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Shopping Psychology

5 Tricks Retailers Use to Make Discounts Look Bigger Than They Are

Retailers in India use sophisticated psychological tricks to make discounts appear more attractive. Learn to spot these tactics and become a smarter, more informed shopper.

🎭 Trick #1: Anchor Pricing (MRP Inflation)

What it is: Setting an artificially high MRP (Maximum Retail Price) to make discounts look huge.

Example:

Product MRP: ₹2,999 (inflated)

Sale Price: ₹1,999

Claimed Discount: "33% OFF!"

Reality: Actual market price was ₹2,200, so real discount is only 9%

🛡️ Defense: Research actual market prices on multiple platforms before judging discount value.

🎯 Trick #2: Bundle Discount Confusion

What it is: Mixing individual item discounts to create confusion about actual savings.

Example:

Item A: ₹1,000 (20% discount) = ₹800

Item B: ₹2,000 (40% discount) = ₹1,200

Advertised: "Bundle Discount: Up to 40% OFF!"

Reality: Combined discount is only 33.3%, not 40%

💳 Trick #3: Cashback vs Instant Discount

What it is: Promoting cashback as equivalent to instant discount when it's not.

Instant Discount

₹1,000 item with 20% discount = ₹800 (immediate saving)

Cashback

₹1,000 item with 20% cashback = Pay ₹1,000, get ₹200 later (conditions apply)

🎪 Trick #4: Fake Time Pressure

What it is: Creating artificial urgency with countdown timers and "limited time" offers.

⏰ Common Tactics:

  • "Only 2 hours left!" (timer resets daily)
  • "Flash sale" (runs for weeks)
  • "Limited stock" (inventory is actually high)

🧮 Trick #5: Complex Calculation Obfuscation

What it is: Making discount calculations so complex that customers can't easily verify the actual savings.

Example: "25% off + Extra 15% off + 5% cashback + ₹200 instant discount"

Customers assume: 25% + 15% + 5% = 45% + ₹200

Reality: Sequential calculation gives much less effective discount

🛡️ How to Protect Yourself

✅ Always Do:

  • Calculate actual final price
  • Compare prices across platforms
  • Read fine print carefully
  • Use discount calculators

❌ Never Assume:

  • MRP reflects real market value
  • Multiple discounts add linearly
  • Cashback = instant discount
  • Complex offers are always better

💡 Smart Shopping Checklist

Before Making Any Purchase:

🔍 Verify Discounts Instantly

Don't fall for tricks - calculate the real discount!

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