Whether you love or hate shopping may have a lot to do with your patience in searching through the wide array of products available. You may be uncomfortable and believe you may not get as much for your money as you should. With Internet research available to almost everyone or a phone at your fingertips, you may still feel you don’t know enough to make a wise decision when making a purchase. You have one goal and the company from which you are buying has another. You want to buy something for as little as you can. They want to make as much of a profit as possible. . What questions should you ask when making a purchase? Why do companies change the location of products? What role does that soothing background music play in how long you may stay to buy? Why are certain items located so high you can barely reach them and why were those specific products located there? Are there companies that get preferential treatment for their products and how is this accomplished? What methods do merchants use as enticements to get you in to their store and are there strategies employed that encourage you to remain longer than planned? How much does appeal to the eye matter? Why is there no sales person available to help when you need one? Do sales people listen for certain phrases which will tell them you will buy? What do they look for in your body language? Are maintenance agreements always the best choice? If you want to buy something but would like to negotiate, when and how should this be done? Are there advantages for the consumer in a troubled economy? Why would a company repeatedly assure you they want your business but leave you waiting on hold for so long?
In a shrinking economy where money is tight, a savvy consumer needs to spend money wisely. Sales people have families and make decisions every day about what or whether they will buy, just like you. In the end, it is the desire of the sore that you go away happy feeling you have bought a bargain. How can you really know you have? The proof is in the use of the item you choose to take home. There are ways in which you can become a more satisfied buyer. Although companies have an agenda of their own, they want your patronage.

On the next classroom of the air, you will learn some of the psychology behind what companies do and why and how they make products appealing to you. Join me as I share lessons I have learned along the way about how to buy wisely and well.

Presenter: Bonnie Blose
E-Mail: bookmaven1@frontier.com

Group Discussion Leaders
Ruth Ann Acosta,
Email: ruth1244@gmail.com
Sherry Wells
E-mail: sdwells@us.ibm.com