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Suttons really taking the p***

LunarSeaLunarSea Posts: 1,422
in The potting shed
Just received Suttons spring catalogue. Can't believe they're expecting people to pay £20 for any of their 50L bags of compost. And on top of that you'll need to add £7 for delivery. 

To be fair though you could get a bag of their peat-free compost for only £17 - plus £7 of course. A real bargain!

I know some people need to get stuff through the post but come on, this is hardly competitive.
Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border - where old gardeners wet their plants.
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  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 905
    Unfortunately it seems competitive as other online sellers charge the same. I don't know how much they actually sell but it's obviously worth the trouble for them.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,005
    I agree - it's pretty much the same with many online companies.
    I expect if someone is buying a load of plants, they might add a bag - saves them going to a GC etc. Not everyone has a car, or lives near retail outlets.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 21,877
    Considering that a first class stamp is now 85p, I don’t think £7 for delivery is at all bad.

    But the cost of the compost is another thing. 
    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
  • Valley GardenerValley Gardener Posts: 2,726
    I order it from my local pet shop,free delivery for a big bag of good quality compost,£6
    It pays to shop locally. Failing that Wickes do compost and a delivery service,payable.
    The whole truth is an instrument that can only be played by an expert.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 2,248
    @VictorMeldrew, I'm not sure whether that online mammoth beginning with an A appeals to you but you can get 50 litre bags for £9.90 at the moment with free delivery.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.
  • LunarSeaLunarSea Posts: 1,422
    Plantminded said:
    @VictorMeldrew, I'm not sure whether that online mammoth beginning with an A appeals to you but you can get 50 litre bags for £9.90 at the moment with free delivery.
    Valley Gardener said:
    I order it from my local pet shop,free delivery for a big bag of good quality compost,£6

    Exactly! So who the hell would pay Suttons £27 for it?
    Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border - where old gardeners wet their plants.
  • BigladBiglad Posts: 2,889
    £5-6 for a 50L bag is what I'd expect to pay locally. I guess they must get some business at that price (otherwise they'd sell it cheaper, surely?) but I'm struggling to think why. Must be good stuff!
    East Lancs
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,424
    Did anyone read the late Peter Seabrook's page. I kept it. He says 1% peat is used for compost,and professional nurseries should be allowed to keep it, because in certain circumstances nothing else works. The last bag of compost I bought,same place,local.everything grew toadstools,there are more growing in the bag. He says this is what the nurseries are up against.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,239
    I'd say Suttons have priced their compost to deter folk from buying it.
    Their focus is on selling seeds and plants and they are probably not equipped to handle large volumes of compost which for most people can be bought locally. 50L bags of compost take up a lot more storage space than packets of seed.
    I buy 3 x 50L bags Grow Wise each Spring for £12 from a local nursery
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • zugeniezugenie Posts: 781
    £20 for one bag?!?

    I got some composted manure delivered from a local garden centre, £40 for eight 80 litre bags, plus £5 postage!
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