There Are Multiple Diverse Techniques Utilized by Different Manufacturers and Retailers. In An Effort to Manipulate Consumers' Purchasing Habits
Kenneth Golden
Author / Researcher /Artificial Intelligence/Discovering Reciprocity Newsletter
The Complete History of the "TomTop" Merchandise Mercantile Products. A Store Mercantile for Everything.
TomTop is an online retail store that specializes in providing a wide variety of merchandise, primarily focused on electronics, gadgets, home appliances, and other consumer goods.
It has developed a reputation as a supplier of affordable items shipped globally, particularly from diverse areas, and serves customers in numerous countries. Below is a more detailed breakdown of the merchandise history of TomTop:
Foundation and Early Focus (2004 - 2010)
TomTop was founded in 2004 as a small-scale e-commerce platform. In its early days, the site focused primarily on selling electronics and gadgets, particularly to an international market.
The products offered were often sourced directly from Internatinal manufacturers. The business model capitalized on low production costs and competitive pricing, which made TomTop attractive to bargain hunters, particularly in the Western markets.
During this period, the main categories of products included:
Consumer Electronics: Mobile phones, MP3/MP4 players, and digital cameras.
Computers & Accessories: Laptops, desktop components, and peripherals.
Toys & Games: Remote control toys and simple gaming gadgets.
Expansion of Product Range (2010 - 2015)
As TomTop grew in popularity, its range of products diversified significantly. The platform moved beyond consumer electronics and started offering a wider variety of products to appeal to different segments of customers.
By partnering with more suppliers and manufacturers, TomTop broadened its catalog, covering new areas such as home goods, fashion, and outdoor equipment.
Key product expansions during this period:
Home Appliances:
Small kitchen gadgets, cleaning devices, and smart home appliances.
Clothing and Apparel:
TomTop began selling fashion items, clothing accessories, and footwear for men, women, and children.
Health & Beauty:
Personal care products, such as hair styling tools, beauty devices, and skincare gadgets.
Sports & Outdoor Gear:
Bicycles, camping equipment, and fitness gear.
Jewelry & Watches: Low-cost accessories and watches started being featured.
TomTop positioned itself as a platform where customers could find a range of products, from daily essentials to niche gadgets, all at competitive prices.
Its business model mirrored the likes of competitors like AliExpress and Gear Best.
The Rise of E-Commerce and Technology (2015 - 2020)
During this period, the global e-commerce landscape grew rapidly. TomTop evolved with the times, offering more advanced technology products, while also catering to a growing interest in smart devices.
At the same time, customer expectations for faster shipping and better customer service increased.
TomTop adjusted by improving its logistics and customer support operations, working with international shipping partners, and offering expedited shipping options to key markets.
Major categories during this time included:
Smartphones and Tablets: TomTop became a major seller of smartphones and tablets, often featuring brands like Xiaomi, Huawei, and other emerging tech companies.
Drones and RC Toys: Drones, in particular, became popular items on TomTop, with many different models offered at various price points.
Smart Home Devices: Products like smart bulbs, Wi-Fi plugs, and home security cameras became common listings.
3D Printers and Accessories: TomTop began selling 3D printers and associated materials like filament, targeting hobbyists and professionals.
Globalization and Product Refinement (2020 - Present)
As TomTop continued to grow in international markets, it further expanded its product offerings to appeal to a more global customer base.
Its product quality control improved, and TomTop partnered with a greater number of well-known brands, especially in the electronics sector.
Key product trends include Gaming and Entertainment:
Gaming consoles, VR headsets, and related accessories have become a staple in TomTop’s product catalog.
Wearable Tech:
Smartwatches and fitness trackers became a popular category, including international brands and emerging tech companies.
Home Automation:
With the rising popularity of smart homes, TomTop continued to offer a wide range of smart home devices such as thermostats, doorbell cameras, and automation hubs.
Health Tech and COVID-19 Related Products:
The demand for health tech, including air purifiers, UV sterilizers, and health monitoring devices, spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic.
TomTop responded by expanding this category with both personal protection equipment (PPE) and home health devices.
Summary
TomTop's merchandise history showcases its evolution from a niche retailer of consumer electronics into a global e-commerce player that offers a wide range of affordable products.
Its business model is built on leveraging China's manufacturing capabilities and direct-to-consumer sales via the internet.
The company's product range continues to grow, reflecting consumer demand for electronics, lifestyle products, and global trends in smart devices and gadgets.
Consumer Purchasing Psychology Is Methodically Applied to Unsuspecting Consumer Population Centers.
Different price tags, diverse retailers, and unique packaging are hallmark consumer manipulations that let diverse consumers pay more or less, depending on store inventories combined with techniques utilized by?either discount, moderate, or overvalued pricing runs.?
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In actuality, to be happy in life we don't need to spend ourselves into unwanted unreasonable debt, when there is no need to do so.
