Water Butts a rip-off!

Hi All,

Can someone explain to me why water butts are so expensive and get progressively more expensive pro-rata the bigger you go?

They are made by probably the most inexpensive materials and a relatively simple manufacturing process.

Am I missing something here, or is it the usual British get ripped off syndrome?

Regs,
Numb

 

A rough work-out for our area shows the following:-
A water butt from ALDI = £25 (I believe 300litres)

Set that price against the volume of water @ £2.23/1000litres = £2.23 x 0.3 = £0.67 per barrel
To pay for itself it needs to collect 37.3 barrels of water. The price of water includes the sewerage charge.

I think you will agree that £25 for a 300 litre barrel is low compared to the prices in garden centres.

 

WOW! Im off to Aldi tonight. I've looked all over the net and the cheapest Ive seen is a 100l space saver for £25.

Generally though, we are getting ripped off - like with most things...

Thanks for the tip.

Regs,
Numb

 

Just as a BTW to this. With no rain for 6 weeks, my water butts have become - as my Gran would have said - 'neither use nor ornament', but working on the 'no rain no sale principle' I thought now might be a good time to buy another since they might be reduced. Of course they're not. But during my research into current prices, I visited Homebase where there were some 'helpful' leaflets, one said ....

'Place the butt on a matching stand - it makes filling the watering can more comfortable because you don't need to bend down.'

The stands they were selling were the regulation height - of the 3' or 4' high ones (which they'd need to be so 'you don't need to bend down') - there was no sign. :hehe:

 

Marley sorted me out some for a fiver.

http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/nearly-finished-new-garden-in-barn-conversion-t27929.html

He's a star :gnthb:

 

The trouble is that ALDI only have them as special buy's, so you have to go when they have them in (next year now,I'm afraid)

 

Can I suggest you check out your local water supply authority.
I got a 100 Ltr butt + stand+ tap+ downpipe connector kit for £27.95 !
And dielivered for free.
Just a thought
Robert

 

Oh No, I didn't know about the operation s00k

 

I've been using plastic wine barrels for years.
I think they used to send concentrated grape juice or some such gunk over from Spain in them years ago.

Never could understand the concept of a tap on a water but, it takes ages to fill the can.
I've always just dipped the can in the top.

At this time of the year four of these last me about three days, so filling with a hose is fairly normal.