Free Effect. A new ice cream company in India has set up free ice cream vending machines on the streets to promote its brand. Result? People lined up at a very long distance in front of the vending machine. It was raining then, and the people in line went to a convenience store to buy umbrellas, then lined up again. Umbrellas cost much more than ice cream. However, people kept lining up. Cheap and free are two completely different concepts. When the price is low, sales increase slightly, but when it is free, an extraordinary dimension of the problem arises. It’s a privilege, so consumers are willing to pay a higher price to get something for free. Free is not a matter of reason; it is a matter of emotion. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
Google founder Sergey Brin, one day asked a great question. “What will happen if we give this service for free?” The result was, as we know well, “MONOPOLY”. Google gives employees 100,000 meals a day for free. This is because Google found that providing free meals is more profitable for the company. Initially, a payment system was introduced in the cafeteria. Soon, however, Google changed its mind when it saw the people waiting in line. Google learned the “opportunity cost”. Google's technology is excellent, but they realize it is not about making money. Fate changed when they discovered that the Business Model for that technology made money. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”