Message-ID: |
|
Sender: |
|
Subject: |
|
From: |
|
Date: |
Fri, 12 Feb 2016 02:15:34 -0500 |
Content-Type: |
text/plain; charset=UTF-8 |
MIME-Version: |
1.0 |
Reply-To: |
|
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
Every few years I take the time to do a price comparison of buying a single
hive increase kit vs. buying bulk lots of 50. A decade ago a beekeeper
could lower the per unit cost of a complete hive (2 deeps, 2 mediums,
inner/outer covers, frames, foundation, and bottom board) by around $70 by
buying components instead of a kit. I did the analysis 4 years ago and the
savings had decreased to about $50, but the advantage was still on the side
of buying components vs. a kit. I did the same analysis this evening and
was surprised to discover that the advantage has shifted over to the kit.
The cost of a single hive kit was $5 less than the per-hive cost of buying
individual components. Historically I only did the comparison of one
vendor's catalog. This evening I checked a second vendor and found the kit
also had a $5 advantage over components. I did my best to keep the
comparison "apples to apples"; that is to say I tried to keep the
components the same as the parts of the kits. I gave the costs of nails my
best SWAG.
So I have a few immediate questions, I'm sure more will come to mind as I
cogitate these figures. I have been thinking that vendors are less
interested in larger buyers and are more focused on small quantity
consumers. Perhaps my analysis supports that thought? Where would a
larger quantity consumer go for the buying advantage that seems to have
disappeared?
Aaron Morris - thinking my dollar doesn't go as far as it used to....
***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html
|
|
|