OFE AND THE COST OF ORCHID SUPPLIES.....AN OBSERVATION

[peeweelovesbooks]

So a couple of weeks ago I stopped by OFE to get some orchid supplies. I have noticed a DRAMATIC increase in the prices of their orchid supplies.

For example, I used to buy their bags of Hydroton (the big bags) for 20.00. Then, they increased the price to 25.00. I ran out of hydroton, and I asked how much was their big bag....they told me 30.00!!!!

Now, I am not a cheap person here. The time before this time, I had to go to a hydroponics store because OFE was always out of hydroton. I bought the same bag (from the same manufacturer) for 20.00. I called the hydroponics store and the price was still 20.00. I went this weekend and bought 2 bags.

I'm thinking now....why is OFE charging so much? Clearly, if the price for hydroton had gone up, it would have gone up everywhere, including hydroponics outfits. This store has TONS of hydroton, so I'm clearly not the only one buying it. The only inconvenience for me is that they don't take ATM cards or checks--it's a cash only business, which, for someone who never carries cash, it's a small inconvenience.

It seems to me that if you slap the name "orchid growing supplies" on some thing, it immediately increases in price. I think it's not good business. Especially so since the hydroponics store in question is about a 10 minute drive from OFE, and it's closer to my house.

For me, OFE is becoming less and less as "the place to go to."

[WhiteRabbit]

hmm - that's aggravating for sure
it's possible the cost of being in business has increased for OFE ?

[Ray]

Don't forget that all brands of LECA in North America are imported - most from Europe, Aliflor from South America, so incur ocean transport, brokerage, and overland delivery costs, not to mention fuel surcharges all along the way. Then there is currency exchange variations, too.

I think the prices reflect one of more of - true landed cost plus a reasonable profit, what the market may bear, and/or or out-and-out greed. Fortunately, the greedy don't last too long in the marketplace.

I will add that I have seen increases in fertilizer costs, as many of the chemicals used to make them up are also imported, and being from the petrochemical industry in the first place, it's not unexpected.