Buy One, Get One Free

[rob62521]

I always kind of get excited when I see this slogan, "Buy One, Get One Free" if it's for something we use and it's a good deal. I realize some aren't -- you are actually paying the same for one that you would for two "on sale", but I wonder how many people think many of these ads are a good deal.

Yesterday we were coming out of a home improvement store and saw some friends coming out. He was bragging how he got this tool free because he bought a drill. He admitted he didn't need the drill, but wanted the free tool. I kind of wondered if he spent more buying the drill than it would have cost to buy the free tool outright. The free item had to be less than the drill, at least that's what the ad said.

[genmed]

I'm not a fan of the "Buy One, Get One Free." I really prefer to just know X costs $Y.

With the buy one, get one free thing it's an advertising gimmick. I think it's just like a lot of advertising -- something which makes people feel like they are getting a good deal. The word "FREE" conjures a good feeling for people, but how is it "FREE" if you had to buy something to get in the first place? If it is such a great deal, why don't they just say how much it costs? Why hide the price behind the "Buy One, Get One Free" slogan? Because it gets people into stores -- and once they are in there how often do they walk out without buying anything?

It's a pretty effective advertising strategy -- and must work well because it pops up everywhere. It's like most advertising -- I try to avoid it if possible and just not expose myself to it.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I like BOGO when it's something I use, like shampoo or toilet paper. I will end up needing it anyway. Also it depends really on what it is. I don't just buy it for the freebie, but for example I'm buying my dad BOGO glucosamine which is $20/bottle. Well he'll use the bottles in 2 months so...no biggie, better deal! Woohoo.

[pearlieq]

As with everything, you've always got to look. Yesterday I was at the grocery store and they have the new All-Bran crackers (which, if you haven't tried, you must. Yum!) on BOGO for $3.79. Since they're normally $2.50 a box at my regular store, it was an actual savings and I bought some.

The same store had BOGO on ice cream half gallons, but the price was $6.69. I can normally get them at my grocery store for $3.00, so that one wasn't anything to get worked up about.

[Daylily]

Agree with some of the other posts.
You really have to know your prices to know whether it is a good deal or not.

[plumpossum]

Also, if you are shopping a BOGO at a grocery store, pharmacy, etc. where you are required to purchase two of the same item (like toilet paper or shampoo)- find out if you can purchase one and get it for 1/2 price.

From what I understand, grocery stores get calls from irrate customers who say, go to purchase milk that was BOGO, there is only one or two people in the household so they cannot use the second gallon of milk, so instead of requiring the person to purchase both and have one spoil, they go ahead and let you have just one for half price. I ran into this a lot when I was a cashier back in high school.

The grocery store I shop at allows all BOGOs to be split that way, whereas places like CVS and Walgreens- if the deal is BOGO, you really have to buy both to get the deal.

[Ima saver]

That is what I like about Ingles. If is says buy one get one free, you can just buy ONE and it is half price. That is usually what I do.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Too often at Walgreens when sales require that you purchase 2, there is only one on the shelf. When I ask a worker they just tell me what day they are expecting the next truck delivery. I guess Walgreens stores really don't keep a large inventory of the things they have on sale.