[adventurer]

I have seen Walmart and the supermarket offer the bigger family size box which cost more per oz than the smaller box. Maybe this is the short time where they offer both sizes and faze the other out but it sure makes me think people don't pay attention. People can't seem to do simple math based on how sales prices are consistently implemented. Coke and Pepsi sales alone is a good example. Calculating the cost of a 24 pack as cheaper than a 12 is a mystery to the average consumer.

[firecall]

Here in Australia they put the price per unit on the shelf sticker!

Like for Pepsi it will show $1.67/per litre, for instance.

Then you can easily shop all the 24 or 30 multipacks.

Also, like other countries the actual weight inside the same packaging are shrinking. Chocolate Bars are a good example.

They've tried pushing the smaller than 350ml can size, but it hasnt stuck. In the UK they have a 330ml can size.

Source: I work in Marketing and currently am working for retail FMCG and F&B clients, so research things on shelves more than your average human :-)

[distances]

330ml is a standard size in Europe, both for cans and bottles. Next step is 500ml. So wasn't due to shrinkage.

[me_me_me]

> In the UK they have a 330ml can size.

Well there are the new taller cans that look 'bigger'. even though it probably costs more to make those in terms of aluminium ammounts.

[dhosek]

They do in the US, at least at the major grocery stores. Not always for sale items though.

[DSMan195276]

I disagree that people are incapable, I think a large portion just don't care all that much. Frankly I certainly fall into that category for lots of things - I'm more concerned with getting a reasonable amount (and not wasting tons of time in the store) than the exact cheapest price, especially when the difference usually isn't that drastic in the end. Going with your example, I buy a 12 pack because I don't drink pop that often and really don't have room to store a 24 pack, so saving a dollar or two just doesn't justify it for me. Where-as for other products that I do get a lot of I take the time to make sure I'm getting a good deal.

I will readily say that the above is a luxury that not everybody has, but then buying the best per oz price is a luxury not everybody has either. Certainly there are oddball cases like you pointed out, but typically the larger items have a better per oz pricing and not everybody can afford the higher upfront price even if the per item price is less.

[only_as_i_fall]

Sometimes I wonder how much wealth transfer there is based on people who were never taught how to avoid this kind of trickery being duped.

The person that buys the overpriced "value" pack is basically giving money to PepsiCo or whatever, but in effect that subsidizes the conscientious consumer.

[mywittyname]

Cost per unit is present on the price tags in every grocery that I've been to. Certainly Walmart does it.