On Sat, Apr 26, 2008 at 05:58:59AM +0530, ss wrote: > Like I said- in the UK a shopkeeper sold me a single AA cell in a deal that > cost me a lot less than the price of 4 (leaving me with 3 cells I did not > want) while he earned a lot more than 25% of the value of the pack of 4 by > selling me a single.
this has been popularised in particular by hindustan lever with shampoo sachets in india. the profit margins are not actually that huge since the distribution costs are much higher. however, going back to the consumer economics of the price differences - if 4 batteries cost 100 Rs and 1 costs 50, you might buy 1 for 50 if that's all you want. but if you want 3, would you buy 3 for 90 when you could get 4 for 100? most of the supersize food pricing schemes are for relatively small differences, less than 50% between the large and small version (in volume/weight) and much less in terms of price. you don't buy the "family size tub" of ice cream (2 litres) when you want only 200 ml for yourself. but you may buy the supersize portion of 300 ml for just 10% more. and unlike extra batteries, which you'd have to uselessly store, more food you can just eat then and there. or you think you can. -rishab
