Buy one, get one free
A "buy one, get one free" deal (abbreviated BOGO) is a form of sales promotion wherein a second unit of a good is sold for free only if the first unit is bought at full price. This can be used as a deceptive means to encourage consumers to buy more goods than they otherwise would.[1]
How it works[edit | edit source]
In a BOGO deal, the consumer is able to buy a second unit of a good for free with the purchase of the first unit at full price. This practice is common for consumer goods such as food and clothing.
Why it is a problem[edit | edit source]
Overconsumption[edit | edit source]
BOGO deals can be deceptive because they can result in consumers buying more of a product than they need. For example, if there is a BOGO deal on perishable meat, the consumer is encouraged to buy twice as much meat. Since this is more than they originally intended, some of the meat may perish before it can be used, harming the consumer and contributing to food waste.[2][3]
Interaction with discounts[edit | edit source]
In some cases, a BOGO deal may apply to an item which has a discount. Herein, the BOGO deal results in the consumer spending more money.[1]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Why "Buy one, get one free" isn't a great deal". Vox. 2018-12-20.
- ↑ "Buy-one-get-one-free offers 'should be scrapped to cut food waste'". The Guardian. 2014-04-06. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ↑ Piotrowski, Janis (2020-11-27). "Shop wisely: Better habits can prevent waste of precious resource". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved 2025-08-24.