Retail promotions and discounts are common in supermarkets and stores, especially during the sales period, when consumers are looking to take advantage of the best deals to save on their purchases.
However, understanding which of these promotions is really the most beneficial is not always easy, as the variety of discounts available can be confusing. Offers such as 3×2 or second unit at 50% are common strategies to attract customers, but it is not always clear which one represents the greatest real savings. To clear up these doubts, a Spanish mathematician, known on TikTok by his account @smartickmetodo, has shared a video in which he analyzes both promotions and explains in a simple way which of them could be more advantageous.
Which one is better?
The expert begins by analyzing the 3×2 promotion, where if the price of a product is X, the buyer pays the equivalent of two units, but receives three.“I will pay 2X but I get 3, so each unit will come out to me at 2X matched by 3,” he points out, concluding that the price per unit is reduced to approximately 0.66 X, which is equivalent to a 33% discount on the original price.
@smartickmetodoDon‘t be fooled by sales tactics 👀
On the other hand, when evaluating the promotion of the second unit at 50%, he explains that in this case you pay the full price of one product plus half the price of another, which is equivalent to “3 half X’s.” However, he warns that in this offer only two units are purchased, “for each unit I pay three fours of X“, that is, a 25% discount. However, he warns that in this offer only two units are purchased,“for each unit I pay three fours of X“, that is, a 25% discount. At first glance, the 3×2 seems the most advantageous option for offering a greater discount, but the mathematician stresses the importance of considering the number of products you want to buy.“Anyone will say that 33% is greater than 25%, but yes, you have to see that here you are buying 3 units and here you are buying 2,” he points out in his video, stressing that the choice will depend on the consumer’s needs. Finally, the expert concludes with a clear recommendation: analyze how many units you need before getting carried away by discount percentages. “You choose if you were only going for 1, if you were going for 2 or 3, if you want a 33% or 25% discount, don’t be fooled,” he warns.
