Someone explain to me...

[Fran27]

Why is it more expensive per pound to buy a big container/jar/bag or something than a small one?

I've always thought it was cheaper in the end to buy something in big quantity, but tiny water bottles cost less per quart then big bottles, or small bags of litter cost 30% less per pound than a big bag. It just encourages waste and just makes no sense whatsoever.

Anyone knows?

 

[M&M's Mommy]

I guess you pay more money for the conveniency (sp?)

Just like a hotdog will cost three times as much at a fair than else where, and probably about 10 times as much if you buy in bulk and make it at home by yourself.

 

[GlassOnion]

Actually you just answered your own question.

Most people don't compare cost per pound/oz and just buy the largest size, assuming they're saving money.

The marketing companies are well aware of this fact.



Actually I ran into this just the other day. Was buying some Honey Bunches of Oats and it had the regular size and then the FAMILY Size! So I start reaching for the family size, thinking I"m going to get more for cheaper right? Then I looked at the price tag and the price per ounce on the regular was 20 cents per ounce while the family sized one was 30 cents per ounce.

But as I said, most people don't take that extra step. Luckily for me I'm a cheap ass.

 

[M&M's Mommy]

Actually you just answered your own question.

Most people don't compare cost per pound/oz and just buy the largest size, assuming they're saving money.

The marketing companies are well aware of this fact.

Ha.. Did I read things in reverse? (thus my answer above yours)

But I think you're right. So many times I noticed that things we buy in bulk at Costco actually cost more per pound than smaller one at the regular supermarket.. but many people flock to Costco and stuff up their cart thinking they're saving money while actually they're not.

 

[drmom777]

At our house we have what my husband calls "bogeys" and anyone shopping knows how much per pound, piece or ounce is the maximum you can pay for what you are getting. For example the cereal bogey is two dollars a pound.

 

[bubbatd]

Buying for just me , this is hard !!! A head of lettuce may be on sale , but I end up throwing too much away . I end up buying a little at a salad bar , per pound pay more buy in the long range pay less .

 

[Fran27]

Yeah Grammy even for us pretty often buying in bulk, even cheaper, isn't worth it.

At least at BJs stuff is really cheaper than the grocery store we go to, so we can't go wrong... but man was I mad when we were using bottled water for the babies bottles and we went through 3-4 of those tiny bottles a day... so much recycling, it's just dumb.

 

[Boemy]

Actually I ran into this just the other day. Was buying some Honey Bunches of Oats and it had the regular size and then the FAMILY Size! So I start reaching for the family size, thinking I"m going to get more for cheaper right? Then I looked at the price tag and the price per ounce on the regular was 20 cents per ounce while the family sized one was 30 cents per ounce.

It's funny you should say this, Honey Bunches of Oats is what immediately popped into my head as well!

If you go to Costco you can get some great bulk deals, though.

 

[darkchild16]

Yeah Grammy even for us pretty often buying in bulk, even cheaper, isn't worth it.

At least at BJs stuff is really cheaper than the grocery store we go to, so we can't go wrong... but man was I mad when we were using bottled water for the babies bottles and we went through 3-4 of those tiny bottles a day... so much recycling, it's just dumb.

they arent babies anymore :yikes: Can you believe it no need for those things anymore Its not fair i tell you!

 

[puppydog]

No clue Fran. It is cheaper here to buy in bulk. Pity it all gets wasted anyway!

 

[bjdobson]

It depends on the product. Because companies have realized this, they sometimes make it cheaper to buy the smaller product knowing a lot of people won't even look and automatically purchase the larger one.

You have to check every time you purchase something and work out the price per pound.

We go to Costco but usually for things that are unusual or carried only by Costco because MOST of their stuff is the same price or more expensive than at the "regular" stores.

 

[Kjara]

In my country(Europa, Croatia) the law is still ok..The "family size" of things are still cheaper then small size..I always buy the big pack of things like toilet paper or flour(5kg) or oil(5lit) because its cheaper then let say oil 1lit..But the way the world is going, soon we wont buy anything because of lach of money...

 

[FoxyWench]

im a crazy "bargain shopper"
i do show around for prices

like this past friday i whent off to bjs (ugh) and picked up about a months worth of meat for 2-3 people for about 1/2 the cost of getting it form our local big chain grocery...
but i was put of by their prices on thinks like Milk, pasta and many canned goods (comparitvly ive had better luck at costco for those items)
so on sunday we whent to the A&P (very conveniently locasted 3 minutes up the street) and the store wasnt in any way shape or form impressive but we got to pick up all the stuff that was more expensive in bj's (like pasta being $1 a box!)
and once farmers market season comes along ill be comparing their prices on fresh produce because they TEND to be a little cheaper than grocery...

in this day and age, with our tight budget its all about checking flyers online, price comparisson as much as possible before hand then trying to plan the least wastefull route so you can do it all in 1 day so your using as little gas as possible.

thus far ive found meat is realy the only thing thats often cheaper per lb in bullk...luckily i can fit a good amount in our little freezer...as long as i dont try and put anything else in there that is lol!

 

[Fran27]

Well pasta is cheaper at BJs depending on whether you get named brands or not too. I think pasta is one of the very few items I don't like the generics of. I usually wait for their coupon book to get most of the stuff though. Then I stock up.

I wish I could really just shop for the cheapest price for everything but often it means going to four different stores, and it's not very time-efficient. And I have yet to find a store that carries everything we use, so it's a pain!

 

[bjdobson]

You should check out how prices DRASTICALLY change when you cross the border. Hubby and I drove back and forth to NE USA for awhile and things down in the USA were often 50% cheaper than they are at home. I loved it for that but man I hate it now 'cause I can't get down there any more.

You have to be VERY careful these days to check your bargains. They try their best to deceive you at every turn.