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Why does a 16 oz. bottle of water cost more than 8 lbs of ice?

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Snoutport Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 03:57 PM
Original message
Why does a 16 oz. bottle of water cost more than 8 lbs of ice?
Edited on Fri Jun-17-11 03:57 PM by Snoutport
I just picked up a 16 oz. bottle of water and an 8 lb bag of ice. The bottle of water was $1.69. The ice was $1.50. Whatever happened to a fair price for a product? My guess is the water bottle didn't cost much more to make than the power bought to freeze the water. Shipping should go by weight so, the ice should cost much much more for shipping.

American business makes me despair sometimes.
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Scuba Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 03:59 PM
Response to Original message
1. Wonderful observation. I'll speculate...
...the reason is that water is mandatory to support life. Frozen water is optional.



Water is the next oil.
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ejpoeta Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:00 PM
Response to Original message
2. not sure. in ny we now have deposit on bottled water. Fair price for a product
is kind of dependent on the 'free market' that doesn't exist, isn't it?
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damntexdem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:01 PM
Response to Original message
3. It's all that expensive melting.
;-)
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KittyWampus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:02 PM
Response to Original message
4. You can carry that bottle anywheres for as long as you like and resuse the empty container- the ice?
Not so much.
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Snoutport Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:03 PM
Response to Reply #4
5. Oh no! I'll probably use the ice bag at the picnic for a garbage bag!
so, at least some reuse! :0)
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bluestate10 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 08:03 PM
Response to Reply #5
52. Have a good time at the picnic. nt
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KurtNYC Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:06 PM
Response to Original message
6. Ice is a loss leader, like milk
The thinking goes that someone who is buying lots of ice is also going to buy lots of booze, cups, chips, dips, burgers, hot dogs, chips, buns, cookies, etc. They can lose 40 cents on ice since most ice buyers are buying $100 worth of party supplies.

...so, btw, what time should we come over ?
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Wait Wut Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 05:06 PM
Response to Reply #6
33. !
AWESOME!! I was going to stay home all weekend!

DU party @ Snoutports!!

B-) :hippie: :party: :toast: :bounce: :smoke: :silly: :beer: :headbang: :woohoo:


:puke:
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JVS Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 07:51 PM
Response to Reply #6
48. The cheapest ice in my neck of the woods is at the local Hardees
They sell it at the drive through window for 99 cents per 8 lb sack. It makes sense to me, as they need an ice machine for business anyway.
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Warpy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:11 PM
Response to Original message
7. Advertising budgets?
That's all I can come up with, that and charging what the market will bear.

FWIW, bottled water is an incredibly stupid waste of money. It's much better to get a cheap Brita pitcher and refill sports bottles at home.
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Snoutport Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:16 PM
Response to Reply #7
13. Are you using my post to spread your propaganda that bottled water is bad?
Feel Free!!!

I almost didn't post this because I didn't want to admit that I bought bottled water!!

It was a thirst emergency though, I promise.
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Warpy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:18 PM
Response to Reply #13
16. Did I say "bad?" I missed that
What I said was that it is a stupid waste of money.
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Snoutport Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 07:52 PM
Response to Reply #16
49. You know I was kidding, right?
I have a whole army of aluminum water bottles...but a couple times a year I find myself in a position of needing to buy bottled water--usually because of the dog.
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notadmblnd Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:12 PM
Response to Original message
8. It's not about a fair price. it's about what the market will bear
So as long as people will pay that for a bottle of water, they will call us suckers and sell to it us.
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Canuckistanian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:14 PM
Response to Original message
9. Because you bought the water
You didn't have to, but you did. And you agreed to pay that amount for it.

Cha-ching! Another sale for Pepsico.
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tridim Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:15 PM
Response to Original message
10. Because people readily pay $1.50 for a bottle of water.
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Rochester Donating Member (486 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:29 PM
Response to Reply #10
25. This. People are dumb
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drpepper67 Donating Member (224 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 05:39 PM
Response to Reply #10
43. This!
If they didn't sell water at $1.50, they would charge $.99

But since you're willing to pay $1.50, that's what we'll charge...
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Canuckistanian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 07:33 PM
Response to Reply #43
47. Gzactly
I've NEVER paid for a bottle of water. The whole concept is absurd to me.
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Wilms Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:15 PM
Response to Original message
11. If you can, filter tap water.

