of a "fresh" shop - and because they are high-profit items!

• The things you want are usually located at the back of the shop, to encourage impulse buys of additional products that the customer passes.

• Shops regularly rotate their stock so people spend more time searching for the things they need.

• There are very few windows or clocks to prevent people from realising how long they have been shopping.

• Special offers make you think you're getting a great deal, but did you actually want three jars of pickled eggs? Or any??

• Popular items are placed in the middle of the aisle, so customers are forced past other items to tempt them.

• The most expensive items are at eye level. 

• Inexpensive, small items are placed next to the tills, likely to be grabbed by bored people in the queue.

• And online? Shoppers are more likely to buy from a website that already has their details stored.

It's a good idea to plan what you're going to buy before you get there to avoid being tricked into spending money you don't want to part with! Whether you're shopping for a new car, shoes or just a pint of milk, make sure you do your research and get the best deal for you!

How many of the above list do you recognise? Do you know of any other sneaky tricks? Let us know in the comments below!