Two or more people who shop together, whether for food, for clothing, or simply to pass the
time, can be called a shopping group . Such groups are often offshoots of family or friendship
groups and, therefore, they function as what has been referred to as ‘purchase pals’.
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The motivations for shopping with a purchase pal range from a primarily social motive (to share time
together and enjoy lunch after shopping) to helping reduce the risk when making an important
decision (having someone along whose expertise will reduce the chance of making an incorrect
purchase). In instances where none of the members of the shopping group knows much about
the product under consideration (such as an expensive home entertainment centre), a shopping group may form for defensive reasons; members may feel more confident with a collective
decision.