Best to starve the beast of water companies.
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Codeine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:15 PM
Response to Original message
12. Ice is produced locally by small companies with no ad budget
or fancy packaging. "Shipping" is usually within ten or twenty miles. Hell, at a retail level your ice may be bagged in the back room of the store -- we used to do this before it just became too much of a hassle.

Water is bottled in fewer places, and usually involves a lot of ads and promotions by multinational corporations, and plastic bottles involve much more involved machinery to produce and fill than simple plastic bags. Shipping may be hundreds of miles.
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Obamanaut Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 08:21 PM
Response to Reply #12
54. In most of the local convenience stores in my area it is bagged in the
store.

At the convenience store where I get coffee nearly every morning, they've even asked me to bag up ice for them when they were busy on holiday weekends.
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Spike89 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:17 PM
Response to Original message
14. "fair price" not at all a part of free market philosophy
It is simple supply and demand...people will pay what they will pay and vendors will charge as much as they can get. Fairness is not, and never has been a core business precept.
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liberal N proud Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:17 PM
Response to Original message
15. Because people will pay for the water.
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Snoutport Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:18 PM
Response to Original message
17. I KNOW the real reason...my point is the cost is probably the same but the mark up is unreal
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Spike89 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:20 PM
Response to Reply #17
20. Actually, there is a simple reason
The store makes and packages the ice itself, the water is probably from a supplier
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JVS Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 07:56 PM
Response to Reply #17
50. If water is not priced the same as other beverages, then the market for pops and teas...
would face pressure to reduce price. Before long the whole idea of vending beverages becomes unprofitable.
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Codeine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 10:46 PM
Response to Reply #17
56. You're not taking a lot of additional costs into consideration.
Besides, buying water in a bottle is stupid and environmentally insane. People deserve to get ripped off.
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elleng Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:19 PM
Response to Original message
18. Trumped-up demand.
Just told future son in law that my water bottle has been filled and refilled, w tap water, MANY times, NEVER buy the stuff, can't afford or countenance the idea. Dear daughter appears to buy a lot. HOPE SonnyBoy lets her know. They DO want to buy a house some day, after all!
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boston bean Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:20 PM
Response to Original message
19. water weighs more when it's frozen...
:eyes:
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ergot Donating Member (253 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:21 PM
Response to Reply #19
22. That explains icebergs.
Or not...
:evilgrin:
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surrealAmerican Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:20 PM
Response to Original message
21. Bottled water is always overpriced.
You are paying for "convenience" when you buy bottled water.
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marmar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:23 PM
Response to Original message
23. Because bottled water is one of the greatest marketing scams ever.
nt
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hfojvt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:23 PM
Response to Original message
24. why would anybody buy a 16 ounce bottle of water?
Especially for $1.69? Bubblers are basically free and I've got these deely-bobs at home, you turn these handle thingies and water comes out of this metal thingamajig.
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Leftist Agitator Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:58 PM
Response to Reply #24
32. A Wisconsinite!
You there! Wisconsinite! A block of your finest imported-sounding cheese, on the double!
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REP Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 05:23 PM
Response to Reply #24
39. Advanced kidney disease
Well, that's why I buy distilled or R/O water; tap water is not safe for me to drink (bacteria PPM is too high, though its safe for people with normal function) and I can't install an R/O system in my apartment. We just bought a house that does have an R/O system and when we move, I'll never have to buy bottled water again (unless I'm not at home and have drunk all the water I brought with me).
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Dreamer Tatum Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:33 PM
Response to Original message
26. The fact that you bought the water is the answer to your question. nt
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jorno67 Donating Member (906 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:34 PM
Response to Original message
27. Water has better lobbyist than Ice?
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Bluenorthwest Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:37 PM
Response to Original message
28. What kind of water? Was the ice the same kind?
San Pelligrino? That stuff from Maui? Why did you need a bottle of water? Did the ice fit inside? What was the rest of the ice for? Do you know people who buy many of these tiny bottles along with a great deal of ice? Why don't they get an ice maker? A home water filter? A refillable jug or even a canteen? Were the ice and the water shipped from the same place?
Aside from the fact that bottled water is a fool's game and terrible for the planet, this has sparse details.
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MadHound Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:38 PM
Response to Original message
29. Ice is generally a locally made product
It is packaged with a fairly cheap bag, and there are no ad budgets involved, and generally no share holders involved. Not to mention there is no cache surrounding ice as there is surrounding bottled water.

