Supermarket Syndrome
Discounts lead to bulk buying and wastage. Buy for a week, a month or even two but do not buy items in bulk which do not use much – just because larger pack was cheaper or ‘1+1 deal or 2+1 deal. If you use something regularly larger pack makes sense, it is value for money. But for things of less frequent consumption, either it will get expired, we get bored with them or there may be a more compelling deal for same or similar product next time. So don’t fall trap to this, what I call ‘Supermarket syndrome’.
Many times, in supermarkets we tend to buy excessively because of the great deals. It is not only wastage of money but also same new products would be manufactured again draining the resources of our planet. Yes, we are consumers – we buy to consume but please consume sensibly or buy stuff which you want to consume not because there are deals. Manufacturers and retailers want us to buy more, want us to spend more so that they can earn profit and produce more and earn more profit.
It is difficult to resist deals and price discounts for everyone, but simple questions, ‘do I really need it’ and ‘will I really use it’, if answer is yes then put it in your cart, else let it remain on the shelf.
If you are still tempted and unable to ‘leave the product’, just move on and postpone the decision till the end of your shopping. The moment you go to next shelf you may find another product or simply get distracted, and the previous product is ‘off your mind’ and your chances of buying unnecessary item will get reduced. The plethora of things on display invite us to buy more, in sight, in mind, in trolley, it is difficult to resist but doable.
This is more valid for online shopping, lot of propaganda is created ‘big so and so days’, ‘celebration / event sale, ‘great so and so festival sale’ and many others. Login only if we have to buy something. Putting stuff in online cart is all the more easier, just type the product, scroll, select, check reviews and add. Return options are cherry on the cake. But why spend time, energy or resources when we do not need. Be conscious of your buying. Simply buy if need something.