Packaging is a very important form of advertising. A package can sometimes motivate people to buy products. For example, a little child might ask for a breakfast food contained in a box with a picture of a TV character. The child is more interested in the picture than in breakfast food. Pictures for children to color or cut out, games printed on a package, or a small gift inside a box also motivate many children to buy products - or to ask their parents to buy for them.

　　Some packages suggest that a buyer will get something for nothing. Food products sold in reusable containers are examples of this. Although a similar product in plain container might cost less, people often prefer to buy the product in a reusable glass or dish, because they believe the container is free. However, the cost of the container is added to the cost of the product.

　　The size of a package also motivates a buyer. Maybe the package has"Economy Size"or"Family Size"printed on it. This suggests that the larger size has the most product for the least money. But that is not always true. To find it out, a buyer has to know how the product is sold and the price of the basic unit.

　　The information on the package should provide some answers. But the important thing for any buyer to remember is that a package is often an advertisement. The words and pictures do not tell the whole story. Only the product inside can do that.