RP - BOGOF (later)

SIR –

Tesco wants to help prevent food wastage by allowing customers to collect their “2 for 1” offers on separate days (report, October 17). Why not just reduce the price of one packet?

Marketing, my poor Ms. Lamb, marketing. It's all about selling, not saving. And if looking like you are saving sells more, then so be it.

That said, I grudgingly concede this 'BTN' (better than nothing) status.

Too many rotting apples at the bottom of our BOGOF barrel.

Buy one, eat one. Yes... FREE!

Not big on bans, but I have to say that this possible one is an exception:

The End of Buy One, Get One Free in the U.K.?

I have a study somewhere from my ad days that shows 'FREE' is by far and away the most potent word in the lexicon.

But it also had a breakdown of the other 'tricks', such as 'half price', two-for-one', etc.

Even the most ruthless and cynical seem powerless to resist.

But there really is no excuse between the two above. The result to the consumer is the same, and the amount of money per 'unit' of produce is no different, but one wins over the other through other factors. And they usually mean profits winning and planets losing.

I have a bee in my bonnet already on storage, especially in back of the fridge, and as we run down ours for our hols this is even more front of mind.

I really think we should try to get used to buying little, more often, and pay a fair price for doing so. And, if the right enviROI boxes can be added... locally.

That all said, the few comments in reply do bear consideration. Funny it's a US site talking about the UK.

Addendum - Supermarket offers and food waste targeted in goverment's food strategy

Aha... spoke too soon!

Telegraph - NEW - Food security cannot be debated properly without considering population density - Meanwhile, back at the more pragmatic, less box-tickophilic end...

A name only a mother (of 4) could love

EU directive to ban BOGOF promotions

This... is a dilemma.

As any who read this will know, I am not exactly pro-ban, especially when it comes to peripheral tinkering, but here's a case where market forces seem to be at odds with genuine enviROI common sense. Leaving what... as an alternative?

We have a normal (well..) family of four. And we do like our fruit and veg. So on my big weekly shop and the odd mid-weekers I am always on the hunt for a bargain. And, by any measure, BOGOF might be tempting.

Thing is, we have noticed that two nets of satsumas usually does not get consumed before the last few have gone West.

What to do...what to do?

It really seems there are no winners here. Well, save the supermarketers, who must do it because it works. But if it was possible, I'd vote for half price on smaller portions guys.

All that said, reading the thrust of the piece, the main issue seems to be the use, or not, of the word 'free'. With the only outcome being the end of an unlovely acronym.

BOGOF

It's a tricky balance, but I have noticed the BBC often seems to have become an additional commercial arm of the retail trade.

You kind of expect and allow that some author or film star (who are simply business persons in another industry) get to flog their wares to a rapt presenter, but watching the morning news 'business' section it's really getting beyond a joke.

I just watched M&S's Sir Stuart Rose breeze over a few possibly reasonable areas of business interest (giving folk recyclable bags is 'popular'. Well, D'Uh. What the enviROI of all that is I don't know. Plus where the 5p charge for the new plastic bags you'll need, if and when you forget to bring the other version subsequently, goes where?) to get to the real point: a screed of PR speak on how the new stores will be lovely with great stuff, etc, etc. He even grabbed a pair of knickers of the rail to squeeze in a 'shop now for Xmas, plea'.

Really Aunty. I have just one word for you: BOGOF - Bringing On Gents Obviously Flogging

ADDENDUM - A few days on, and I am treated to an extended commercial for Tesco. This time it is its attempts at cracking the US market with Fresh 'n Easy. I guess I can just about see how this can happen in a 'business' section.

However, there was a certain irony with it being in sequence with a slot on a restaurant who has got into the Guinness Book of Records by offering up (for all who visit and pay) the world's most expensive dessert. This is by the simple expedient of serving it in a gaudy ton of precious metals on the outside, and pouring more of the same into it.

Obviously a good way to get any media who are tired of moderation or reduced consumerism slots to aid the cause of MWCC I guess.