Advertisement

Tidbits: A new low from Coke

Coke introduces almost 8-ounce eight-packs.

March 31, 2010 at 7:23PM

A new low from Coke Last November Mr. Tidbit noted the arrival of twin-packs of 50-ounce bottles of Coca-Cola products selling for something like 45 percent more per ounce than 2-liter (67.6-ounce) bottles. He summed up his reaction by asking "How dumb do they think we are?"

Mr. Tidbit must, sadly, ask that question again now that Coke has introduced eight-packs of Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite and Fanta in 7.5-ounce cans. The marketing apparently will focus somehow on this almost-8 ounces being a more sensible serving (than the 12-ounce can) -- that this smaller can is, in effect, a weight-loss product.

In any case it is another high-price product. At the store where he saw them, the eight-packs were on special for $3.18, "regular $4.08." At that store, two-liter bottles of Coke products (almost always sold at a "special" price, often as low as $1.25) were $1.69, "regular $1.89," and 12-packs of 12-ounce cans (144 ounces) were $4.59, "regular $4.79."

At the "special" prices he saw posted, Coke in the new eight-packs of small cans would cost 5.3 cents an ounce -- an unbelievable 112 percent more per ounce than 2-liter bottles and 66 percent more per ounce than 12-packs of 12-ounce cans. (At those prices, if you like the idea of the smaller serving, it would be slightly cheaper to buy the 12-ounce cans and pour 41/2 ounces of each down the sink.)

And if you believe the "regular" prices, it's even worse: Coke in the eight-packs of new small cans would cost 6.8 cents an ounce -- a staggering 143 percent more per ounce than 2-liter bottles and 104 percent more per ounce than 12-packs of 12-ounce cans. At those prices, getting 71/2 -ounce servings by buying 12-ounce cans and pouring 41/2 ounces of each down the sink would actually be $1.33 cheaper!

Once again: How dumb do they think we are?

Advertisement
about the writer

about the writer

Al Sicherman

Columnist

See Moreicon

More from No Section (Assign Gallery and Videos here)

See More
Advertisement
Advertisement

To leave a comment, .

Advertisement