Sunday, November 13, 2011

Procrustean Coke

There's a donut shop on the corner that I walk by often.  It has a sign on the window that's piqued my interest:  "Coke, 89 cents, any size"

In a way, I like this.  Instead of one size fits all, why not one price? But isn't it odd?

First, how likely is it that people will get anything but the biggest size?  Even if you can't finish it all, you can save it for a while, or give it to someone else, or toss it when you're finished.  But if you get a smaller size, and there's not enough, you'll curse yourself for not taking advantage of the deal.

And is the biggest size meant to sell for 89 cents, and everythng else a ripoff?  Or is the average price 89 cents and they're taking a chance. Or is it a loss leader? (Though who buys coke with a donut?)

4 Comments:

Anonymous Denver Guy said...

I think the answer is the beverage is a rip off at any size, so price doesn't matter. Essentially colored sugar water costs maybe 5 cents a gallon, less than the cup its served in.
This is also why movie theaters increasingly push free refills - as if they are doing you any favor, forcing yo to miss critical parts of the film to either expel or refill, as the case may be.

7:52 AM, November 14, 2011  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Stop drinking soda for a week and then try to go back. It will be impossible.

11:01 AM, November 14, 2011  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Movie theatres make their profits on concessions, so consider it an entertainment tax.

Can you really stop drinkng soda that way? How come it doesn't work for cigarettes?

11:22 AM, November 14, 2011  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A week might be too short.

But stop watching TV for a week and then try to go back. THAT is impossible.

2:18 AM, November 16, 2011  

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