Category: Market Phenomenon

How Much Do You Really Save from Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) Bucket Meals? KFC’s Math is Out of Whack

Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) Philippines always have great meal deals going on. Why are people drawn to combo meals? There are savings when you buy a combo meal than buying all the components ala carte. Savings from a promo is a very important factor in purchase decisions.

However, the computations that KFC uses for what you save with its meal deals are confusing and inconsistent. 

Here is one of the deals being heavily promoted recently by KFC:

KFC Spaghetti Party Bucket

KFC Spaghetti Party Bucket Promo
I love spaghetti and I love KFC chicken… What I don’t like is the measly PHP 70 savings with this deal. KFC Spaghetti Party Bucket Promo. Image from kfcdelivery.com.ph

 

Do you only really save PHP 70 with this combo instead of buying everything separately?  KFC messed up the computation on this one. Here’s why:

Continue reading How Much Do You Really Save from Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) Bucket Meals? KFC’s Math is Out of Whack

Do New MLMs Just Reuse and Rebrand Products of Failed MLMs?

When some Multi-Level marketing (MLM) companies are accused of being illegal pyramid schemes, their first defense is to say that they have products to sell. They’ll even boast that these are high quality products that justify their often very high prices. But what if they are the same products sold by other currently operating and failed MLMs?

Who are the product suppliers for these MLM companies? Here’s one of them:

Success200 Guyabano (Graviola) capsules supplied by Moringa Mountain Trading
Success200 Guyabano (Graviola) capsules supplied by Moringa Mountain Trading. Image from Success200 Agarica Living International Facebook page

 

Moringa Mountain Trading – major product supplier of MLM companies?

Continue reading Do New MLMs Just Reuse and Rebrand Products of Failed MLMs?

Distinguish Between Legitimate Multi-Level Marketing and A Pyramid Scam – Pinoy Style

Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) is a legitimate business strategy. However, many scammers have been disguising their pyramid scams as MLM companies . How can a potential investor distinguish between a legitimate networking company and an illegal Ponzi scheme? 

Gotcha! If the word “investment” is used by the company, and you are called an “investor”, those are initial clues that it might be a Ponzi scheme. What are the other things you need to watch out for?

The Direct Selling Association of the Philippines (go see their website here) has come up with an eight-point test in distinguishing between a legitimate MLM company and an illegal pyramid scheme (most likely disguised as an MLM). ALL eight questions must have “YES” answers for a company to be evaluated as legitimate.

Here are the eight questions:

Continue reading Distinguish Between Legitimate Multi-Level Marketing and A Pyramid Scam – Pinoy Style

What’s Your Say on This? – Is Superbrands Philippines Credible?

One of the hospitals I work for proudly displayed the Superbrands seal in its posters when it was awarded one years ago so I assumed then that this award was totally legit and prestigious.

Fast forward to 2015 and here are the awardees:

 

Superbrands 1st certificate awardees 2015
As a Filipino consumer – do I think these brands represent the cream of the crop of Philippine brands? Short answer – NO. Long answer – Not even close. Image from One Lightning Corporation Products Facebook page

 

One of the brands awarded above was the subject of three advisories (cease and desist orders for alleged investment related “modus operandi”) from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Philippines.

The three advisories were issued against that brand in February, March and April 2015. Superbrands handed out its awards May 2015 (see image above). Wow! How did that happen?

Continue reading What’s Your Say on This? – Is Superbrands Philippines Credible?

Chinese New Year: Investment and Money Tips for The Year of The Goat

Kung Hei Fat Choi! Today, February 19 is the start of the Year of the Wooden Goat / Sheep / Ram according to the Chinese Lunar Calendar. In this post, I will list some investment and money tips from experts in Feng Shui and Chinese Astrology.

 

2015 Year of the Goat
Goats and sheep are totally different creatures, but that’s not important, right? Image from fengshuiben.blogspot

 

I searched online for feng shui experts, those who are usually hired to advice business executives and financial professionals on money matters. Here they are and what they had to say.  Continue reading Chinese New Year: Investment and Money Tips for The Year of The Goat

“Spread” the Love: The Creator of Universally Loved Nutella Dies; Meanwhile, the World Still Hates Vegemite

On Valentine’s day, Michele Ferrero, Italy’s richest man, and the creator of Nutella, one of the world’s most loved bread spreads, died at the age of 89. In other news, another iconic spread, Vegemite, is still hated the world over.

Vegemite and Nutella
Vegemite vs. Nutella. Which would you put on your bread? Image from wanderingsheila.com

 

Nutella didn’t initially exist as we know it now. It started as Pasta Gianduja, a Continue reading “Spread” the Love: The Creator of Universally Loved Nutella Dies; Meanwhile, the World Still Hates Vegemite

Single This Valentine’s Day? Don’t Feel Left Out – There’s Actually a Singles’ Day in November

February 14 is Valentine’s Day; when lovers celebrate their love, and when companies sell to these lovers all sorts of merchandise and services. What about singles? November 11 is Singles’ Day. Even companies get their turn to make money off singles.

Wait, isn’t there a Singles’ Awareness Day which is celebrated also on February 14? This serves as an alternative to people who are not in a relationship. Why is it called Singles Awareness Day? This might be the answer:

Happy Singles Awareness Day
#truth. Image from someecards.com

 

Ok, so maybe S.A.D. is not a holiday that should be taken seriously. Fortunately, the Chinese had made a Singles’ Day all on its own – without latching on Valentine’s popularity.  Continue reading Single This Valentine’s Day? Don’t Feel Left Out – There’s Actually a Singles’ Day in November