BOB Finance went Ramadan

Oh so this slipped through the cracks. BOB Finance placed an ad for Ramadan, well I shall spare you the technicalities but apparently you win gold by using their app. Apart from the - weirdly sensational - "Akram min min" on LBC, offers have been few and in between so noticing there is one is interesting this Ramadan. Actually BOB Finance went strict basic in both design and slogan - not that I have anything against considering one has very little time to see the ad on the highway billboards anyhow. Interestingly, transfer services such as BOB Finance have come to replace banks in Lebanon which has become almost strictly a cash economy.

Chateau Ainata, an offer with no headaches

File this under the usual "I didn't get it" but also under "I want one (or make that two)". To explain the ad, for Chateau Ainata, says "Lebanese and doesn't cause a headache" which immediately assumes anything Lebanese does cause one. If this is a double-entendre for their wine not causing headache, or competitors' wines doing so, not sure it is working. The silver lining is that their offer is 7 USD for 2 bottles which is extremely cheap mind you. So again, not sure about the headache part but quite sure about the offer.

PS - it has been pointed out to me that perhaps the headache in question is "financial" - meaning that this being a local wine it is cheaper for the consumer.

Burger King: The combo offer that is an inflation indicator

OK, it has been ages since I have been to any Burger King branch. Just to be clear, it is not their fault, it is me with my super minimal outing - though thrice vaccinated am still trying to limit where I go.

So, Burger King has an offer - a combo meal for 50,000 LBP.

Here's what their facebook page says about "The Prince Meal":

"Let’s tell you more about it, it’s exactly like its father the Big King XXL.

Flame Grilled, 100% Beef Patty, crispy lettuce, fresh onion, pickles, cheese slice and the famous Bing King sauce!

Available in chicken option as well."

Naturally, the interesting part is that now 50,000 is the new price for a combo. Now this is noteworthy because right before October 2019 when all hell broke lose and inflation starting increasing (before exploding completely) a combo (close to this one I presume!) was offered at 10,500 LBP (see here). So this means that between September 2019 and February 2022, the price of a combo has gone fivefold.

I think this in itself is a clear indicator where we are now in Lebanon.