On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 8:54:18 PM UTC+1, Chris J Dixon wrote:
> Nick Odell wrote:
>
>
> >..... unless it was a Tesco Clubcard Price offer, in which case all bets are off
> >https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65854124
> Or Sainsbury's Baked Beans 400:g
>
> 4-pack £1.65 (£1.03/ kg)
> 6-pack £2.60 (£1.08/ kg)
>
> I once challenged Sainsbury's, before they cut back on multibuy
> offers, where similar issues could arise.
>
> "Is this just some strange marketing ploy taking advantage of the
> fact that not everybody has the time or inclination to do the
> maths? "
>
> After a few unsatisfactory emails, their final response was:
>
> "Some of our customers prefer to purchase smaller pack items
> whereas other customers prefer multibuys. By having various
> offers available this allows our customers to make an informed
> choice when shopping."
>
> I contend that those lacking time, inclination or ability to do
> the maths will certainly not be able to make an informed choice.
>

In Argentina this kind of pricing practice is common - that and raising a product price three times in a week due to inflation (currently running at over 140%)

I was once told in all seriousness that this was entirely deliberate. They said that poor people who were struggling to get by would only be able to afford small packs of things and the unit price for those things would be cheaper whilst more properous individuals found it more convenient to buy the big packs and the higher unit price was merely the cost of convenience.

Nick
nickodell49@yahoo.ca

Nick Odell <nickodell@bigfoot.com> wrote:
> On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 8:54:18 PM UTC+1, Chris J Dixon wrote:
>> Nick Odell wrote:
>>
>>
>>> ..... unless it was a Tesco Clubcard Price offer, in which case all bets are off
>>> https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65854124
>> Or Sainsbury's Baked Beans 400:g
>>
>> 4-pack £1.65 (£1.03/ kg)
>> 6-pack £2.60 (£1.08/ kg)
>>
>> I once challenged Sainsbury's, before they cut back on multibuy
>> offers, where similar issues could arise.
>>
>> "Is this just some strange marketing ploy taking advantage of the
>> fact that not everybody has the time or inclination to do the
>> maths? "
>>
>> After a few unsatisfactory emails, their final response was:
>>
>> "Some of our customers prefer to purchase smaller pack items
>> whereas other customers prefer multibuys. By having various
>> offers available this allows our customers to make an informed
>> choice when shopping."
>>
>> I contend that those lacking time, inclination or ability to do
>> the maths will certainly not be able to make an informed choice.
>>
>
> In Argentina this kind of pricing practice is common - that and raising a
> product price three times in a week due to inflation (currently running at over 140%)
>
> I was once told in all seriousness that this was entirely deliberate.
> They said that poor people who were struggling to get by would only be
> able to afford small packs of things and the unit price for those things
> would be cheaper whilst more properous individuals found it more
> convenient to buy the big packs and the higher unit price was merely the
> cost of convenience.
>
> Nick
> nickodell49@yahoo.ca
>

Do they call that something like Robin Hood pricing?

--
Toodle Pip, Mike McMillan

In message <ua0nl6$29bip$1@dont-email.me> at Fri, 28 Jul 2023 15:42:30,
Mike McMillan <toodle.pip1@virginmedia.com> writes
>Nick Odell <nickodell@bigfoot.com> wrote:
[]
>> I was once told in all seriousness that this was entirely deliberate.
>> They said that poor people who were struggling to get by would only be
>> able to afford small packs of things and the unit price for those things
>> would be cheaper whilst more properous individuals found it more
>> convenient to buy the big packs and the higher unit price was merely the
>> cost of convenience.
>>
>> Nick
>> nickodell49@yahoo.ca
>>
>
>Do they call that something like Robin Hood pricing?
>
(-:

It has also occurred to me that - even where bigger packs _do_ have a
lower unit price, as it (usually!) the case here, it's not quite as much
of a saving as you'd think, because you tend to use more if you have a
big pack - it doesn't feel like you're using as much. I presume this is
all taken into account.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

"You realise, Fraser, that what happened between us can never repeat itself.
Unless, of course, the exact same circumstances were to repeat themselves." "By
exact same circumstances, sir, you mean: we would have to be aboard a train
loaded with unconscious Mounties, that had been taken over by terrorists, and
were heading for a nuclear catastrophe?" "Exactly." "Understood."

On Friday, July 28, 2023 at 3:42:32 PM UTC, Mike McMillan wrote:
> Nick Odell <nick...@bigfoot.com> wrote:
> > On Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 8:54:18 PM UTC+1, Chris J Dixon wrote:
> >> Nick Odell wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>> ..... unless it was a Tesco Clubcard Price offer, in which case all bets are off
> >>> https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65854124
> >> Or Sainsbury's Baked Beans 400:g
> >>
> >> 4-pack £1.65 (£1.03/ kg)
> >> 6-pack £2.60 (£1.08/ kg)
> >>
> >> I once challenged Sainsbury's, before they cut back on multibuy
> >> offers, where similar issues could arise.
> >>
> >> "Is this just some strange marketing ploy taking advantage of the
> >> fact that not everybody has the time or inclination to do the
> >> maths? "
> >>
> >> After a few unsatisfactory emails, their final response was:
> >>
> >> "Some of our customers prefer to purchase smaller pack items
> >> whereas other customers prefer multibuys. By having various
> >> offers available this allows our customers to make an informed
> >> choice when shopping."
> >>
> >> I contend that those lacking time, inclination or ability to do
> >> the maths will certainly not be able to make an informed choice.
> >>
> >
> > In Argentina this kind of pricing practice is common - that and raising a
> > product price three times in a week due to inflation (currently running at over 140%)
> >
> > I was once told in all seriousness that this was entirely deliberate.
> > They said that poor people who were struggling to get by would only be
> > able to afford small packs of things and the unit price for those things
> > would be cheaper whilst more properous individuals found it more
> > convenient to buy the big packs and the higher unit price was merely the
> > cost of convenience.
> >
> > Nick
> > nicko...@yahoo.ca
> >
> Do they call that something like Robin Hood pricing?

The equivalent would probably be Martin Fierro or other examples of la viveza criolla.

Nick

On 29-Jul-23 2:43, J. P. Gilliver wrote:

> It has also occurred to me that - even where bigger packs _do_ have a
> lower unit price, as it (usually!) the case here, it's not quite as much
> of a saving as you'd think, because you tend to use more if you have a
> big pack - it doesn't feel like you're using as much. I presume this is
> all taken into account.

People often assume that the larger pack will be the cheapest per 100gm
(or whatever), yet this is quite often not the case.

Some time back I was tasked with buying a multipack of 2 finger Kit-Kats.
There were several such on the shelves, and the largest was almost as
dear as buying the individual items.

--
Sam Plusnet