ON your next shopping trip, be wary of five sneaky charges retailers quietly upsell in an effort to squeeze more profit out of you.
From extended warranties to greeting cards, these seemingly small fees and add-ons can collectively cost you hundreds of dollars.
Shoppers may be tricked into spending hundreds of extra dollars at checkout if they are not careful[/caption]
The US department store market is a multi-billion dollar industry, and that’s no accident.
Retailers use a number of tactics to lure in customers, from catchy ads and social media campaigns to store layout and loyalty programs, all contributing to the financial prowess of such businesses.
On top of that, inflation, tariffs, and a handful of sneaky sales tricks are pushing shoppers to spend even more each trip.
Retailers may try to squeeze a few extra bucks out of shoppers come checkout time, which can add hundreds of dollars to your total.
Here are five things you should never pay for at checkout.
1. EXTENDED WARRANTIES
On your next shopping trip, be wary of a retailer attempting to upsell you an extended warranty or protection plan.
Not included in the initial product price, these warranties are offered for a specific period and cover repairs or replacements under certain conditions.
These warranties are frequently pushed heavily on electronics, appliances, and even small gadgets, as selling extended warranties can be very profitable for retailers.
They often cost 20% to 50% of the item price and duplicate the manufacturer’s warranty that may come with a product.
For example, a $1,000 laptop might come with a $300 warranty.
However, shoppers often overestimate the likelihood of needing repairs, leading them to purchase extended warranties even when they may not be necessary.
2. ASSEMBLY OR SETUP FEES
Another way that retailers can bump up your bill total is through in-store assembly or setup fees.
For example, stores often charge $50 to $150 for assembly services on products such as furniture, grills, or bikes.
Although it may sound convenient, many of these tasks can be done in under an hour at home with basic tools and a free YouTube tutorial.
3. CABLES, BATTERIES, AND ADD-ONS
Other impulse buys at the register can quietly drain your wallet.
For example, $30 HDMI cable or a $12 pack of AA batteries may seem harmless in the moment, but these items often cost a fraction of the price online.
Retailers rely on convenience to sell overpriced accessories that you probably did not plan to buy.
How to cut the cost of your grocery shop
BELOW are some tips on how to reduce the amount you spend on groceries.
- Write yourself a list – Only buy items that you need. If it isn’t on your list, don’t put it in the trolley
- Create a budget – Work out a weekly budget for your food shopping
- Never shop hungry – You are far more likely to buy more food if your tummy is rumbling
- Don’t buy pre-chopped veggies or fruit – The extra they’ll charge for chopping can be eye watering
- Use social media – Follow your favourite retailers to find out about the latest deals
- Be disloyal – You may want to go to different stores to find the best bargains
- Check the small print – It’s always worth checking the price per kg/lb/litre when comparing offers so you’re making a like for like decision as a bigger box won’t necessarily mean you get more
- Use your loyalty cards – Don’t be afraid to sign up to them all. They all work slightly differently – work out what bonus suits you better and remember to trade in your points for additional rewards
4. BAG FEES
Another charge that can spike your checkout total is bag fees.
While these fees may seem small, ranging from ten to twenty cents in many states, they can add up fast.
Bag fees can easily strain your wallet if you purchase multiple bags or make several stops.
Not to mention, some retailers do not inform customers of the charge until they are already at the register, turning a routine purchase into an unexpected expense.
While Americans were estimated to use roughly 365 plastic bags per person per year, studies on bag fees show that such programs reduce bag use by 40% to 70%.
Because actual bag purchases per consumer have dropped substantially, the average spending on plastic bag fees may be around $5 to $15 per year.
5. GIFT WRAPPING AND GREETING CARDS
Retailers frequently charge $5 to $15 for gift wrapping or greeting cards at checkout, profiting on convenience and the pressure of last-minute shopping.
Although these purchases may feel like a small add-on in the moment, the markups are huge in comparison to what you would pay elsewhere.
For example, you can wrap a gift for under $2 using supplies from your local dollar store.
Using recycled bags or even materials you already have at home can save you even more cash and give your gift a homemade touch.
While all of these fees may not seem like much in the moment, they can quickly add up – especially across multiple purchases or over a year – and cost you upwards of $500.
Saving money is especially important in today’s economic climate, with extra fees tacked on not only at the store.
For example, your packages are about to get more pricey as an August 29 law looms – see a breakdown of the new added costs.
Meanwhile, fast food prices may get more expensive under a new law switch – and it carries $50 fines.
From extended warranties and bag fees to greeting cards and batteries, retailers are looking to squeeze every dollar out of you that they can[/caption]
