Why do shopping sites keep telling you what items are most popular?

merlotgran

I often buy things on Amazon that are labelled, ‘most popular,’ if the price is right and it’s exactly what I’m looking for.
I don’t care if it’s a plastic hook or a fleecy jumper. It’s their job to sell stuff and if I didn’t need something I wouldn’t be on there.

Funny think to get annoyed about.

I am not annoyed by it. I am just puzzled. As I said I can understand these messages for consumer fashion items, but DIY goods and cleaning materials?

It reminds of when, as a teenager, I used to shop for clothes in London's west end. Some of the assistants used to say things like "Sandy Shaw was in here the other day and she bought that dress."

I often buy things on Amazon that are labelled, ‘most popular,’ if the price is right and it’s exactly what I’m looking for.
I don’t care if it’s a plastic hook or a fleecy jumper. It’s their job to sell stuff and if I didn’t need something I wouldn’t be on there.

Funny think to get annoyed about.

I find these 'most popular' tags are a disincentive to buy.

Me too.
But I have heard this from shop assistants too.
Marks and Spencer and Clarks both memorable occasions!

I have noticed a very useful comment on Amazon which is the opposite - 'this item is returned more often than other similar items'. Makes you look harder at the details. I am buying a cheap printer and the choice is overwhelming so this little detail dropped one off my list.

M0nica

Yes, but what I do not understand is having these encouragements on items where trendiness doesn't come into it - like my need for right angled white hooks of a specific size, fit for the purpose they are intended for. Will someone buy the wrong sized for the purpose they need because the wrong size is more popular

JaneJudge I find these 'most popular' tags are a disincentive to buy.

To be fair, very little of my online shopping is clothes and intems that trend, it is much more utilitarian. On my current 'awaiting delivery' list are the above mentioned white hooks, an extra long ceiling brush, some wall panels for the bathroom, and a plastic box. Not really items that attract influenzas or their followers.

To be honest I do very little on-line shopping for these reasons.
Even in some shops though, you get to the till and they try to sell something extra- in the end its business tactics trying to make money. You can say no and just buy what you want.

The most irritating is Boden when they come up with “selling like hot cakes”.

I had this yesterday on eBay. I don’t need to know that 4oz wadding is the most popular 🤷‍♀️

I always smile at ‘the most popular’ as well. Quickly followed by the thought, if they are so popular why haven’t they sold out.

Yes, but what I do not understand is having these encouragements on items where trendiness doesn't come into it - like my need for right angled white hooks of a specific size, fit for the purpose they are intended for. Will someone buy the wrong sized for the purpose they need because the wrong size is more popular

JaneJudge I find these 'most popular' tags are a disincentive to buy.

To be fair, very little of my online shopping is clothes and intems that trend, it is much more utilitarian. On my current 'awaiting delivery' list are the above mentioned white hooks, an extra long ceiling brush, some wall panels for the bathroom, and a plastic box. Not really items that attract influenzas or their followers.

They think people can't think for themselves- and to be fair it seems many of them can't! I think it is influencers (or influenzas I call them) who are to blame. It is a whole cultural shift taking place which says you can only buy if someone you know has the same thing. I am afraid to say this way of marketing is targeted mainly at women.

I have a friend who always talks about what's trendy and it really annoys me.
Recently I mentioned that I was looking at air-fryers. She asked me who had recommended one and finally inflenced me into having one.
I told her I don't buy things because other people are buying them, but because they may be something I need for myself.
It does seem we are not allowed to make our minds uo about anything anymore.
I find it very worrying.

To get you to buy it 🥰

And to those who like to always get what their friends have so they know they are buying the 'right' thing. After all, if every other lemming is buying it, it must be good.

I expect they are playing to the kind of consumers who ask strangers on social media

"What colour kitchen should I get"
" Help me name my baby".

As if they have no ideas, tastes or opinions of their own.