So, How much Does the Actual 1L Paint Tin Cost?

Shortly needing to use some high gloss enamel on a couple of doors + other bits and pieces I started checking what was available and the price.

Using the current big green box catalog I came up with the following - Some but not all offer a 2L tin which is a little better but not all offer it.

Dulux high gloss Super Enamel
1L = $44.73
4L = $84.04 = $21.01 per L
10L = $181.50 = $18.15 per L

Feast Watson Decking Oil
1L = $31.90
4L = $74.90 = $18.73 per L
10L= $168.00 = $16.80 per L

British Paints InOne Interior paint
2L = $44.90 = $22.45 per L
4L = $59.90 = $14.98 per L
10L = $130.00 = $13.00 per L

I do understand volume purchases but find the cost per L for 1L compared to "higher volume" purchases to be exorbitant in the extreme when compared to the per L price between 4L and 10L. So where is the excessive cost? Does it cost that much more for a 1L tin compared to the cost differential between a 4L and 10L tin - or are we being penalised for buying a smaller amount?

In many cases in the past I have found that 1L is not enough and 4L is way too much and I end up storing leftovers for a number of years in the hope of using it only to end up throwing it away. I'm not advocating that we need to add more tin sizes to the sales line but I do feel that the price per L for smaller amounts is excessive in the extreme.

Don't know what the answer actually is but if there is a logical answer I would love to hear it.

Regards,
Bob

The logical answer is "People will pay that much because people are stupid".

Small quantity sales are driven mostly by what you could consider as one-off purchasers who are relatively price insensitive, and they are buying in a market in which there is less choice than appears at first glance.

Last time I looked, the three brands you mention - Feast Watson, Dulux and British Paints - were all owned by the same corporate entity...so if you are expecting to see any meaningful competition between British Paints and Dulux, you are out of luck.

If substantially more people would make the "No, I am not buying at that price point" decision, prices would come down; but too many make the "Oh, that is expensive, but it's not like I buy it often or have an alternative, so ok" decision and prices stay up.

Whats more likely to happen is that the 1lt tin would get dropped.

Yes it is frustratingly disproportionate.
I often need a small quantity of paint so the cost is considerable.
I have also been caught, bought a 4l tin for a job and did not use half. Used a bit more for another job (I could keep my costs down as first job paid for the paint) but I still have half a tin of paint.

Does anyone want, FREE, about 2 litres of antique white USA? (send PM)

I can see myself disposing of this tin and half a dozen others in six months time as I do not have a use for them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Handyjack

Yes it is frustratingly disproportionate.
I often need a small quantity of paint so the cost is considerable.
I have also been caught, bought a 4l tin for a job and did not use half. Used a bit more for another job (I could keep my costs down as first job paid for the paint) but I still have half a tin of paint.

Does anyone want, FREE, about 2 litres of antique white USA? (send PM)

I can see myself disposing of this tin and half a dozen others in six months time as I do not have a use for them.

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Is it internal or external paint?
I've got a heap of windows to redo Outside?
Peter

Have you compared the price of the real little ones ( 50, 100, 250 and 500 mil) its even worse.
Of course it takes as much effort to fill a 1 litre as a 4 litre so I suppose there is 4 tines as much labour and 1 & 4 litre cans need to be boxed where as 10 and 20s can go on a pallet.
Just my thoughts for what they are worth (free.)
Regards

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bob38S

Shortly needing to use some high gloss enamel on a couple of doors + other bits and pieces I started checking what was available and the price.

Using the current big green box catalog I came up with the following - Some but not all offer a 2L tin which is a little better but not all offer it.

Dulux high gloss Super Enamel
1L = $44.73
4L = $84.04 = $21.01 per L
10L = $181.50 = $18.15 per L

Feast Watson Decking Oil
1L = $31.90
4L = $74.90 = $18.73 per L
10L= $168.00 = $16.80 per L

British Paints InOne Interior paint
2L = $44.90 = $22.45 per L
4L = $59.90 = $14.98 per L
10L = $130.00 = $13.00 per L

I do understand volume purchases but find the cost per L for 1L compared to "higher volume" purchases to be exorbitant in the extreme when compared to the per L price between 4L and 10L. So where is the excessive cost? Does it cost that much more for a 1L tin compared to the cost differential between a 4L and 10L tin - or are we being penalised for buying a smaller amount?

In many cases in the past I have found that 1L is not enough and 4L is way too much and I end up storing leftovers for a number of years in the hope of using it only to end up throwing it away. I'm not advocating that we need to add more tin sizes to the sales line but I do feel that the price per L for smaller amounts is excessive in the extreme.

Don't know what the answer actually is but if there is a logical answer I would love to hear it.

Regards,
Bob

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Master Splinter

The logical answer is "People will pay that much because people are stupid".

Small quantity sales are driven mostly by what you could consider as one-off purchasers who are relatively price insensitive, and they are buying in a market in which there is less choice than appears at first glance.

Last time I looked, the three brands you mention - Feast Watson, Dulux and British Paints - were all owned by the same corporate entity...so if you are expecting to see any meaningful competition between British Paints and Dulux, you are out of luck.

If substantially more people would make the "No, I am not buying at that price point" decision, prices would come down; but too many make the "Oh, that is expensive, but it's not like I buy it often or have an alternative, so ok" decision and prices stay up.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by A Duke

Have you compared the price of the real little ones ( 50, 100, 250 and 500 mil) its even worse.
Of course it takes as much effort to fill a 1 litre as a 4 litre so I suppose there is 4 tines as much labour and 1 & 4 litre cans need to be boxed where as 10 and 20s can go on a pallet.
Just my thoughts for what they are worth (free.)
Regards

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Bob
Master Splinter and Hugh have touched on some of the reason

1) people who purchase 1l cans are largely price insenstive, even more so for smaller tins
2) in terms of the "labour" cost -- filling and handling a 4l tin costs about the same as filling a 1l tin
3) 1l tins cost more than 4l tins in terms of handling costs between the paint factory and the shelf in the big green shed