There’s a reason people shop at Costco and Walmart.
It’s not the ambiance. It’s not the checkout lines. And it’s not because people love trying to figure out where they are going to store a 48-pack of paper towels.
It’s because buying more means paying less.
That principle—bulk discounts—isn’t some quirky retail trick. It’s a foundational feature of how modern markets work and the entire principle behind economies of scale. Larger orders lower per-unit costs. Those savings get passed along. It’s not controversial; it’s basic economics. Warehouse, wholesalers, and everyday grocery chains all rely on it.
Now, a growing set of policymakers is trying to recast that logic as a legal problem.
Tirzah Duren is the President and CEO of the American Consumer Institute, a nonprofit education and research organization. Follow Tirzah on X @tzduren.