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Isn't that pretty easy to get around with better wording? eg. "2 for $x, min 2" Not if the same law doesn't permit minimums in order to get a discount. People

Isn't that pretty easy to get around with better wording? eg. "2 for $x, min 2" Not if the same law doesn't permit minimums in order to get a discount. People on HN like to pretend that the people who write laws are completely clueless, but they've been doing it longer than we've been alive and know exactly what they're doing. It helps to read the infinitesimally small print on the sale tag on the shelf. As I've moved from state to state and city to city you can tell where this sort of thing is regulated or not. I shamelessly pull the tags off the shelves to read them. If the stores don't want me damaging the tags, they can simply make them in a size that's readable.

gruez 1y ago
>Not if the same law doesn't permit minimums in order to get a discount. People on HN like to pretend that the people who write laws are completely clueless, but they've been doing it longer than we've been alive and know exactly what they're doing. Are there any jurisdictions that actually have such laws? This is basically bulk pricing and it's essentially impossible to outlaw without getting rid of it entirely, which come with other issues. Legislating "2 for $x = $x/2 for each item" is the most you can realistically implement. Moreover any such laws are trivial to bypass by gluing multiple packs together (like they do at costco) and selling that as a separate sku.
- reaperducer 1y ago
  Are there any jurisdictions that actually have such laws? Yes. You can tell because the tag will read something like "SALE! $5 when you buy 2!" and then have smaller print reading "Individual price: $2.50." Moreover any such laws are trivial to bypass by gluing multiple packs together (like they do at costco) and selling that as a separate sku. But that's not what we're discussing here. We're discussing discounting existing items when bought in bulk, not creating new items. To your point, though, creating a new SKU is not without its costs, both for the manufacturer and the retailer. If you're selling something in someone else's store (supermarkets are the example this thread is dealing with), you don't get to just make up SKUs and products on a whim. Think about the logistics involved.

gruez 1y ago

>Not if the same law doesn't permit minimums in order to get a discount. People on HN like to pretend that the people who write laws are completely clueless, but they've been doing it longer than we've been alive and know exactly what they're doing. Are there any jurisdictions that actually have such laws? This is basically bulk pricing and it's essentially impossible to outlaw without getting rid of it entirely, which come with other issues. Legislating "2 for $x = $x/2 for each item" is the most you can realistically implement. Moreover any such laws are trivial to bypass by gluing multiple packs together (like they do at costco) and selling that as a separate sku.

reaperducer 1y ago
Are there any jurisdictions that actually have such laws? Yes. You can tell because the tag will read something like "SALE! $5 when you buy 2!" and then have smaller print reading "Individual price: $2.50." Moreover any such laws are trivial to bypass by gluing multiple packs together (like they do at costco) and selling that as a separate sku. But that's not what we're discussing here. We're discussing discounting existing items when bought in bulk, not creating new items. To your point, though, creating a new SKU is not without its costs, both for the manufacturer and the retailer. If you're selling something in someone else's store (supermarkets are the example this thread is dealing with), you don't get to just make up SKUs and products on a whim. Think about the logistics involved.