A challenge: Dried baby milk

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by nFrost, Aug 7, 2013.

  1. nFrost

    nFrost Head Gardener

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    Simple question: Why can't I buy dried baby milk in bulk for a discount?

    Some ideas:

    • It would be a workaround for child tax credits
    • The East is buying it all up
    • Companies are greedy (but which ones aren't?)
    My plan was to buy 20 tins for a certain amount thus making a saving, but this isn't possible as far as I can see.
     
  2. Sheal

    Sheal Total Gardener

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    Could it be something to do with the use-by dates? I know it doesn't last very long.
     
  3. nFrost

    nFrost Head Gardener

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    hmmm...never thought of that one. I though it would last a while with it being dried and sealed with a metal tear-off lid. I'll have to check.
     
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    • Scrungee

      Scrungee Well known for it

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      I think it might be excluded from the likes of supermarkets' spend £30, get £5 off offers, buy SMA milk and get XXX extra points, etc. because it might be illegal against advice/policies to promote it as an alternative to breast feeding.

      P.S. But it has been a flipping long time for me to remember about whether you could get money off formula milk or nappies.
       
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      • pamsdish

        pamsdish Total Gardener

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        When we lived in Eire we bought sacks of dried milk from the factory in Enniscorthy, for the dogs.
         
      • Scrungee

        Scrungee Well known for it

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        And that's another thing, if you buy food for 'working dogs' (farm shops, etc.) then there's no VAT on it, unlike food for lazy, idle pet dogs bought from shops which attracts 20% VAT.
         
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        • Fat Controller

          Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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          Mrs C works for Boots - Aptamil and Cow & Gate have a restriction of two big tins a day for their powdered milk, which has been brought about by Chinese people buying them in bulk and sending them over to China; demand was outstripping supply, which brought about the restriction. The restrictions were originally due to end in July, however that has been revised to October and is likely to be extended thereafter.

          Scrungee is also bang on that promotional offers are frowned upon as current government policy is to encourage breast feeding.
           
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          • nFrost

            nFrost Head Gardener

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            It's the same for the restrictions in the Co-Op near me.

            I guess the manufacturers offer no bulk discount to, say, Amazon therefore they can't offer us a discount. You'd think I could at least a quid off!
             
          • nFrost

            nFrost Head Gardener

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            It's nearly twice the price on some websites?! This makes no sense.
             
          • clueless1

            clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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            I think it might be something to do with restrictions on promoting it. "Breast is best" as they say, and if you notice on all the baby milk ads, about half the ad is taken up by explaining that its best to breast feed, because I think the rules require them to say so. Also you can't claim reward points on your Boots card for buying baby milk, probably for the same reason.
             
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            • nFrost

              nFrost Head Gardener

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              Yet bricks-n-mortar shops can sell it cheaper than internet shops, I don't get it. :dunno:
               
            • clueless1

              clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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              I've found that with a few things lately. I'm not sure why. Loss leaders perhaps? I bought some ammo for the Nerf guns in an actual shop for about £10 less than the best Amazon could offer.
               
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