Basically, any products, regardless?of what they are, go through basically the same manufacturing, stocking, and surplus process, regardless of unforeseen factors.
Once this is completed, they proceed on to diverse secondary sellers. At this point in time, either discount, moderate, or overvalued price tags are assigned by the secondary?sellers.
At this point in time, you are maneuvered to pay whatever manipulated price the secondary sellers ask. Consumer Purchasers will gravitate to the secondary sellers who support the ego ideal of the type of merchandise that supports the way that their friends, relatives, and themselves view their ego ideal.?
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Unfortunately, most individuals, regardless of their socioeconomic?status, fail to realize that subconsciously they will pay what their image of him or herself is accustomed?to paying.
The business model that this way of thinking is patterned after the concept of sell the consumer products that are congruent with their self-image.
In many cases, diverse products come from the same manufacturer; However, they are packaged different??
Manufacturers and retailers use a variety of techniques to manipulate consumers' purchasing habits; Each is designed to influence decision-making and encourage more spending.
Some common methods include the ones listed below!
Price Retailing Strategies:
Price Anchoring: Retailers display an expensive product next to more affordable ones to make the latter seem like a better deal.
Psychological Pricing: Prices like $9.99 instead of $10 create the illusion of a lower cost, making customers perceive the price as significantly cheaper.
Dynamic Pricing: Prices change based on demand, season, or even customer behavior (common in e-commerce), optimizing sales and profits.
Premium or Unique Packaging:
Luxury Packaging: High-end, intricate packaging gives products a premium feel, influencing consumers to pay more for a perceived higher quality or exclusivity.
Eco-Friendly Packaging: As sustainability trends grow, manufacturers use eco-friendly packaging to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.
Limited-Edition Designs: Creating unique, limited-edition packaging can spark a sense of urgency and exclusivity, prompting impulsive purchases.
Discount and Promotional Labeling:
Perceived Discounts: Retailers use tags showing original and discounted prices (e.g., "Was $100, Now $50") to create a sense of value, even if the original price was inflated.
BOGO Offers (Buy One, Get One Free): These deals create a sense of urgency, increasing the quantity of items purchased, even if consumers didn’t initially plan to buy that much.
Flash Sales and Time-Limited Promotions: Setting time limits on discounts, such as "24-hour sale," instills a fear of missing out (FOMO), pushing customers to act quickly.
These techniques play on psychological principles, making consumers feel like they’re getting better deals or exclusive offers, leading to increased spending and brand loyalty.
Hallmark consumer manipulations that let diverse consumers pay more or less, depending on techniques utilized by either discount, moderate, or high-end sellers oftentimes can be viewed as consumer manipulation.
Consumer manipulation often involves pricing strategies that allow businesses to charge different amounts depending on the type of consumer and their buying behavior.
Sellers—whether discount, moderate, or high-end—employ various tactics to extract maximum profit from different segments of the market. Here is some hallmark techniques used in this context:
Price Discrimination
First-degree price discrimination: Charging each consumer the maximum price they’re willing to pay. This is rare but seen in personalized pricing models, where companies use data to set individual prices for consumers.
Second-degree price discrimination: Offering bulk discounts, loyalty rewards, or tiered pricing based on the quantity purchased or consumer behavior.
Third-degree price discrimination: Charging different prices to different consumer groups based on characteristics like age, location, or socioeconomic status (e.g., student discounts or regional pricing).
Dynamic Pricing
Prices change based on demand, market conditions, or individual consumer data. For example, airlines and hotels adjust prices in real time based on booking trends, seasonality, and how likely a consumer is to book.
Decoy Pricing (Anchoring)
A business offers a mid-tier product between a high-priced option and a low-cost option, nudging consumers toward the middle option. This technique manipulates consumer perception by making the middle option seem like a better deal.
Freemium Models
Offering a free version of a product or service to attract users, then using premium features or services to entice those willing to pay more. This is common in software, apps, and online services.
Luxury vs. Budget Branding
High-end sellers manipulate consumer perceptions through exclusivity and branding, often attaching a premium price to items that cost much less to produce. In contrast, discount sellers may frame lower-priced items as great deals, sometimes compromising on quality but leveraging perceived value.
Artificial Scarcity
Creating a sense of urgency or exclusivity by limiting the availability of a product, even when there's no real shortage. Consumers are nudged into making purchases they might not have otherwise made.
Subscription Models
A company may offer a subscription model where consumers pay more over time than they would have if they had purchased the product outright. This spreads out costs but manipulates the perception of affordability.
Discount Psychology
Using constant discounts, sales, and promotions to create the illusion of savings. Moderate sellers frequently use this to manipulate buyers into thinking they’re getting a deal, even if the discounted price is close to the actual value of the product.
These techniques exploit psychological triggers and data analytics, manipulating consumer choices and behaviors to maximize profit across diverse consumer segments.