Quantity pricing math - what am I missing?

[RunningBum]

I could swear that once at a gas station, the low price was on the mid grade, not the lowest octane grade. I did a double take, and filled up with mid grade.

I wonder how many people saw the lowest price on the big sign, assumed it was the low octane, and just grabbed the low octane nozzle? It would be the natural thing to do. This was before I had a camera phone, or I would have snapped a picture.

-ERD50

I saw this once, a long, long time ago. It maybe even happened a few times at one place. Maybe it was to attract customers and hope to get more regulars, since they may hope that people stop at the same place out of habit on their commute when prices are the same, so they were trying to get some new regulars. Or maybe it was during a time of big price fluctuations, and the delivery time for the mid-grade came during a cheaper swing, and the opposite for low octane. It's also possible that the mid grade had ethanol, and the low grade did not.

It could be something similar for the silly string in the OP. The store gets a better deal on it, and starts selling the single cans more cheaply. They already had a stock of the 3-packs and don't get around to re-pricing them. Or vice versa, they are raising the price, and first restock the 3-packs at the higher price, and don't bother raising the single can prices until they restock, or maybe they won't even restock it. Not really a big deal on such a small price item. Maybe it's even a marketing test, where they are trying to see if they even need to offer a better price on any bulk packaged items.

 

[athena53]

BTW, I keep challenging my daughter when we are at stores to figure this out... and she IS challenged when it comes to this... and she is a straight A student .... I am very surprised how bad she is doing math in her head... and I am talking simple division and multiplication.... heck, sometimes just add and subtract.... I think the biggest problem is that she is being lazy.... if you want 3 you buy the 3 pack....

Don't lose heart- I'm not all that great at computational math and I'm a retired actuary. I did much better on the theoretical stuff! I've gotten much better over the years just because of the need for reasonability checks, especially when looking at results from computer models.

DH used to mentally calculate unit prices when we shopped and it really slowed us down. I still do it but only on larger purchases. What drives my analytical side nuts is toilet paper. Price per 100 sheets? What if the packages have different sheet sizes? Price per square foot? What if one is thicker and more luxurious than the other? Yeah, I know- I need to get a life.

 

[Music Lover]

What drives my analytical side nuts is toilet paper. Price per 100 sheets? What if the packages have different sheet sizes? Price per square foot? What if one is thicker and more luxurious than the other? Yeah, I know- I need to get a life.

I've used pi to calculate the best value for a pizza...

 

[Texas Proud]

Don't lose heart- I'm not all that great at computational math and I'm a retired actuary. I did much better on the theoretical stuff! I've gotten much better over the years just because of the need for reasonability checks, especially when looking at results from computer models.

DH used to mentally calculate unit prices when we shopped and it really slowed us down. I still do it but only on larger purchases. What drives my analytical side nuts is toilet paper. Price per 100 sheets? What if the packages have different sheet sizes? Price per square foot? What if one is thicker and more luxurious than the other? Yeah, I know- I need to get a life.

LOL... OK, I have hope for the future!!!

As to calculating... I usually know which is better and as long as the prices have not changed it is easy for me... I also do not care that much for smaller items.... as for toilet paper I just want to make sure it is double and then brand....

I do it more as an exercise for DD.... to try and teach to look at prices so you do not pay more for a 3 pack then 3 individual items.... or 39 cents for half gallon and 33 for a gallon... (which, BTW, if she missed I would have a fit)....

 

[Chuckanut]

+1 It's law here in Mass. All items in a grocery/pharmacy etc have to have the per unit price next to the actual price.

A.

Does it require the same units of measure?

One of my local stores has unit pricing - Item A - 0.34 per ounce, very similar Item B - 5.03 per pound. Thankfully, modern phones have calculators, but this does not create good feelings in the customers.

