False Economy- OR Why we wont tell you to B.O.G.O.F

We get many sorts of customers in our little shop and we love them all. No really, we do. One perk of working in a creative textile shop is you get to meet all sorts of creative people. Some are professionals others create in their spare time to relax or to have a sense of accomplishment in making  something beautiful. Most of the pros know the quality or our stock and know the going rate of what we sell. They appreciate the amount of work that has gone into making a fabric and acknowledge  our prices are fair. This is certainly true of the pastime sewers and quilters too.

Come with us to the Knitting & Stitching show!

    However some people do like a bargain. And who can blame them, we all do. I know I certainly have asked fro a discount if buying large amounts of something and so harbour no ill feeling towards any customers that ask. I do find it interesting how people  view discounts and special offers though. One customer asked if there was a discounted rate for buying three meters of cotton. I said yes it was, and because we love our customers so much you get it for even the smallest purchase. To save time the discounted price was shown on the label.  In other words, the price that was shown was the cheapest we could sell the fabric. He looked confused for a moment then asked "No two get one free?" Now that is a steep discount and that's when I had a revelation which I shared with him. Unless there are very special circumstances (such as needing to clear old stock) the only way a shop can give away a third item without going bust is to overcharge everyone for the first two.  He left very happy with this thought but it has left me pondering about domestic economics myself now.
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