It’s Christmas Eve but ironically my gatherings are all after Christmas because friends don’t want to disturb each other on the actual day and eve. I end up hanging outside on a home supplies restocking trip. Here are some random observations I made.
Instant Noodles
My favourite instant noodles the ‘Indomee Mi Goreng’ as become ‘Ibumie Mi Goreng’! Fair Price have their own Korean ‘Authentic’ Instant Noodles, selling at about $3.40 for 5 packets in the classy Korean Ramen packaging. I think there’s really too much instant noodles on the shelves nowadays and interestingly some even have the ‘Healthier Choice’ logo on them!
House Brands Promotion Ends
Outside Fair Price, a sign reads “Bid farewell to 2009 and the 5% discount on Housebrands”. According to the little footnote, the campaign was to help households combat the effects of the economic slowdown and high inflation. Perhaps the economy has turned for the better though I personally think that for the household they’re trying to help, the situation probably didn’t improve much.
Pricing in the Real World
While demand and supply sets prices, it often makes people wonder why 2 Correction fluid bundled with a free soft eraser can sell less than 2 Correction fluid on their own. The supermarket Kiwi costs $2.85 a tin and it sells $0.57 in the camps. Apparently that economy is not quite integrated into the rest of the country’s economy (which also explains the cheap beer that tastes kind of different). The barriers allow for these differential pricing. The same happens for the Correction fluid, which are treated as different products.
