Smart Shopping: How to Spot and Avoid Holiday Marketing Tricks

Understanding these tricks can help you make smarter choices.

1. Beware of Urgency Tactics

• Phrases like "limited time offer" or "flash sale" are designed to rush you into buying.
• Remember: Products are always being made, so that "last chance" deal might not be so last after all.
• Tip: Taking a moment to think can save you from impulse buys and help you find better deals later.

2. Watch Out for "Original Price" Tricks

• Seeing a crossed-out higher price next to a lower one can make you think you're getting a steal.
• Reality: That "original price" was often never the real original price.
• Focus: Decide if the actual price is worth it, regardless of the so-called original price.

3. High-Low Pricing Tricks

• Retailers raise the base price before a sale and then offer a big discount.
• Result: You might think you're getting a great deal, but the item could cost the same or even more than before.
• Solution: Compare prices over time or check other stores and secondhand sites.

4. Marketers Sell a Fantasy

• They show perfect holiday scenes or idealized versions of you to make you buy more.
• Reality Check: You don't need to buy expensive gifts to show you care.
• Alternative: Sometimes, a homade gift or a shared experience can mean just as much.