Which ancient civilization first documented the practice of 'loss leaders' - selling certain products below cost to attract customers who would then purchase more profitable items?

Long before modern shopping malls and e-commerce, ancient civilizations developed sophisticated marketplaces with remarkable understanding of consumer behavior. From the agoras of Greece to the bazaars of Mesopotamia, merchants employed psychological tactics that still influence retail today. This trivia explores how ancient sellers understood and leveraged consumer psychology to boost sales and create brand loyalty thousands of years ago.

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Phoenicians (1500-300 BCE), who would offer discounted purple dye samples to entice merchants to buy larger quantities of their textiles and other trade goods
Romans (27 BCE-476 CE), who subsidized basic grain prices at markets to attract citizens who would then purchase luxury goods while collecting their allotment
Han Dynasty Chinese (206 BCE-220 CE), who developed the 'tea house strategy' of offering free tea to travelers who would then purchase meals and supplies
Egyptians (3100-30 BCE), who created 'festival pricing' where certain goods were sold below cost during religious celebrations to increase overall marketplace traffic