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Comment by anonu | Hacker News Reader

Who wants to buy a $10 deodorant from a NYC CVS when you can buy the same thing for much cheaper online. The thieves are only accelerating the demise of overpriced brick and mortar stores. Plus the experience of going into a CVS and having to press a button and wait for an employee to hand you a deodorant is horrible. (Not condoning theft, but at least the free market is speaking here somewhat)

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> Who wants to buy a $10 deodorant from a NYC CVS when you can buy the same thing for much cheaper online.

…people who do not have any deodorant, who are in NYC, and would like to not stink now.

I was about to say, that's the going rate in any airport terminal whether you want deodorant, toothbrush or shit tickets.

> "Who wants to buy a $10 deodorant from a NYC CVS when you can buy the same thing for much cheaper online."

The reverse is usually true in the UK. Amazon is great for convenience, but most of the time, physical pharmacies and/or supermarkets are cheaper for these types of products. Not to mention discount stores like Poundland.

I challenge you to find deodorant for under $10 on Amazon.

The first result on Amazon searching “men’s deodorant” is 4 for $15.66 [0] so less than $4 per stick.

These are about $10 in a bodega or cvs in Manhattan.

[0] Dove Men+Care Antiperspirant Deodorant With 72-hour sweat and odor protection Extra Fresh Antiperspirant for men formulated with vitamin E and Triple Action Moisturizer | 2.7 Ounce (Pack of 4) https://a.co/d/dR2J1B0

But then you have to buy 4... So not exactly an apples to apples comparison if you only want one.

What a nonsensical argument. Deodorant is a consumable good. In scenarios like this, 40$ for 4 == 10$ for 1, because you consume it at a steady rate, and what you don't buy now you will pay for later

Compare to an extreme example of a market selling one watermelon for 5 dollars, and 5 watermelons for 15. Sure, the latter is a better deal, but I definitely have no use for more than one melon, and the arbitrage opportunity is not worth my time. In the same sense, I and many others do not need more than 1 deodorant at a time and I would rather save my space.

Watermelons are perishable, so that's apples to eggs.

Do you live in a microhome? Deodorant sticks are tiny, surely you can store 3 of them under your sink for months without too much suffering.

Deodorant has a shelf life. If you stock too many, some go bad before you get to use them.

Do you know what that is? I typically buy 4-5 sticks at a time when my local pharmacy has a sale on the one I like, so I buy deodorant like once a year.

Never noticed any problems with them.

> Do you know what that is

Mine is 2 years

But you still need to store all four sticks in the meantime. Some people have extremely limited storage space.

It's not like it goes bad, you will use all 4.

The bodega is also likely selling stolen goods from CVS/Duane Reade/Walgreens.

I just checked Amazon UK and I can buy 6 sticks of Sure deodorant for £6.

Or one stick for £3.

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