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Original poster

To boycott 3 for 2 places?

27 replies

PontOffelPock · 12/11/2013 20:54

Went into Boots today as I needed a Photo frame. Heart fell when I saw that the one I wanted was in the 3 for 2 promotion with the gift sticker things. Refusing to buy it singly and feel guilty that I'd missed an offer, I then proceeded to spend the next hour searching for 2 more things to buy, before giving up and leaving empty handed.

3 for 2 gifts are just a waste of time and more often than not result in an aborted purchase because many of us aren't organised enough to choose 3 gifts in one trip. Same with online discount codes where the shops expect that most customers will find one. Why can't the price be the price and save us all hassle? Bah!

OP posts:
freezation · 12/11/2013 20:58

Seriously?! You spent an hour searching and couldn't find 2 more things to buy??!!

Repeatedlydoingthetwist · 12/11/2013 20:59

OP that is some crazy logic!

MrsWolowitz · 12/11/2013 21:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AngelsLieToKeepControl · 12/11/2013 21:01

Plenty of people are organised enough to take advantage of the 3 for 2s. I get the majority of my christmas shopping done when they are on.

Original poster
PontOffelPock · 12/11/2013 21:01

Not really - because the stores mark the items up knowing that they are going in the 3 for 2, therefore you need to buy 3 things that you actually want. You aren't really getting something free.

OP posts:
FortyDoorsToNowhere · 12/11/2013 21:04

Buy 3 items the same, you always have a spare incase of breakages.

FarOverTheRainbow · 12/11/2013 21:05

Erm you do know that you DONT HAVE to buy 3. They do have individual prices so you could of just brought the frame you went in there to buy

WooWooOwl · 12/11/2013 21:05

You know you aren't obliged to take part in the 3 for 2 offer.

You could just have looked at the price of the frame, decided if you wanted to pay it, and continued as you would have done if the offer wasn't there.

optimusic · 12/11/2013 21:07

So if stores mark up goods for the 3 for 2's, how does that explain the random 3 for 2's during the year.

But anyway, good luck boycotting stores doing this deal, a lot of stores do it.

Original poster
PontOffelPock · 12/11/2013 21:08

Obviously just me then Smile

Ah but Rainbow then I would feel that I'd paid too much for it..

OP posts:
trixymalixy · 12/11/2013 21:08

Hmm okaaaaay

Tee2072 · 12/11/2013 21:11

You wouldn't have paid too much though. You would have paid the same price as if there hadn't been a 3 for 2 deal on.

Your logic is not like our Earth logic...

Mylovelyboy · 12/11/2013 21:12

and what happened then Confused

Original poster
PontOffelPock · 12/11/2013 21:12

Grin Tee.

OP posts:
MyMotherHadMeTested · 12/11/2013 21:14

Mmm, I think shops often do mark prices up for a month or so before doing a special offer, as they don't actually want to eat into their profits. Interesting thing in the guardian about "special offers" on wine that actually were only at the advertised higher price for a tiny amount of time.
That said, I can always find three things to buy! But I get what you mean OP

Sirzy · 12/11/2013 21:14

Stores don't mark up things for 3 for 2s at all. I generally shop around before I buy and haven't ever for a product that is more when part of 3 for 2 than it is normally else where.

Actually in the argos 3 for 2 on toys 2 of the toys I got where half price already so I saved a fortune!

LaurieFairyCake · 12/11/2013 21:15

Nope, I agree with the OP.

I hate overpaying for stuff.

No matter how much I tell myself it was only £7, a wee voice in my head says 'but it was only worth a fiver you daft twat'

livinginwonderland · 12/11/2013 21:20

You're really overthinking this.

Either buy the 1 item you went in there to buy, buy 3 for 2 or don't buy any. Not hard, really.

Bearleigh · 12/11/2013 22:16

I know what you mean, and feel as you do. They must bump up the prices for the singles to make it 'worthwhile' spending the extra and getting something for 'free'. I hate waste so if I can't find 3 things I would want anyway, I would probably not buy anything either. The same for BOGOF offers on fruit and veg. I only want one so that is all I will buy, and not at an inflated price to pay for the 'free' one.
Clearly we are a minority though...

ReluctantCamper · 12/11/2013 22:22

Totally with you OP. I hate the 3 for 2 in boots and instantly assume anything in it is over priced. A lot of the gifts are plain tat, and for anything that is sold elsewhere so can't be marked up, like duplo, you're only allowed to buy one. Pah!

NoComet · 12/11/2013 22:26

YANBU
I tried to avoid Sainsbury's because all their 3 for £10 and 3 for £5 drive me mad and end up clogging up my freezer.

Boots 342 is infuriating as I have 2 DDs

Featherbag · 12/11/2013 22:26

I bought a load of presents in the Boots 3 for 2, and also some baby stuff for imminent DS2. One of the things I wanted was a nursing pillow, but on looking it up it was £30 in Boots but only £20 in Asda. I compared a few more things and kept finding the same, the items in the Boots promotion were an average of 1/3 more expensive than they could be bought for elsewhere! I still bought from Boots, as the points offer they also had on made it still worth buying from there, but I never realised just what a rip-off their Christmas deals are until now!

RedLondonBus · 12/11/2013 22:32

Out store doesn't up the prices beforehand? It's a genuine bargain for our customers

Rosencrantz · 12/11/2013 23:12

This. Is. Hysterical.

ananikifo · 12/11/2013 23:22

YANBU about the Boots Christmas gifts. They are only ever available in 3 for 2 so of that's been taken into account when setting the prices.

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