Hi Pat et al:
The ad was part of the Safeway stores region-wide weekly insert in
newspapers.
It was NOT a conversion error since the ad showed a picture of the gallon
jug and the 3 L container together.
It was an advertising convenience based on prepackaged products: 1 gallon
and 3 L containers.
Regards, Stan Doore
----- Original Message -----
From: Pat Naughtin
To: U.S. Metric Association
Cc: U.S. Metric Association
Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2008 5:39 PM
Subject: [USMA:41659] Re: Production Quantity Disception
On 2008/09/04, at 12:46 AM, STANLEY DOORE wrote:
Beware of price/quantity deception by grocery stores. For example,
Today's Safeway grocery store ad reads: "Refreshe Water 1-gallon or
3-liters" "2 for $1"
Knowledgeable people know that 3 L is much less quantity than a gallon for
the same price. It's a major deception by Safeway stores and a major consumer
rip off.
That's how stores are beginning to bilk the public. Contrast this with
what 7-UP did.
7-UP gave buyers more quantity rather than less for the same price and
used the slogan:
"A Liter Bit More"
Stan Doore
Dear Stan and All,
If the truth is known, it is probably only a simple conversion mistake that
will be corrected as soon as it is pointed out to the manager who is
responsible for that particular store advertisement. However, it is important
to remember that such errors delay the ultimate upgrade to the full use of the
metric system (SI) markedly. Probably a better sign would have avoided
measurements and conversions altogether by having an image of the container of
water and a sign that read simply 'Refreshe Water — 2 for $1'.
These sorts of mistakes are quite common and occur everywhere if you choose
to use a 'metric conversion' path — they are also enormously expensive.
Remember this YouTube video where the (un-stated) problem was to find the
difference between the height of the exhaust clip at the front (180 mm) and at
the back (140 mm), watch http://youtube.com/watch?v=Omh8Ito-05M while you
estimate the cost of employing several people to do this simple job!
To decide on a 'metric conversion' transition method looks like a correct
decision because, on the surface, it looks simple. However, hidden behind this
apparent simplicity are three quite separate and distinct learning paths. If
you decide to use 'metric conversion' methods, then you and your companions
will learn: (1) about the metric system; (2) more than you ever needed to know
about old pre-metric measures, and (3) a whole new world of conversion factors
and how to use them. I have written a three page article that explores these
three learning paths; you can find this article about 'metric conversion' at
http://www.metricationmatters.com/docs/MetricConversion.pdf
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
PO Box 305 Belmont 3216,
Geelong, Australia
Phone: 61 3 5241 2008
Metric system consultant, writer, and speaker, Pat Naughtin, has helped
thousands of people and hundreds of companies upgrade to the modern metric
system smoothly, quickly, and so economically that they now save thousands each
year when buying, processing, or selling for their businesses. Pat provides
services and resources for many different trades, crafts, and professions for
commercial, industrial and government metrication leaders in Asia, Europe, and
in the USA. Pat's clients include the Australian Government, Google, NASA,
NIST, and the metric associations of Canada, the UK, and the USA. See
http://www.metricationmatters.com/ for more metrication information, contact
Pat at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or to get the free 'Metrication matters' newsletter go
to: http://www.metricationmatters.com/newsletter/ to subscribe.
