Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Cultivation => Composts => Topic started by: David Nicholson on March 13, 2011, 08:27:17 PM

Title: Are manufacturers robbing us?
Post by: David Nicholson on March 13, 2011, 08:27:17 PM: Has anyone noticed that apart from the odd "special, special offer" prices of bags of compost from garden centres are surprisingly similar wherever you go. Is it me just being an old cynic or is there the possibility that there is some price control being exercised by the big manufacturers ???

In the last few years I have been using the Green Ore brand of John Innes composts (used to be used at Wisley before the peat eco-warriors struck!) and enduring a roughly 190 mile round trip to buy it. Given the price of deisel these days (my cheapest is 133.9p per litre) this makes the cost prohibitive so I've gone back to using the J. Arthur Bowers brand of JI's from a local garden centre. Went to get some today to find the bag size has gone down from 25ltr to 20ltr and the price is much more than I used to pay for 25ltrs.
Title: Re: Are manufacturers robbing us?
Post by: Gerry Webster on March 13, 2011, 08:37:44 PM: You old cynic David. How could you possibly think such a thing?
Title: Re: Are manufacturers robbing us?
Post by: Richard Green on March 13, 2011, 09:22:46 PM: I have noticed exactly the same thing with hen food. Layers pellets are now in 20kg bags for about the same price as a 25kg bag used to be. But of course the seller explained that they are much easier to carry into the car. So that's all right then!
Title: Re: Are manufacturers robbing us?
Post by: Maggi Young on March 13, 2011, 09:25:58 PM: Bird seed is in 20kg bags now instead of 25kgs.

And then there's the case of the shrinking chocolate bars........ :'(
Title: Re: Are manufacturers robbing us?
Post by: mark smyth on March 13, 2011, 09:57:09 PM: my bird food - sunflower hearts - comes in 25kg bags
Title: Re: Are manufacturers robbing us?
Post by: angie on March 13, 2011, 10:22:32 PM: Quote from: Maggi Young on March 13, 2011, 09:25:58 PM
Bird seed is in 20kg bags now instead of 25kgs.

And then there's the case of the shrinking chocolate bars........ :'(

Surly not Maggi, anything else but not our beloved chocolate bars ;D

Angie :)
Title: Re: Are manufacturers robbing us?
Post by: Neil on March 13, 2011, 10:32:50 PM: Is all about price points, if you reduce the weight of a pre-packed item, and keep the price the same, not many people notice it.
Title: Re: Are manufacturers robbing us?
Post by: David Nicholson on March 14, 2011, 09:29:25 AM: Quote from: neil on March 13, 2011, 10:32:50 PM
Is all about price points, if you reduce the weight of a pre-packed item, and keep the price the same, not many people notice it.

Elderly, cynical Yorkshiremen do ;D
Title: Re: Are manufacturers robbing us?
Post by: davidunderwood on March 16, 2012, 06:41:06 PM: Another example of rip off Britain ???
Title: Re: Are manufacturers robbing us?
Post by: ArnoldT on March 16, 2012, 08:15:58 PM: I don't the rip off is solely occurring in UK.

Have a look at the size of a can of peas or chick peas. Smaller by the minute and more expensive.
Title: Re: Are manufacturers robbing us?
Post by: brianw on March 16, 2012, 11:26:28 PM: My sunflower hearts come as 2 x 13kg or 1 25kg for similar prices ordered online. What amazes me still is I get free next day delivery, sometimes before 10am. Think it is still free in Aberdeen but it might take a little longer to get there, not free for N. Ireland; sorry.
Title: Re: Are manufacturers robbing us?
Post by: Martin Baxendale on March 16, 2012, 11:44:49 PM: Are manufacturers robbing us?

Do bears pooh in the woods?
Title: Re: Are manufacturers robbing us?
Post by: ronm on March 22, 2012, 09:25:13 PM: Manufacturers... generally no! Its all inbetween. Usual formula is , manufacturer - just above cost ( 20% is excellent ), next - +200%, next - +200%, next = retail in Uk, + 300%. We pay for the adverts etc ( and CEO bonuses ) that they use to sell to us!! How Ironic 8) 8)