Condoms are cheap to produce. They need a small amount of latex and some very very good quality control. Total cost is perhaps five U.S. cents, not much more. The cheapest you can buy a condom for in the US is *maybe* 50c if you're lucky, probably more like $1 or higher. So there is a pretty crazy markup.
When I was a teenager I was interested to note[*] the entry of a new brand of condoms onto the market; they were called Mates. Not only did they have an amusing name, but they sold at something like half the price of the other brands. However, the public was suspicious of being sold something for half the price and assumed it was a shoddy product. The manager of Mates had to appear on TV and explain that he was raising his prices to match the other brands. What is it with people and why do they behave this way, and how can we persuade them to stop?
[*] out of sociological interest, not personal, sadly
no subject
Condoms are cheap to produce. They need a small amount of latex and some very very good quality control. Total cost is perhaps five U.S. cents, not much more. The cheapest you can buy a condom for in the US is *maybe* 50c if you're lucky, probably more like $1 or higher. So there is a pretty crazy markup.
When I was a teenager I was interested to note[*] the entry of a new brand of condoms onto the market; they were called Mates. Not only did they have an amusing name, but they sold at something like half the price of the other brands. However, the public was suspicious of being sold something for half the price and assumed it was a shoddy product. The manager of Mates had to appear on TV and explain that he was raising his prices to match the other brands. What is it with people and why do they behave this way, and how can we persuade them to stop?
[*] out of sociological interest, not personal, sadly