A loss leader is something sold cheap to bring people in. Milk as a loss leader.
The shop loses on it and wins on everything else in the basket, which is why it is at the back. A loss leader works only if the customer buys anything else at all.
1nounloss leaderSomething sold cheap to bring people in.
“The bread was a loss leader and the shop made its money on everything else.”
loss leader is a tactic.
Practised in Marketing & Advertising