Putting prices into perspective

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Originally Posted by Maladroit

The point Robin was making is that someone is probably making a profit selling these quality soaps at a low price while we habitually pay high prices for soaps that are not necessarily any better.

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Not quite. Actually the other way round. I bought these soaps from an OEM. They have been selling them at about that price for years. They are simply unmarked, and unpackaged. Now compare the bulk price to that of the finished product. The difference is, really, quite unusual.

And as I said, this is a high quality product made in the EU (for another few weeks) using EU ingredients.

Now think how much jucier your profit gets if you use God-knows-what as ingredients.

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Originally Posted by Maladroit

I've tried a few high end products and have found that they aren't that much better (or better at all) than my regulars.

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I have often said that MdC would not pass a double blind test against, most "mainstream" soaps. Especially against very similar French soaps that cost half as much.

But if I'd wanted to make this about MdC, I would have said so. This is really about our perception of price, and what is an "expensive" product.

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Originally Posted by RobinK

It is Truefitt & Hill Sandalwood. Hence the topic.

Robin

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Originally Posted by RobinK

Or else what? But just for the record, it's Scottish Fine Soaps's outlet in Falkirk, Scotland.

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Robin

Just to clarify is it T&H or Scottish Fine soaps?

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Originally Posted by markbignosekelly

Just to clarify is it T&H or Scottish Fine soaps?

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What would it matter if it were the latter? [It isn't]

Why is everyone fixated on brands? Even if it were Arko, the markup would be remarkable. And that's really the point here.

Regardless of brand, aren’t those who create something and get paid for it through their mark ups entitle to a profit? Otherwise I see us making our own soaps. I build things for a living and sell my labor, experience, and talent to a consumer. Does that mean I don’t deserve to be paid, because I can essentially produce it for free? I fail to follow your logic or motivation for starting this thread given the direction you’ve taken it. It brings nothing to the table.

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Originally Posted by markbignosekelly

Considering a puck of T&H sandalwood is £15 without the bowl, 5 for £1.50 and still be in profit is incredible.

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Originally Posted by RobinK

What would it matter if it were the latter? [It isn't]

Why is everyone fixated on brands? Even if it were Arko, the markup would be remarkable. And that's really the point here.

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Just wondering, not fixated, though I am a sucker for products with a Royal Warrant. Yes the mark up is remarkable (as I said above)

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Originally Posted by RobinK

Now think how much jucier your profit gets if you use God-knows-what as ingredients.

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I am always tempted by the easy math problems since the hard ones are out of my league so I'll give it a try ;)
£1.90/5=£0.38~$.50ea

I'm not sure what's the bulk price that this store buys them at, so I'll assume half of it (hopefully I'm in the correct order of magnitude), i.e. both T&H and that shop in Scotland are paying £0.20 a puck. (Well may be due to the presumably larger volume T&H may be paying a bit less but then they have the additional cost of the paper box). So T&H has a 17/.20=8500% markup.
Of course, they have more expenses - their retail stores are in more expensive locations, their corporate overhead presumably larger than the Scottish shop and so on.

Of course, in our modern economy a 'brand' has a value - we as consumers apparently value it i.e. we are willing to pay for it and for what we perceive it brings on top of the actual product. Correspondingly the supply side spends money and effort (sometimes considerable) to develop brands and especially our perception of the high value of those brands.

In any case to me it's an interesting aspect of us humans - what is it we value and how we can sometimes extend it beyond what is justifiable and reasonable.

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Originally Posted by gugi

In any case to me it's an interesting aspect of us humans - what is it we value and how we can sometimes extend it beyond what is justifiable and reasonable.

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Ain't that the truth.

Bob

Other than RobinK bragging about the fact he can find good soap crazy cheap, allegedly, and by comparison we all over pay for our soap, I do not understand what this thread is about. Are we all suppose to praise him for being such a good shopper while he chastises us for buying over priced soap? This is the most pointless thread I have ever read.

Robin,

Did you purchase this bundle on line or from a brick and mortar store? And where? I seem to have missed the source. Either way, you're lucky, my friend, for having such bundled European products are within reach for you.

I hear mentioned the bundle consists of either Scottish Fine Soaps or Truefitt & Hill. I like Truefitt and Hill and not so Scottish Fine Soaps. Either way, that bundle is a fabulous bargain. Indeed, when you think about it, the markup on shaving products is astronomical.

Good show, Robin. Indeed, a good find.

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Originally Posted by gugi

In any case to me it's an interesting aspect of us humans - what is it we value and how we can sometimes extend it beyond what is justifiable and reasonable.

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This. Human behavior is very interesting and exciting. You see this phenomenon in many areas of life. For instance, you can have the EXACT same product sitting on a shelf right next to each other. One is in a plain package and the other in a package that many might find attractive. Even though the "plain" package is exactly the same product and much cheaper, some will consistently pick the other. Why? For some, one reason is the package (and brand name) is part of the "experience". The price can even part of the "experience". People will report that the fancy packaged, high dollar item is better and they are not totally wrong even though the product is the same. They have a better experience with one over the other simply because the experience they are having is not totally about practicality. It is in part subjective but then again much of our life experiences include subjectivity. I may feel better when I am dressed in a suit whereas someone else may feel better ditching the suit and tie. Either way, our clothing can affect our mood and not necessarily from an objective sense but from, in part, a subjective sense.

Take our hobby of wet shaving. I am not saving money or time and in fact the opposite is true and for what? A BBS shave. Really? I am laughing as I type this. No. My wife thinks I am nuts to spend all this money on razors, soaps, aftershave, strops, etc. to get a BBS shave that most days no one notices and she is wrong. I enjoy it immensely and that is all the justification I need. So, sometimes, value is not always about price. Sometimes, it is about the overall experience. If buying an expensive soap adds to your experience, enjoy it. Enjoy the hell out of it and you don't need anymore justification than that. If buying inexpensive soaps adds to your experience, enjoy it. Enjoy the hell out of it and you don't need anymore justification than that.