 

[MichaelB]

DH used to mentally calculate unit prices when we shopped and it really slowed us down. I still do it but only on larger purchases. What drives my analytical side nuts is toilet paper. Price per 100 sheets? What if the packages have different sheet sizes? Price per square foot? What if one is thicker and more luxurious than the other? Yeah, I know- I need to get a life.

No! On the contrary. This is one of the reasons why we retire - so we have the time and inclination to slow things down and do these calculations.

 

[Midpack]

No! On the contrary. This is one of the reasons why we retire - so we have the time and inclination to slow things down and do these calculations.

Especially since most of us have a computer in our pocket/purse. It's never been easier. You can even check prices in store B while standing in the aisle of store A if there's big money at stake.

 

[Walt34]

What drives my analytical side nuts is toilet paper. Price per 100 sheets? What if the packages have different sheet sizes? Price per square foot? What if one is thicker and more luxurious than the other? Yeah, I know- I need to get a life.

Around here, I don't even look at the price. I get the Megaroll size of Charmin. Why? Because that's what DW wants.

End of discussion.

 

[GravitySucks]

Around here, I don't even look at the price. I get the Megaroll size of Charmin. Why? Because that's what DW wants.

End of discussion.

Toilet paper unit pricing is only good to compare same brand, same quality to different sizes.
I'll go back to work before buying crappy toilet paper.

 

[travelover]

..........buying crappy toilet paper.

I buy used when I can save a buck, but toilet paper is definitely best when purchased new and unused.

 

[NW-Bound]

I could swear that once at a gas station, the low price was on the mid grade, not the lowest octane grade. I did a double take, and filled up with mid grade.

I wonder how many people saw the lowest price on the big sign, assumed it was the low octane, and just grabbed the low octane nozzle? It would be the natural thing to do. This was before I had a camera phone, or I would have snapped a picture.

-ERD50

I saw this in South Dakota in an RV trip. At first, I though it was an error, but upon seeing several gas stations with this price inversion, I investigated further.

Looking closer at the labels on the pump, I learned that the lowest grade octane was 100% gasoline, while the mid-grade had ethanol mixed in. Now, we know that ethanol has less energy than gasoline, the gas mileage will not be as good with that mid-grade octane mix. Hence, the price does reflect that, plus ethanol is cheaper than gasoline.

 

[Texas Proud]

I saw this in South Dakota in an RV trip. At first, I though it was an error, but upon seeing several gas stations with this price inversion, I investigated further.

Looking closer at the labels on the pump, I learned that the lowest grade octane was 100% gasoline, while the mid-grade had ethanol mixed in. Now, we know that ethanol has less energy than gasoline, the gas mileage will not be as good with that mid-grade octane mix. Hence, the price does reflect that, plus ethanol is cheaper than gasoline.

This might be why we do not see it here... there is mandatory ethanol in gas here...

 

[ERD50]

I saw this in South Dakota in an RV trip. At first, I though it was an error, but upon seeing several gas stations with this price inversion, I investigated further.

Looking closer at the labels on the pump, I learned that the lowest grade octane was 100% gasoline, while the mid-grade had ethanol mixed in. Now, we know that ethanol has less energy than gasoline, the gas mileage will not be as good with that mid-grade octane mix. Hence, the price does reflect that, plus ethanol is cheaper than gasoline.

This might be why we do not see it here... there is mandatory ethanol in gas here...

Yes, but I'm pretty sure this was in IL, corn country - I think we've had ethanol for a very long time. But that would explain it, if that were the case.

I think the explanation from others about store items makes the cost sense to me - product put on the shelf at different times, prices changed for one but not the other. I kinda doubt stores are intentionally pricing larger packs at a higher cost/per unit then a lower amount of the same thing. It probably "just happens".

-ERD50

 

[NW-Bound]

...product put on the shelf at different times, prices changed for one but not the other. I kinda doubt stores are intentionally pricing larger packs at a higher cost/per unit then a lower amount of the same thing. It probably "just happens"...

