A bundle is a pricing decision disguised as a gift. The check takes three lines.
The three lines
- Standalone price of each item, at its current street price.
- What you would actually buy if the bundle did not exist.
- The difference between the two totals.
The second line is the one people skip. A bundle saves money on things you did not intend to buy, which is not a saving.
Watch the filler
Bundles usually include one item that carries the discount: an older game, a subscription, or an accessory with poor resale value. Value each at what you could sell it for, not at list price.
When the bundle wins
When its parts overlap almost exactly with your list, and at least one part is something you would have paid full price for this month.
Bottom line: compare the bundle against your list, not against the retailer’s list.
