With more and more on line purchases taking a portion of the retail market, retail stores of every type are fighting back with a novel idea to induce customers. We all know anout BOGO-Buy One Get One sales to get a free item usually of equal or lesser value of your purchase. Now retail stores are offering Bogo and a half.

What customer wouldn't like a free pair of shoes or gloves or socks with a purchase and then get one extra shoe or glove or sock? With an epidemic of missing socks nationwide, this Bogo and a half deal is especially beneficial. Buy a suit and get one free and then get a free half a suit, perhaps the pants or the jacket depending on the retailer.

How about a Bogo and a half of bread? Buy a loaf of bread, get a free loaf and then get a free half a loaf. You can give some bread to a friend or relative, make more sandwiches or French toast or feed some starving pigeons in the park. Buy a bottle of vitamins and get your free bottle and then a free half a bottle. What's not to like? Or buy a box of Cheerios and in addition to your free box, get an additional half a box. Just make sure it's sealed.

Many of your local eye glass retailers including Lenscrafters are now offering a free pair of glasses when you buy one plus and extra lens and frame for one eye. (monocle). You'll look like Sir Patrick Moore,the famed astronomical writer or Teddy Roosevelt.

Now this might sound kind of morbid but even many casket companies are offering a free casket which they will store for you until the Grim Weaper calls for a loved one or even yourself. In addition, you'll get a half a casket for Felix or Fido.

Fast food restaurants are jumping on this bandwagon of retail genius. An extra half of a Big Mac or extra half of a Sausage McGriddle will be appreciated by members of Over Eaters Anonymous throughout the country. Half a Whopper won't require too hands to handle...Even Marriotts Halfway House are giving customers an extra free night plus the extra free half a night. Only drawback with that is customers must leave by 3 o'clock in the morning which might affect any courtesan chicanery.

Now what might appear as a possible dairy conundrum is this: Customers can purchase a Bogo on a container of Half and Half with the free Half and Half plus the extra half of a Half and Half. But in this case two Half and Halfs do not make a whole and conversely a half of a Half and Half is not a quarter. These conclusions were reached by a team of half cocked elite half wit mathematicians who were able to resolve any questions regarding milk and sour cream in a half hour.

The whole Bogo and a half concept might just sound half baked to some folks but will be appreciated by those who agree whole heartedly when they can order their extra half a baked potato with sour cream or butter.