# Why are Lays potato chips so expensive? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 3, 2012, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lays-potato-chips-so-expensive/636543 "2012-10-03T02:29:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2012, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lays-potato-chips-so-expensive/636543/21 "2012-10-03T21:04:50Z")
So why _are_ they so expensive? Or are they just insanely profitable? ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lays-potato-chips-so-expensive/636543/22 "2012-10-03T21:05:46Z")
Expensive compared to what? How many brands are less expensive? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2012, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lays-potato-chips-so-expensive/636543/23 "2012-10-03T21:08:21Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > [Eagle Snacks](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_Snacks) Sounds right. My father’s employer became part of the A-B conglomerate around that time, and I remember him bringing home tons of Eagle Snacks. I also remember seeing them in the store and being astonished at how expensive they were. Glad we got them free. ---
**Author:** ![ptr2void](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ptr2void/32/3406_2.png) [@ptr2void](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ptr2void)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2012, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lays-potato-chips-so-expensive/636543/24 "2012-10-03T21:35:49Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Most likely (believe it or not) Anheuser-Busch. That’s what I thought after researching a little, but don’t have any real recollection of these. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lays-potato-chips-so-expensive/636543/25 "2012-10-04T00:28:02Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > Only catch is you have to buy the 3 bags at the same time to get the discount. Is that common where you live? At Meijer in Michigan, you can always get the sale price for just one in these kind of sales. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lays-potato-chips-so-expensive/636543/26 "2012-10-04T00:54:18Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > Only catch is you have to buy the 3 bags at the same time to get the discount. > [@Mahaloth](#): > > Is that common where you live? At Meijer in Michigan, you can always get the sale price for just one in these kind of sales. We have two supermarkets here in Groton. At Stop & Shop, you can buy just one item at the sale price; at Big Y, you have to buy the full amount in order to get the sale price. ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lays-potato-chips-so-expensive/636543/27 "2012-10-04T06:15:15Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > They used to have Lays chips here (in Australia\*), and I loved them. But I haven’t sen them in years and years, and the alternatives are so disappointing in comparison. > > \*In case people still don’t know where I live Smith’s Crisps are apparently Lays in disguise. > [@](#): > > In Australia, Pepsico acquired The Smith’s Snackfood Company in 1998 and marketed Frito-Lay products under that label, using the name Thins. > > After Thin’s was sold to Snack Brands Australia (Owned by Arnotts), Smith’s produced a line of potato chips under the Lay’s brand for a brief period of time. The Lay’s line was eventually rebranded in 2004 as Smith’s Crisps, while the traditional Smith’s line was renamed Smith’s Crinkles. This is still sold in Australia as a direct competitor to Smith’s Crisps. From [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lay%27s](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lay%27s). ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lays-potato-chips-so-expensive/636543/28 "2012-10-04T14:08:11Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Man wants laid, gonna cost. Man wants to get fritoed, gonna cost more. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lays-potato-chips-so-expensive/636543/29 "2012-10-04T15:52:55Z")
> [@Sister\_Vigilante](#): > > …You can get all the way to the bottom and still have whole chips, unlike Lays, where you pretty much have to throw them away when the bag’s half full. Let me introduce you to the newfangled concept of “bowl and spoon.” ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lays-potato-chips-so-expensive/636543/30 "2012-10-04T16:08:42Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Let me introduce you to the newfangled concept of “bowl and spoon.” I like to pour mine into a half-empty container of French onion dip. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lays-potato-chips-so-expensive/636543/31 "2012-10-04T18:16:34Z")
Sign of how seldom I actually buy junk food like potato chips: I had a hankering for chips just last week. I was shocked to discover prices in the $5 range for the big bag of chips. When the hell did chips go up to fucking $5 a bag? For years, I’ve been whining and bitching about how much more expensive it is to eat fresh whole foods instead of eating junk and pre-prepared frozen blocks o’ “food”. Now it appears that it’s actually\* less\* expensive to eat healthier. FWIW, I went with Ruffles. They have ridges, you know. I got the smaller bag, which was still $3 something, closer to $4 than $3. WT everlovin’ F? - Note: In my hometown in Ohio, there is a [potato chip factory](http://www.joneschips.com/JonesHistory2.htm) that makes, hands down, the best potato chips on the planet, anywhere, ever. I have conducted extensive scientific research to determine this. They are not flat chips, nor do they have ridges. They’re _marcelled_. Unfortunately, they only distribute in that and the surrounding counties, and you cannot get those chips from any further away than, say 40-50 miles or so. Every now and then I go on their website and order them, but the shipping costs about the same as five bags of chips. I just went there to grab the link for this post and was horrified to discover that they are selling for $4.25 a bag. Again, what the everlovin’ fuck? ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lays-potato-chips-so-expensive/636543/32 "2012-10-04T21:48:46Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Expensive compared to what? How many brands are less expensive? Expensive compared to the known cost of their three ingredients. As to other brands, I don’t really know because I don’t buy them – but I suspect the cost is similar, and I’d have the same question about it. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lays-potato-chips-so-expensive/636543/33 "2012-10-04T21:59:58Z")
> [@Sister\_Vigilante](#): > > Lay’s potato chips are the thinnest, most easily breakable (and thusly crushed all to hell while being delivered to the store) chips that exist in the universe. > > Kettle chips are the way to go. You can get all the way to the bottom and still have whole chips, unlike Lays, where you pretty much have to throw them away when the bag’s half full. Kettle chips are an offense before whatever god you desire. Chips should be thin and crisp and light, not fried into steel hunks of potato you could weaponize without too much effort. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Dord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@The\_Dord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Dord)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lays-potato-chips-so-expensive/636543/34 "2012-10-04T23:59:32Z")
I tend to enjoy [Better Made](http://www.bmchips.com/chip-store.aspx) here in Michigan. Especially the Barbeque chips! Yum. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lays-potato-chips-so-expensive/636543/35 "2012-10-05T00:08:26Z")
> [@GreenElf](#): > > Lay’s is made by Frito-Lay, owned by Pepsico, which controls 55% of the domestic potato chip market. The price inelasticity is due to successful advertising and product differentiation. Frito-Lay products have brand loyalty and are placed on premium locations on grocery store shelves. It’s been a long time since I’ve taken an economics course, so I don’t know what I’m talking about. But right now, one of the local major grocery stores in my area has Lays chips at $2. When they are not on special, $4.29 sounds about right. I know from past experience that a sale like this isn’t uncommon. So how are Lays an inelastic product? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Dord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@The\_Dord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Dord)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lays-potato-chips-so-expensive/636543/36 "2012-10-05T00:17:27Z")
> [@zbuzz](#): > > It’s been a long time since I’ve taken an economics course, so I don’t know what I’m talking about. But right now, one of the local major grocery stores in my area has Lays chips at $2. When they are not on special, $4.29 sounds about right. I know from past experience that a sale like this isn’t uncommon. So how are Lays an inelastic product? Funny enough, while looking through this thread I looked online at my local grocery store.. What do you know? [Lays are buy one, get one free.](http://meijer.shoplocal.com/meijer/default.aspx?action=entryflash&storeref=72) (page 10) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jormungandr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@Jormungandr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jormungandr)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lays-potato-chips-so-expensive/636543/37 "2012-10-06T15:02:33Z")
So, why were “Munchos” “$2 Only,” as it said on the bag for the large size, until recently? It’s now $2.10-2.25. Less demand, lower price? ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lays-potato-chips-so-expensive/636543/38 "2012-10-06T16:17:44Z")
Thick chips are good for dipping-- a vehicle to get the cheesy and/or oniony goodness into my piehole. The relative thinness of Lays is what I LOVE about them. If only there was packaging that was protective enough for them. For plain potato, salt and oil heaven, Lays is the way to go. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lays-potato-chips-so-expensive/636543/39 "2012-10-06T16:43:48Z")
> [@Sal\_Ammoniac](#): > > Expensive compared to the known cost of their three ingredients. As to other brands, I don’t really know because I don’t buy them – but I suspect the cost is similar, and I’d have the same question about it. That’s pretty ridiculous. They are’t selling you a bag of whole potatoes. ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lays-potato-chips-so-expensive/636543/40 "2012-10-06T19:02:15Z")
> [@zbuzz](#): > > It’s been a long time since I’ve taken an economics course, so I don’t know what I’m talking about. But right now, one of the local major grocery stores in my area has Lays chips at $2. When they are not on special, $4.29 sounds about right. I know from past experience that a sale like this isn’t uncommon. So how are Lays an inelastic product? I guess they’re elastic then. I didn’t know about your grocery store. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lays-potato-chips-so-expensive/636543.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-lays-potato-chips-so-expensive/636543.md?page=3)