My Jetstream pen costs me $1.85 and the refill costs $1.75. My question: should I be getting a refill or a new pen? I ponder over such questions frequently, often wondering if what we normally consider good value bundles or stuff that are ‘worth the price’ are truly good purchases. I figured out that we need to think about the value the goods offer us. If something offers zero value and yet comes at a cost, it is not wise to make the purchase at all. This is especially true for bundles. For example, I am offered to buy 100 Lipton Tea Bags at $7 and the package comes with a free mug. Should I take it up if I need the 100 Tea Bags but the mug would only take up extra space in my house without being used at all and 50 Tea Bags comes at a price of $3?
Basic math and cost-benefit analysis suggests that if I value the cup at more than $1 then I should buy the package. Unfortunately, most people would just consider ‘When would I get another opportunity to get a Lipton limited edition mug for $1?’ It is obviously the wrong question to ask. And that’s why I opt to get the refill. While I know that the pen casing with the spring and the clicking mechanism in the Jetstream pen probably cost more than 10 cents or comes close to being around 10 cents, it is a question of how much I value it. Since I can’t use the pen casing without a refill it’s value is zero and so I’d rather buy a refill that helps save me 10 cents.
