The Popcorn Consumer

Please allow me to take a moment to share with you a typical conversation I have with theater cashiers at snack stands, almost always at the big chain theaters:

Me: "Hi, I'd like a medium diet coke and a medium popcorn please."
Cashier: "You know, if you get the combo you can get a large drink and large popcorn for cheaper."
Me: "... Ugh, that's just annoying. I'll take the mediums please." (I would like to note whether or not I take the deal greatly depends on my mood at the moment of the conversation - and length of the movie).

Now, at the face you may ask why I am posting about this. Well, I would like to note if you can't see the problem here, leave now. For what I say will likely fall upon your ears as weak as a pebble on a mountain. So, let's begin.

My complaint with the above is simple: It's STUPID. As stupid as can possibly be described in mere words for any theater to take part in. In fact doing it this way is so moronic that I can't even begin to describe the ways in which is manages to defeat all basic aspects of Capitalism. So, let's just go with the obvious stupidity of it all:

I have been to the theater enough in my lifetime to know exactly the amount of popcorn I can consume during a 2 hour movie without a) gorging myself and b) feeling like a bloated lard afterwords. That amount, as most theater chains have roughly the same sizes, is usually a medium popcorn + medium drink (to accommodate appropriate need for taste).

So, why am I now being punished for wanting to consume appropriately? You may ask yourself, what punishment? The punishment of cost. Cost is supposed to decree, when quality is nullified, that you pay more, and therefore get more. Now, because of these "combo" deals, I am forced to make a decision:

Do I pay more, get less, and feel appropriately filled, but annoyed by the stupid ratio in costs, or do I pay less, get more, feel bloated (or wasteful depending on how much I consume), but feel good about saving the money. Now I know at a theater these are rather minute amounts (but for me pennies are golden as I have few to claim), but that doesn't make the principles of it any more annoying. Why, if they are obviously advertising by the severe reduction in cost for purchasing more, do we allow them to do this?

They are quite straightly telling us they are charging so much above their own costs for their large and medium items, that they can in fact make the larger one notably cheaper than the smaller one for the hope of selling in bulk. Yet if that fact remains, why then would they not also want to do the same for the medium items? Those who originally order mediums will still be able to get what they want, pay less than they would for large (encouraging bulk purchases), and the inventory of the Theater will be less blemished than if they had gone for larges (you know, supply/demand people!). While those who want larges will be able to feel good about themselves for having paid less for the two than they would for each individually.

Now I know I have most overstayed my welcome here, and you are all likely to go about your business having cared none at all. Though I say please take heed to this if you ever own a theater, and actually think before you set up your amazing "combo" deals. It doesn't take much effort to realize you're only hurting yourself.