Chips, along with cereal, are an interesting case where the normal price is crazy high but then they go on sale for a fraction of that with extreme frequency.

Chips, along with cereal, are an interesting case where the normal price is crazy high but then they go on sale for a fraction of that with extreme frequency. There's a store near me that has had a particular $5 chip brand on sale for $2 for well over a year. For cereal, I just go to the cereal aisle and take my pick from the substantial range of cereals that are 50% off at any given time. You're only paying full price if you're picky and insist on one specific item, which to be fair maybe a lot of people are like that. I'm sure the sales are loss leaders to get people in the store, but I have to wonder if the people who pay $5 are to some extent subsidizing the people who buy them for $2. Most other categories of goods don't seem to go on sale with such frequency or with such deep discounts.