In article <AnOLj.4423$tw3.2608@trnddc03>, James Silverton
> wrote:

> Hello, All!
>
> Today, I was in a supermarket that claims to be a discount one
> (in fact its prices *are* usually lower.) I saw some large navel
> oranges marked "10 for....." That looked interesting until I saw
> it was "10 for $10" or a dollar each. Don't people do the simple
> arithmetic.

10 for $10 is a promotional technique for the flyer, or else it's in
keeping with some discount theme which usually means pricing to move
greater quantity. That's all, no big conspiracy or deception to it.
It means you can buy 1 for $1 in most stores. The few people who think
it means they have to buy 9 more oranges to get that price help the
store to move stock. This is all traditional technique in the grocery
business, and boys and girls pick it up from their moms usually by the
time they leave home, and that's why it's not a problem.

As an aside, I think that pricing/quantity-conspiracy/deception is most
evident in the hamburger business. They advertise a burger about the
size of a coffee can and you can't get one, just something that's about
the size of a tuna can. I asked my state's AG about this and was told
it was a federal matter since hamburger chains are country-wide. I
asked FTC and learned that the deceptive ads are legal because the
chains publish "hamburger manuals" that specify a _range_ of
ingredients, the advertised burger using maximums and the one you get
using minimums.

> They also sometimes price melons per pound that makes them look
> cheap until you weigh one and find it will cost $5!

Unit pricing fails in that it fails sometimes in just the way you cite.
Some stores take advantage of it, some don't, DYODD. Another technique
is to place scales away from higher priced stuff.

These days, I shop at a store that's a few miles past the one that's
closest to me. I buy as many items on my list as I'm comfortable with
then stop off at the closer store on the way home to get everything
else. One store has oranges that are fresher than the other and last
longer in the fruit bowl, the other store has Guinness, so you know I'm
stoppin' there. One store has thicker cuts of steak, fresher ground
beef, but the other store has a wider selection of fresh fish. Unit
pricing is not such a worry anymore because freshness and availability
trump everything else.

I see employees from different stores visit the others. They have
checklists and are looking at pricing. The stores have an agreement
that allows this to be done openly. I've asked these people what I can
get cheaper at their store and they show me their list for things that
will be marked competitively (meaning cheaper) within a couple of
hours.

I'm single and always have been, so I see the same basket of food costs
5-times what it did when I was in college. My concept of value is
constantly being challenged, so I just ignore prices these days if only
to prevent insanity.

I'm gladda see y'all bein' friendly and courteous in this discussion.