I occasionally see the same product at two different prices. A new batch comes in and is priced higher due to inflation, and the shelf restocker neglected to reprice the old stock.

 

[Blue Collar Guy]

+1 It's law here in Mass. All items in a grocery/pharmacy etc have to have the per unit price next to the actual price.

As an aside, 50 years ago I worked summers at the A&P. They had a gallon of A&P bleach for 33 cents and a half gallon for 39 cents. I was told that years earlier they had had a special sale on the gallon jugs (original price was 45 cents) but somehow forgot to change it back and so for years the price was 6 cents less for twice as much.

My Father had a local delicatessen. He had different prices for different people, lol. But, I remember asking him why would people buy the tiny jar of mayo when for maybe 20 cents more they could get the quart size. He said that for one thing they might keep that jar for 6 months and not want a quart to sit in the fridge for 2 years, and second they didnt have the other 20 cents.

 

[FUEGO]

My Father had a local delicatessen. He had different prices for different people, lol. But, I remember asking him why would people buy the tiny jar of mayo when for maybe 20 cents more they could get the quart size. He said that for one thing they might keep that jar for 6 months and not want a quart to sit in the fridge for 2 years, and second they didnt have the other 20 cents.

We sometimes buy smaller containers of condiments even when the much larger quantity is significantly cheaper on a per-unit basis. Our fridge isn't huge and we only have one of them. Our kitchen is rather small, so the fridge size is capped. We do, however, save a lot by owning less real estate than many (lower capital cost, lower ongoing cost to insure, maintain, pay taxes, etc) and we don't spend the extra $25/yr or so on electricity for a second refrigerator like many people have.

I'm pretty sure spending an extra $0.60 on ketchup occasionally is more than offset by all these other savings.

 

[Totoro]

Anecdote isn't data, anyway:
Yesterday bought chocolates to give away ('Merci', variety of flavors). The big box was about 50% more expensive per unit than the smaller box.

 

[marko]

Does it require the same units of measure?
.

Yes. "Per 100 count", "Per ounce" etc.

 

[Rustic23]

Been sometime since I have looked but Sams use to be notorious about unit pricing with different units. i.e oz, lbs, sheets, inches, feet. similar products different measure. As I said, have not looked in a couple of years, so don't know if they have standardized.

 

[Chuckanut]

Around here, I don't even look at the price. I get the Megaroll size of Charmin. Why? Because that's what DW wants.

End of discussion.

Happy Wife. Happy Life.

 

[ncbill]

Been sometime since I have looked but Sams use to be notorious about unit pricing with different units. i.e oz, lbs, sheets, inches, feet. similar products different measure. As I said, have not looked in a couple of years, so don't know if they have standardized.

Local grocery store is the same.

For example, paper towels. The small size might be unit priced in sheets, the larger size unit priced based on total feet.

The cynic in me says it's probably intentional to make it harder to compare the required-by-law unit prices.

 

[kcowan]

I occasionally see the same product at two different prices. A new batch comes in and is priced higher due to inflation, and the shelf restocker neglected to reprice the old stock.

And they stick the new stuff at the front so if you dig you get the bargain-priced stock!

For example, paper towels. The small size might be unit priced in sheets, the larger size unit priced based on total feet.

The cynic in me says it's probably intentional to make it harder to compare the required-by-law unit prices.

Yes and in Canada, ML and MG are common. one volume the other weight! Where is my specific gravity app?

 

[FIREmenow]

Where is my specific gravity app?

Right here:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=litude.radian.densitycalculator&hl=en

 

[Walt34]

...why would people buy the tiny jar of mayo when for maybe 20 cents more they could get the quart size.

DW likes the smaller size of coffee cans because it is easier for her hands to handle, even though the per-unit cost of the coffee is higher that way. Sometimes it just ain't worth arguing about....

 

[RobbieB]

The TP thing must be common I see it every time I buy. Two 12 packs are less than one 24 pack. Easier too, one pack for each bathroom.