From the wonderful National Geographic show "Brain Games" comes the news that food vendor can get you to choose a higher priced item by planing a near-priced 'medium' item as a decoy, increasing the perceived value of the larger, more expensive item.
As my friend Keith Ohman is fond of saying: "Damn their eyes!"
As my friend Keith Ohman is fond of saying: "Damn their eyes!"
While I consider ways to back-peddle, let me show you a few ways Marketers leverage their understanding of the human brain to grease the skids of the purchase process.
For instance-
1. THE DISAPPEARING DOLLAR SIGN TRICK
Here's a peek at the menu of one of my favourite breakfast haunts (Country Boy in Kitchener, if you'll forgive the product placement):
Note especially the price point, which is old-school in two respects: 1) The restaurant uses the classic '.99' approach. Through the year's, we're conditioned to take a '.99' at the end of a price to suggest value. And yes, it banks on your brain to think of the price as being closer to four dollars than five.
2) Even more old-school is the use of the dollar sign ($) with the price. Perhaps you've noticed- especially in more upscale restaurants (apologies to Country Boy)- that you'll often encounter price points in a different format; (the example below is from Imbibe!, Kitchener):
According to a 2009 Cornell University Study, restaurant diners will actually spend more when the menu does NOT include either the word "dollars" or the dollar sign ($). A simple '13' for the prosciutto, says the study, will have you concentrating more on the food, and less on what you're paying.
And size, evidently, does matter when choosing price fonts. When an appliance shop advertises a gas stove at $1098.00!, it's less attractive to consumers than '$1098.00'. Studies show that the larger the font, the larger the perceived cost.
2. THE CONSISTENCY TRICK
In his 1984 book Influence: the Psychology of Persuasion, Robert Cialdini described an experiment in which people were asked to put up a huge sign in their yard reading "Drive slow; kids playing. Almost all of them refused the request.
So a new set of people were approached. This time, they were asked if they would put a small sticker in their windows, reading exactly the same thing. Most agreed. Then, those same people were asked if they would put the giant sign in their yards. A great many of them agreed. Far more than during the first wave of the experiment.
This is a lesson in consistency; people are disposed to do things consistent with their previous actions. By using a little imagination, you can see how marketers might use this particular Old Jedi Mind Trick to stair-step consumers into large purchase decisions.
3. THE CLUTTER TRICK
Seems retailers can learn a lot from the great Markets of Marrakesh, Fes and Manknes.
According to an outfit called Envirosell, a store that seems to display only a few items, oh-so-tidily, is perceived as being more expensive, and less approachable. According to a New York Times piece, a bit of a mess in a retail store can imply that the goods are in demand, because people have been picking 'em over. (The theory does not, repeat, not, translate to disheveled humans.)
4. THE THREE-FER TRICK
Or two-fer. Or five-fer. Studies show that suggesting a fleet rate for a sale item ads importance and urgency to the offer. Hence "$1.99 or 3/$5" ("Limited Quantities"- same idea. Though the latter is often a legal requirement.)
My all-time favourite example was a shop in Goderich Ontario which posted a sign reading:
5. THE NUMBERED LIST TRICK
Lists are irresistible. Consider the list-o-mania that dominates publishing, broadcast, and sports. Letterman built his empire on 'em. Lists are a simple, if tawdry mean of luring a viewer, a listener (or, say, a reader) to the end of an article, or a, you know- Blog.
Just as unnerving as these five is the knowledge that there are so many more Marketing Mind Tricks. As overt as the aroma marketing of the Cinnabon store at the Mall, or as intricate as the 'maze' design of Ikea stores, designed to ensure that you don't come-and-go too quickly: more time on the
floor increases the likelihood of your spending money.
Got some favourite Marketing Mind Tricks? Share away.
For instance-
1. THE DISAPPEARING DOLLAR SIGN TRICK
Here's a peek at the menu of one of my favourite breakfast haunts (Country Boy in Kitchener, if you'll forgive the product placement):
 |
| Old School |
2) Even more old-school is the use of the dollar sign ($) with the price. Perhaps you've noticed- especially in more upscale restaurants (apologies to Country Boy)- that you'll often encounter price points in a different format; (the example below is from Imbibe!, Kitchener):
 |
| New School |
According to a 2009 Cornell University Study, restaurant diners will actually spend more when the menu does NOT include either the word "dollars" or the dollar sign ($). A simple '13' for the prosciutto, says the study, will have you concentrating more on the food, and less on what you're paying.
And size, evidently, does matter when choosing price fonts. When an appliance shop advertises a gas stove at $1098.00!, it's less attractive to consumers than '$1098.00'. Studies show that the larger the font, the larger the perceived cost.
2. THE CONSISTENCY TRICK
In his 1984 book Influence: the Psychology of Persuasion, Robert Cialdini described an experiment in which people were asked to put up a huge sign in their yard reading "Drive slow; kids playing. Almost all of them refused the request.
So a new set of people were approached. This time, they were asked if they would put a small sticker in their windows, reading exactly the same thing. Most agreed. Then, those same people were asked if they would put the giant sign in their yards. A great many of them agreed. Far more than during the first wave of the experiment.
This is a lesson in consistency; people are disposed to do things consistent with their previous actions. By using a little imagination, you can see how marketers might use this particular Old Jedi Mind Trick to stair-step consumers into large purchase decisions.
3. THE CLUTTER TRICK
 |
| Marakesh |
According to an outfit called Envirosell, a store that seems to display only a few items, oh-so-tidily, is perceived as being more expensive, and less approachable. According to a New York Times piece, a bit of a mess in a retail store can imply that the goods are in demand, because people have been picking 'em over. (The theory does not, repeat, not, translate to disheveled humans.)
4. THE THREE-FER TRICK
Or two-fer. Or five-fer. Studies show that suggesting a fleet rate for a sale item ads importance and urgency to the offer. Hence "$1.99 or 3/$5" ("Limited Quantities"- same idea. Though the latter is often a legal requirement.)
My all-time favourite example was a shop in Goderich Ontario which posted a sign reading:
Movies $6
or 3/$18
'Seems that retailer skipped the class that dealt with 'nuance.'
Lists are irresistible. Consider the list-o-mania that dominates publishing, broadcast, and sports. Letterman built his empire on 'em. Lists are a simple, if tawdry mean of luring a viewer, a listener (or, say, a reader) to the end of an article, or a, you know- Blog.
* * * * *
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| IKEA Store Map |
floor increases the likelihood of your spending money.
Got some favourite Marketing Mind Tricks? Share away.
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