Famous Footwear 30% off, better than BOGOHO

Famous Footwear has got a short-term 30% off promotion going on.  Go to the Famous Footwear Facebook page and like them, and then click on the Promotion tab (on the left hand side).  Follow the directions to be able to get your printable coupon or the online promo code for 30% off.  The 30% discount is good this week, from 10/25/11-10/30/11.  (If you give them access to your Facebook profile, make sure you revoke the access as soon as you finish printing their coupon.)

Coupon may be used only once in Famous Footwear, Famous Footwear Outlet or Factory Brand Shoes stores, or online at famousfootwear.com. Total purchase must include shoes. Not valid in Mind Body Sole stores. Not valid for cash or cash equivalent, on purchase of gift cards or previously purchased merchandise. Other exclusions may apply, ask store associate for details. Offer may not be combined with any other coupons, other than Rewards certificates.

"But wait!"  I hear you say.  "Famous Footwear runs seasonal Buy-One-Get-One-Half-Off (BOGOHO) sales.  Isn't it better and more frugal to wait for one of those?  After all, it's half off."

Actually, no, it's not.

Let's review our Shopper's Math.  Whenever you buy two of anything at a BOGOHO sale, the best you can do, assuming the two items are the same price, is an overall 25% off.  If the two items are different prices, your discount will be even less than 25% off.  If you have a hard time visualizing this, do the math with easy hypothetical prices, like $100:

Item A is $100, Item B is $100.  Pre-BOGOHO, total is $200.
Item A is $100, Item B is $50.  After BOGOHO, total is $150.  Your discount is $50, or 25% of $200 original price.  That's the best case scenario for a BOGOHO sale.  Here's what happens if the two items aren't the same price:

Item A is $100, Item B is $70.  Pre-BOGOHO, total is $170. 
Item A is $100, Item B is $35.  After BOGOHO, total is $135.  Your discount is $35 or 21% of original price. And the discount keeps going down from there.

So even though Buy-One-Get-One-Half-Off sounds a whole lot cheaper than 30% off, it's not, it's just great marketing.  And with a straight 30% sale, you don't need to buy two pairs of shoes, which is an enormous frugal advantage.

When is BOGOHO a good deal?  When you can stack it with an additional 20% or 30% off deal, as you can do with the seasonal Payless sales.

Always do the math.

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