While others are dozing, Bob Middleton tackles some of the big issues.
June 22, 2013
WAITING in the waiting room at the medical clinic, as one is obliged to do, fortune fell into my lap. There among the jumbled pile of last year's Women's Days I found the latest copy of the local supermarket's red-hot specials.
As I browsed through the contents, I became increasingly aware of the pricing strategy employed in these brochures. To while away the the time, I decided to conduct my own in-depth research.
Of the 64 goodies listed, 52 were priced at X dollars and 99c. More than half the remaining 12 items were for twin packs that, if purchased individually, were also priced to end in the enticing 99c.
The way I figured it, with the 10 pack of fluffy soft toilet rolls on offer at $4.99 I would not get much change out of my five dollars. But if I purchased 10 packs of 10 packs the lot would come to $49.90. Wow! I've just saved 10 cents. Now the problem arises to find a place to store 100 of these bargain-priced fluffies.
We see the same sneaky plan at work with petrol prices. This week ULP is around 139.9 cents a litre. My partner always reads that as 139 cents while smarties like me see it as 140 cents. If I ever pass a service station where the prices are rounded to the whole cent I would probably run off the road in shock.
Yet it’s a pricing method that must work as supported by its wide application proving to us how gullible we are. I still think that $50.00 with all those zeros looks a better buy than $49.99.
Anyway I have a plan. When I become minister for smart stuff (don't laugh, there’s not a lot of competition out there), I will legislate to abolish the practice and while I'm at it dump the 5 cent piece.
Then I am going to turn my attention to lowering the road toll. Taxis excepted, all motor vehicles will have to be sprayed highly visible white. First to be recalled for a makeover will be those popular colours with the stylish names like Bitumen Surprise and Ambush Asphalt. I am sure you will have noticed how they seem to be the last ones to turn their lights on early mornings and at twilight.
Just wait. I have a heap of good ideas whirling around between these bat-like ears waiting to be introduced into the house late at night while mere mortals sleep.
WAITING in the waiting room at the medical clinic, as one is obliged to do, fortune fell into my lap. There among the jumbled pile of last year's Women's Days I found the latest copy of the local supermarket's red-hot specials.
As I browsed through the contents, I became increasingly aware of the pricing strategy employed in these brochures. To while away the the time, I decided to conduct my own in-depth research.
Of the 64 goodies listed, 52 were priced at X dollars and 99c. More than half the remaining 12 items were for twin packs that, if purchased individually, were also priced to end in the enticing 99c.
The way I figured it, with the 10 pack of fluffy soft toilet rolls on offer at $4.99 I would not get much change out of my five dollars. But if I purchased 10 packs of 10 packs the lot would come to $49.90. Wow! I've just saved 10 cents. Now the problem arises to find a place to store 100 of these bargain-priced fluffies.
We see the same sneaky plan at work with petrol prices. This week ULP is around 139.9 cents a litre. My partner always reads that as 139 cents while smarties like me see it as 140 cents. If I ever pass a service station where the prices are rounded to the whole cent I would probably run off the road in shock.
Yet it’s a pricing method that must work as supported by its wide application proving to us how gullible we are. I still think that $50.00 with all those zeros looks a better buy than $49.99.
Anyway I have a plan. When I become minister for smart stuff (don't laugh, there’s not a lot of competition out there), I will legislate to abolish the practice and while I'm at it dump the 5 cent piece.
Then I am going to turn my attention to lowering the road toll. Taxis excepted, all motor vehicles will have to be sprayed highly visible white. First to be recalled for a makeover will be those popular colours with the stylish names like Bitumen Surprise and Ambush Asphalt. I am sure you will have noticed how they seem to be the last ones to turn their lights on early mornings and at twilight.
Just wait. I have a heap of good ideas whirling around between these bat-like ears waiting to be introduced into the house late at night while mere mortals sleep.
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