Bottled water is shipped thousands of miles, there are massive ad budgets involved, and there is enough of a cache surrounding bottled water that companies can inflate the price to such ridiculous prices.

Bottled water simply goes to prove once again that there is a sucker born every minute.
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aikoaiko Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:41 PM
Response to Original message
30. because you paid that price.

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SoCalDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 04:54 PM
Response to Original message
31. Pre-melted for your convenience
:)
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slackmaster Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 05:08 PM
Response to Original message
34. Because people are dumb enough to pay for it.
That's how marketing works.
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tammywammy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 05:09 PM
Response to Original message
35. Get a Camelbak bottle
Refillable, BPA free. I have a plain ol' Better Bottle in both the 1 liter and 0.75 liter sizes. I see now they have an insulated Better Bottle, I may have to invest in a new one or two. :)

http://www.camelbak.com/Sports-Recreation/Bottles.aspx
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Octafish Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 05:13 PM
Response to Original message
36. Packaging & Marketing
These per-unit costs are higher for a bottled water vs. bag o' ice.
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Bunny Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 05:16 PM
Response to Original message
37. I assume the water in my bottle has been treated so it's clean and safe.
I have no such expectation for a bag of ice. It's okay for keeping things cold in a cooler, but I would never use it in anything that I'm going to consume.
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PufPuf23 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 05:18 PM
Response to Original message
38. The bottle and advertising and more storage, travel, and warehouse costs. nt
Edited on Fri Jun-17-11 05:19 PM by PufPuf23
Also higher proffit margin.
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izquierdista Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 05:24 PM
Response to Original message
40. The real answer
This will answer all your questions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXS5GBuk-GQ
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amborin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 05:29 PM
Response to Original message
41. ice is much less dense than water, due to its hydrogen structure
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drpepper67 Donating Member (224 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 05:40 PM
Response to Reply #41
44. Is this why ice is the only solid that floats?
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CBGLuthier Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 05:36 PM
Response to Original message
42. A better question is why would anyone PAY $1.50 for a bottle of water?
Edited on Fri Jun-17-11 05:36 PM by CBGLuthier
Greed is a simple enough aspect of human nature to easily understand.

How they can convince anyone to pay for their ridiculously marked up product though is beyond me.

But then again, I have never ever bought a bottle of water.

American business does not make me despair near as much as american consumers.
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markpkessinger Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 07:21 PM
Response to Original message
45. Why do you patronize the fraudulent bottled water industry?
After all, in most places in this country, every day tap water is just as pure.
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Odin2005 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 07:31 PM
Response to Original message
46. Bottled water is a scam.
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bluestate10 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 07:59 PM
Response to Original message
51. Because more people buy bottled water than bags of ice?
What you saw was the bizarre side of commerce. You are right, either the ice should cost more, or the bottled water less.
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Chisox08 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 08:06 PM
Response to Original message
53. The packaging and marketing adds to the price of the bottle of water
and if you live in a place like Chicago they tax bottled water, adding more to the price of bottled water. The Ice just came in a bag that just said Ice on the front and nobody places an extra tax on it.
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Obamanaut Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 08:22 PM
Response to Original message
55. That same $1.69 bottle of water at a big box store (Sam's for example) is
about 25 cents when bought by the case.
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flvegan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jun-17-11 10:59 PM
Response to Original message
57. Take an economics class.
That'll make all the difference.
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yahoo yahoo Donating Member (54 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jun-18-11 12:09 PM
Response to Original message
58. Why are you still buying bottled water? Get a reusable bottle
and fill with reverse osmosis water from Whole Foods' dispensary. .59 a gallon...
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