It’s open season on shoppers – and you’re in the cross-hairs. How to avoid those retail traps...

Buy one, get one free! 

It’s bound to make you look – but keep on walking. That’s a classic trap for shoppers and it’s a really effective one. According to Columbia University marketing professor Mark Cohen, those bundle offers are designed to trigger our impulse buying tendencies and it works like a charm. Another bundle offer to beware of is a percentage off if you buy two, or buy one get 1/2 off. These items are often the ones that don’t sell particularly well on their own.

Another classic shopping trap to watch for is disorganized or messy sales racks. They’re an effective lure to get shoppers frustrated and headed for the more organized, expensive racks.