The buy one get one free fallacy

[Rixis]

I've never seen the price of anything I normally buy in Tesco rise/fall in relation to any offers. Prices change now and again, but I've not ever seen it in relation to offers.

Maybe I buy the wrong things

[Fenixdown]

Pizza is good cold. Silly person you are, OP.

[Deleted]

Not on this occasion, I was going away.

When? Right after eating the pizza? If not, wait a while, eat another pizza.

[KOMO1211]

Side note: Maybe I'm just fortunate, but believe it or not, here in North Carolina (USA) both the grocery chains that I frequent (Lowes Foods and Harris Teeter) don't "enforce" the advertised deals. For example if something is advertised 2 for 1, or 3 for 1, or whatever the promotion is, it's actually 1/2 off at the register. So, when I only want 1, I only buy 1, and it's 50% off (or 66% etc). I'm not sure if it's a state law, or just customer friendly management style.

Same way here where i live, take for example, soda will be 3 12packs for 11 something, or you can by 1 for lilke 3.75.

My freezer isn't big enough.

wtf, how small is your freezer or how f'in big are these pizzas lol

[Rixis]

wtf, how small is your freezer or how f'in big are these pizzas lol

It's called ... well, I dunno what it's called, but it is: providing an excuse to any reasonable argument to try and keep your main point/annoyance valid.

[Deleted]

Tesco has been proven time and time ago that they put prices up the day that items go on buy one get one free. It's a perfectly legal strategy that's frustrating for buyers because now you have to buy two, and technically if you wanted two, you are saving money, but if you only wanted one - you're actually paying more than the day before whilst being told you're getting a great deal.

I hate Tesco. I only buy stuff from there if I really have to. Their prices are always higher than anyone else (minus Co-Op) anyway so I never think anything is a bargain from there. Only stuff that is reasonably priced is their fruit and veg.

[Phookah]

In the supermarket the other day I'm looking for something to get for lunch and I see a nice pizza on the shelf for £3.50 then just as I'm about to put it in my basket I see that it's one of those buy one get one free offers but here's the fallacy. I only want one. I will not have time or the inclination to eat both before the second one goes off, it will just sit in the fridge while I'm away on an excursion.

So why do supermarkets do this? If they want to shift stock why not make it half price instead of 2 for 1? It makes absolutely no sense and all it does is piss people off who are on a tight budget because they cannot benefit from the deal and they actually sell less of that item.

You might well say seeing as you were going to buy one anyway why not just get two and be done with it, you haven't lost out? The point is that you are being given the shaft so you don't bother buying any at all. People who actually want two will be getting a deal while you are definitely not.

I'm also making a poll on this to see what you would do.

Because most people can use both things before they expire.

[Deleted]

I only want one. I will not have time or the inclination to eat both before the second one goes off, it will just sit in the fridge while I'm away on an excursion.

I'm sorry what now? Your personal circumstance is that your going away and can't eat a 2nd pizza so suddenly all buy one get one free offers are wrong?

How about next time you call up the guy in charge of marketing at whatever chain this was, let him know what you're up to over the next couple of weeks and see what country wide offers they put in place specifically for you.

[Deleted]

I'd buy it of course.. free is free and frozen pizzas pretty much last forever.

[grenalden]

First of all, your argument sounds more like you don't want to be told what to do more than anything (especially since you said you would be more inclined to buy 2 if they were each half price instead of BOGO, which is literally the same thing.)

Secondly, most of the time (like 90%) the manufacturers are the ones that determine what goes on sale in the store because they give the supermarket rebates on items that go on sale, which essentially gives the supermarket more items at a reduced cost allowing them to have said sale. So your anger at the supermarket is also unfounded. If you want to blame anyone for this egregious offense of offering you a second item for free, it should be the manufacturers.

[Rixis]

Secondly, most of the time (like 90%) the manufacturers are the ones that determine what goes on sale in the store because they give the supermarket rebates on items that go on sale, which essentially gives the supermarket more items at a reduced cost allowing them to have said sale. So your anger at the supermarket is also unfounded. If you want to blame anyone for this egregious offense of offering you a second item for free, it should be thr manufacturers.

Whilst I wouldn't say I knew this, I have seen for example Ben & Jerrys will be on half price offer in 4 separate supermarket chains at the same time, so the link seems to indicate this may be true

[hellosaltygoodness]

i don't know much about economics or anything and i could be completely ignoring relevant economic things, but it seems like if had 200 pizzas to get rid of and i did it your way, and 75 people bought pizzas, i'd have $131.25 and 125 pizzas to throw out, but if i do it their way and 75 people buy, i'll have $262.50 and only 50 pizzas to throw out. so i don't see why anybody would do it your way.

[Rixis]

i don't know much about economics or anything and i could be completely ignoring relevant economic things, but it seems like if had 200 pizzas to get rid of and i did it your way, and 75 people bought pizzas, i'd have $131.25 and 125 pizzas to throw out, but if i do it their way and 75 people buy, i'll have $262.50 and only 50 pizzas to throw out. so i don't see why anybody would do it your way.

For that 1 awkward customer who will only buy half price offers, not 2 for 1 ones. They should alter their entire market strategy based around him

[grenalden]

Whilst I wouldn't say I knew this, I have seen for example Ben & Jerrys will be on half price offer in 4 separate supermarket chains at the same time, so the link seems to indicate this may be true

I know this to be true, as I manage a grocery store :-)

[Twoddle]

I'd buy it of course.. free is free and frozen pizzas pretty much last forever.

It depends on your definition of free. Conditionally free would be a better term, it's free if you buy one. Give us your money and we'll give you something for free!

[Tacotruck]

My favorite bar has all drinks 2-4-1 all day long every day. I am a big fan of 2-4-1.

[Wildtree]

In the supermarket the other day I'm looking for something to get for lunch and I see a nice pizza on the shelf for £3.50 then just as I'm about to put it in my basket I see that it's one of those buy one get one free offers but here's the fallacy. I only want one. I will not have time or the inclination to eat both before the second one goes off, it will just sit in the fridge while I'm away on an excursion.

You don't put the second one in the fridge, you put it in the freezer.... Perfectly fine, and problem solved.
One day soon, you don't feel like leaving the house, and don't feel like cooking... There's that pizza in the freezer, you've got for free the other day..
What a good day it is, right there and then..

[sourmonkey]

Most places that do buy one get one deals double charge for the first one .
I work in a warehouse that has a store front we deal with individuals and restaurants .

Our main seller is buy one get one free chicken we literally pay 3.00 for a 10lb box to turn around and charge
17.99 get a 10lb box free . This is the way of all business (profit) but sometimes it's best to fiqure out if Getting one is the better deal.

[Balazaar]

There's nothing wrong with 2 for 1 offers. You could always ask someone who has freezer space to store the 2nd pizza ya know.

What consumers really need to watch for is stores advertising items in the sale paper that are actually not on sale. Just because they put the item in the sale paper doesn't mean it is actually discounted. Make sure it says regular price XXX or you know the regular price so you know if it is "on sale."

[Deleted]

It makes absolutely no sense and all it does is piss people off who are on a tight budget because they cannot benefit from the deal and they actually sell less of that item.

You might well say seeing as you were going to buy one anyway why not just get two and be done with it, you haven't lost out? The point is that you are being given the shaft so you don't bother buying any at all. People who actually want two will be getting a deal while you are definitely not.

I'm also making a poll on this to see what you would do.

It only pisses you off and that is because you have created some form of twisted logic to explain how a freebie is actually a plan to ruin your day.

Unbelievable.