Big Deal

While out and about the other day, Nuch and I needed to pick up some groceries, and decided to stop by a Big C, which was in the area. Big C is a low cost shopping center which is probably the cheapest or next to cheapest of the other 5 to 6 low cost chains in Thailand. I assume this because by experience it's the dirtiest, least organized, and the temperature is always 2 or 3 degrees warmer than what would normally be comfortable.

That's why I was surprised to see the marketing display pictured below.


Two grocery carts were set next to each other comparing the cost of goods purchased at a competitors store to the same good purchased at Big C. If you chose to shop at Big C, which you obviously had, you could save 38 baht (1 USD) on 1500 baht (40 USD) worth of groceries or a savings of 2.5%. Why would you brag about that?

Now, 2.5% isn't something you would throw away if you're buying a house, a car, or perhaps a new entertainment system, but is $1 enough to get you to drive an extra 5 miles in Bangkok traffic or even an extra 5 blocks? Not to mention the unpleasant experience of breaking a sweat while shopping in the fruit section.