theBetterDeal

Examples of using theBetterDeal price calculator application

Example 1:   The False "Bulk Discount" (The Multipack Trap)

• Product A (Single Bottle):  16 oz for $3.20

• Product B (Twin Pack): Two 12 oz bottles (24 oz total) for $5.28

• The Trick:  Shoppers naturally assume buying the twin pack or "bigger box" saves money.

• The reality:  

  • Product A is $0.20 per oz.

  • Product B is $0.22 per oz.

  • Product B gives you 9.1% less product for the same money.

  • Buying two(2) single bottles is actually the better deal than buying the twin pack.

Example 2:  Laundry Detergent Dilemma

• Product A (Liquid Pods Laundry Detergent):  93 fluid oz (63 loads) for $27.99

• Product B (Liquid Pods Laundry Detergent):  47 oz by weight (32 loads) for $19.99

• The Trick:  Unit Trap Spotting

  • Product A:   Retail packaging shows $.30/ounce

  • Product B:  Retail packaging shows $0.43/ounce

  • Solution:  These are prepackaged Pods so compare the number of loads and not the fluid ounces using By Servings or Quantity feature.

• The Results: 

  • Product A costs $0.44 per load.

  • Product B costs $0.62 per load.

  • Product B gives you 28.9% less product for the same money.

  • The more expensive Product A is the Better Deal.

Example 3:  The Sneaky Shrinkflation Metric Shift

• Product A (Old Packaging): 16 oz of ground coffee for $12.79

• Product B (New "Eco-Friendly" Bag):  28 oz of ground coffee for $26.99

• The Trick:  Packaging and Upsizing Spotting

  • Product A:  Retail packaging shows $1.07/ounce (but it's really $0.80/ounce)

  • Product B:  Retail packaging shows $0.96/ounce

  • Product B seems cheaper in per ounce.

• The Reality:

  • Product A is $0.80 per oz.

  • Product B is $0.96 per oz.

  • Product B gives you 17.1% less product for the same money even though the packaging shows $0.96/ounce compared to Product A showing $1.07/ounce on the packaging itself.

  • Product A is the Better Deal.  Buy two(2) 16 oz products if you must and get 34% more for your money compared to Product B.

Example 4:  "On-Sale" Endcap Ilusion

• Product A (Name Brand On Sale):  32 oz for $4.48 (marked down from $5.50 on a bright red store sign)

• Product B (Store Brand Regular Price):  18 oz for $2.34 (Tucked away on the bottom shelf)

• The Trick:  The massive "SALE" sign triggers an inpulse to buy the name brand thinking it is a rare bargain.

• The Reality:

  • Product A is $0.14 per oz.

  • Product B is $0.13 per oz.

  • Product A gives you 7.1% less product for the same money.

  • The regular-priced store brand still beats the big name brand sale.