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Why are nutes so costly?
- Thread starter calstar
- Start date
This is the problem right here.
Nute companies *know* their product is used by people who grow pot, and know they are justifying an overpriced product because the end product is so valuable.
It's like if you were building a shelf, you wouldn't buy the same screws for 10x the price simply because the shelf would be valuable after being built.
In the nute industry tho, there are very few reasonably priced options, so we're all kinda left without a choice unless you want to mix your own.
Greenmopho
Member
Why are nutes so costly?
Try lucas or Rez's recipe. Only thing cheaper is MaxiBloom powder!
Try lucas or Rez's recipe. Only thing cheaper is MaxiBloom powder!
I get a gallon of GH Flora series at about $30 each for the Bloom and Micro. Throw in a box of powder KoolBloom for $25, and for less than $100 I get a large quantity of what I consider the perfect nutrient formula. With my small closet setup using Coco, this will last several years and produce at least 10 pounds of super-kill. The Coco is actually quite a bit more expensive since I do not reuse it...
As far as the mark-up goes, this industry is like all others. Businesses will raise prices to whatever the market bears. Despite what we think as growers, the hydroponics industry is very boutique. As such, it often focuses heavily on marketing and includes very high profit margins. However, every step down the distribution chain takes a cut. The manufacturer might make 100% profit in relation to their costs. A wholesale distributor might take 50% profit for their contribution, while the final seller takes another 100% profit.
I am a big fan of General Hydroponics and would most likely pay 2x-3x the price for my MJ plants. To me, it is always about the perceived value for the consumer.
WFF
As far as the mark-up goes, this industry is like all others. Businesses will raise prices to whatever the market bears. Despite what we think as growers, the hydroponics industry is very boutique. As such, it often focuses heavily on marketing and includes very high profit margins. However, every step down the distribution chain takes a cut. The manufacturer might make 100% profit in relation to their costs. A wholesale distributor might take 50% profit for their contribution, while the final seller takes another 100% profit.
I am a big fan of General Hydroponics and would most likely pay 2x-3x the price for my MJ plants. To me, it is always about the perceived value for the consumer.
WFF
$1.50 for $400 of weed is a problem?
It's not a matter of spending 10x the price for nails as much as people using 10 nails where only 1 is required. GH is so cheap, it's practically free.
Coca Cola is crazy expensive, and bottled watered?
Again, its the way people justify the price in relation to the value of the final product. That distorts the value of the nutrients because commercially bought cannabis is so expensive.
GH isn't so bad, especially if bought in bulk, but I am speaking in general to the question the thread has raised. Your comment just summed things up perfectly, even tho you are closer to the value end of the spectrum.
For every grower who has found success with GH, there are plenty who are paying out the ass for AN and other brands. Their reasoning is the same as yours - that the end product is valuable and thus it is worth it to pay x cost for the nutrients.
So yes, that IS the problem, and why the market is full of overpriced nutrients. WFF summed it up well too... The market bears the higher cost partly because of this flawed logic.
I feel sorry for people who grow for themselves and don't sell, because they are paying these inflated nutrient prices with no 400 dollar an ounce savings in the equation. Many of them wouldn't have been able to pay the 400 dollars in the first place, thus buying a nutrient with a big markup may well be taking food out of their mouth.
And thinking about it more, yeah, GH is pretty cheap right... But wouldn't you rather have 10 brands to choose from with a similar value? Instead we have a few value options, and a ton of super expensive ones. That sucks.
I completely get what you are saying Mr. B., and I see it often in my own business dealings. Those that provide a service which creates efficiencies want to relate their contribution to the total amount saved. For example, optimizing a process can save a company X dollars. Therefore, the person doing the work wants a percentage of the savings instead of the being paid directly for the time it took.
You are basically talking about rationalization. It is OK to spend extra money because we relate it to some arbitrary number (i.e. $400 oz). I do not sell, but I smoke quite a bit and give away the rest. Regardless, it is easy to average your expenses over time to get a true cost. I would guess my cost is about $15-$20 per ounce, and that is all that really matters to me...
WFF
You are basically talking about rationalization. It is OK to spend extra money because we relate it to some arbitrary number (i.e. $400 oz). I do not sell, but I smoke quite a bit and give away the rest. Regardless, it is easy to average your expenses over time to get a true cost. I would guess my cost is about $15-$20 per ounce, and that is all that really matters to me...
WFF
R
rick shaw
GH using their Keep It Simple program costs me 44@gal. to mix. 8 week run in a 4x8 $210.I average 500 gms finished,less then .42 a gram lol
S
SCROG McDuck
GH using their Keep It Simple program costs me 44@gal. to mix. 8 week run in a 4x8 $210.I average 500 gms finished,less then .42 a gram lol
Yes rick, I'm thinking prices went up some time shortly after Advanced Nutrients came into being.... They ARE high priced and if you follow their regiment, it will cost ALOT!
I'm thinking 3 years ago a gallon of GH Micro was $17.. now $30.. double in 3 years?? Some things have gone up alot more than that in the last 3 years...
Like everyone else said: GH micro & Bloom (lucas formula).
All those other additives are to remedy problems.
Eliminate the problems and the additives are unnecessary.
Beause they saw us coming a mile away. Take heart though from the fact that as hobbys go growing's not too bad, fishing is a much more expensive hobby and few people will buy your fish if you even catch any 
