Why Do We Make Bad Shopping Decisions?

Are you trying to make smarter shopping decisions? Neuroscientists and economists dive deep into the psychology behind consumerism and why we make poor shopping choices.

Humans don’t always make the smartest decisions when it comes to the stuff we buy. Time pressure can explain some of this – we grab the first thing we see on the shelf without checking the price and head to the cashier.

Grocery stores charge brands more to place items at the average consumer’s eye height on shelves for this reason. But research shows that even when we aren’t pressed for time, we don’t always make the right decisions when it comes to price points. Figuring out why is a question preoccupying many economists, neuroscientists, and psychologists.

A recent study, published in the journal Review of Behavioral Economics, has offered a new model to rationalize why poor decisions are made. This “ratio-difference” theory explains that humans sometimes compare prices and savings to each other in relative terms when they should be thinking in absolute terms.

Shopping decisions are influenced by a combination of factors. But for many of us, our decisions are influenced by how we perceive sales and discounts, which can be based on ratio-difference theory, absolute thinking, or anchoring biases. 

The ratio difference theory suggests people are more inclined to buy something when the sale percentage is high. For example, when consumers have an opportunity to save $5 on a product priced at $25 and another opportunity to save $5 on a product priced at $500, they will most likely take advantage of the first promotion. They consider the savings relative to the total price. 

Even though the first scenario is a 20 percent saving and the second is a 1 percent saving, they both amount to the same thing in absolute terms, which is $5. Ideally, consumers should apply absolute thinking here, according to the ratio-difference theory, and therefore perceive the savings as equal.

Now, if you're using absolute thinking in shopping, you focus only on the absolute amount of money you save or spend, without considering the ratio or percentage. So, saving $5 feels the same whether it's on a $25 item or a more expensive item. You're just thinking, "I saved $5," and not about how significant that $5 is in relation to the total price.

“Effectively solving some economic problems requires one to think in terms of differences while others require one to think in terms of ratios,” says study author Mina Mahmoudi, an economist at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in a press release. “Because both types of thinking are necessary, it is reasonable to think people develop and apply both types. However, it is also reasonable to expect that people misapply the two types of thinking, especially when less experienced with the context.” This new theory builds on past studies and hypotheses.

A previous theory is that we have so many decisions to make each day that our brains use shortcuts – also known as anchoring biases – to help us make choices faster.

As an example, if you’re used to paying $2 for a loaf of plain, white sandwich bread in the grocery store, you might balk at the $5 artisan sourdough on sale at the farmers market. That might make sense when comparing bread with bread, but research has long shown that reference points for one item can end up bleeding into our thinking for other things.

More About Decision-Making:

• There are two types of decision-making processes: perceptual or value-based decision-making.

• Random decisions we made when we were young may influence our preferences as adults.

• There is a finite store of mental energy for exerting self-control. 

Our decisions are influenced by biases, reason, emotions, and memories. The act of deciding implies the exercise of free will, where individuals weigh the benefits and costs of their choices and deal with the consequences. 

A study published back in 1974 showed how thinking about one decision can affect another, even though variables are unconnected. Researchers asked participants to spin a wheel that landed on a number between zero and 100. The same study participants were then asked how many countries there are in Africa.

Participants who landed the wheel on a high number were statistically more likely to estimate that there are a higher number of African countries than participants who landed the wheel on a low number. It’s not exactly clear why our brains allow outside factors, like spinning a wheel, to distort our thinking.

Other researchers have shown that humans make better decisions when options are limited. A neuroscientist at New York University showed this by asking people to choose between several candy bars.

For this example, everyone’s favorite candy was a Snickers bar. When researchers presented the choice between a Snickers, Milky Way, or an Almond Joy, people always opted for the Snickers. But when the scientists introduced more choice, offering 20 different candy bars, including Snickers, the study participants didn’t always choose Snickers.

Moreover, when the researchers got rid of all other candy bars and just presented participants with their chosen candy bar and a Snickers, the participants couldn’t figure out why they didn’t opt for the Snickers. Researchers are trying to figure out what causes this sub-par decision making. It may be more urgent as world economies struggle.

Read more: In a World of Endless Choices, Why Is Decision-Making So Tiring?

People tend to prioritize essential items for their well-being and security, but the intriguing aspect of human behavior revolves around the acquisition of non-essential items like the latest gadgets or impractical fashion items. This phenomenon aligns with the field of behavioral economics, which investigates why individuals often make seemingly irrational purchasing decisions.

Behavioral economists, marketing experts, and psychologists have pinpointed various motivations behind these discretionary purchases, including a desire to showcase social status and responses to emotions like sadness or boredom. Retailers also employ strategies to manipulate consumers' perceptions of value, making unnecessary items appear affordable or scarce. Recognizing these manipulation tactics can empower you to make more informed buying choices, potentially resulting in cost savings, and reduced long-term stress.

Read More: Can't Resist a Black Friday Deal? Here's Why

This article was originally published on Sept. 10, 2022 and has since been updated by the Discover staff.