Monday, September 15, 2008

Hypernova, meet Supply Chain Managment...




















I couldn't help but post a "non-technical" opinion today. Yesterday, while shopping for groceries, I went to purchase my normal catch of canned tuna from Rio Mare (yeah, premium Tuna, I roll like that). I noticed Hypernova was selling the following:


1-Can Pack: 59.90 CZK
2-Can Pack: 139.90 CZK

?????

That means, if you buy two, 1-can packs, you pay 119.80 CZK ... but if you buy 1, 2-can pack, you pay 139.90 CZK. Hmmm, ok. So I bought two, 1 can packs and saved the 20 CZK.

Now, it doesn't really take a genius to know something is wrong here. The cost of packaging 1 can vs. 2 cans is obviously more (Economies of scale anybody?), not to mention when you rid yourself of a 2-can pack, you free up more shelve space for more goods. Also, customers *generally* lower the cost of purchase by purchasing in bulk (while 2 cans to 1 isn't really bulk, the same "theory" applies). In other words, the one 2-can pack should have been cheaper than 2, 1-can packs.

Apparently, the fine folks at Hypernova haven't taken any Economics 101 classes, and they need to learn a thing or two about Supply Chain Management and Marketing ... I'm available for consulting services should you guys want it (because you DO need it!).

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Actually, one is very delicate marketing step :), mostly people knows that 2 cans chipper than 1 and takes 2 cans pack, only you remember something from elementary school and can calculate it :). I guess company get good profit on such promo.

Dima

Anonymous said...

I found exactly same thing in Kazan mart. Last Friday i have purchased 2 0.5L can (1L in sum) of beer for 27.3 ruble for each 0.5L can, ie 54,6 rub in sum. As a option i could buy 1L plastic bottle for 63,5 ruble or 1,5L bottle for 93,8. So, more i buy, more i pay in any combinations :). Marketing ...

Dima

Anonymous said...

Glad to see you didn't waste the opporTUNAty to save a few blennies :-)

Anonymous said...

1-can packs are now up to 74kc per pack, and 2-can packs are out of stock. Their supply-chain management is horrid (or the oceans are running dry of Tuna). Forget the "Peak-Oil" crisis -- what about "Peak-Tuna"? :P