You feel like you’re losing your mind. You run into the grocery store for five items, a trip that should take ten minutes, but you get stuck. The pasta sauce isn’t in Aisle 4 anymore, and the cereal has moved. The coffee you bought last week is now on the other side of the store. You’re not forgetful, and you’re not going crazy. This is a deliberate psychological strategy used by grocery stores called the “Gruen Transfer.” It’s designed to confuse you, slow you down, and, most importantly, make you spend more.
