Cost in ml by Aftershave

[Luc]

In the past, I saw a few threads to compare the price of a shaving soap per gram and thought ithey were useful (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/286083-Soaps-to-Price-Comparison and http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/177984-Soap-Price-comparison).

The issue with those is that you get a very specific price for a specific location. I mean, let's take Arko, we probably all buy it online. But those in Turkey can probably get it for a fraction of the price. This would move it somewhere else in the list.

Then, there's always the superdeal. Buy 10 of those at this place and you get a much better discount.

Anyways, to give me an idea, I started listing all the AS that I bought over time with their price (which include taxes and shipping since I had to pay some on those). I know, it doesn't represent the real price if I was buying it in a shop or from a different vendor, or having it shipping to your doorstep instead of mine. Bottom line, the list is fairly unique for each of us.

In the end, it made me realise that what I thought was "good value" wasn't if I compare the price for the same quantity.

So, I made a spreadsheet where I put the product name, where I bought it, how much ml the bottle is and the price I paid. With that, I then calculate the price per 100ml.

I can then quickly see which AS is cheap and which AS is the most expensive. The results are not what I was expecting...

Have you done the calculations so far for your regular AS?

 

[Wingnut]

I haven't, Luc, but I'd love to see your results. ...Especially given that you were surprised with them. Please, SHARE!

 

[Rockminer]

I haven't, Luc, but I'd love to see your results. ...Especially given that you were surprised with them. Please, SHARE!

+1

That's what people in the tv world call a "tease"

 

[Luc]

Sure, here it is...

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AnXLZrXw9zJydGVqckctNUV0OVdFUE1VclFKbjhjaFE&usp=sharing

 

[TheVez2]

Luc, I can't view your sheet until I get home, but I did a quick run down of the majority of what I have on hand. Since our stuff is sold by ounces, I did the ml conversion based on 1oz = 29.57ml.

Aftershave	Source	Price	Size (oz)	Size (ml)	Cost per ounce	Cost per 100 mL
Superior 70 BR	Walgreens	$2.49	12	354.84	$0.21	$0.70
Ivy Club (Vi-Jon OS)	Family Dollar	$1.79	7	206.99	$0.26	$0.86
Osage Rub	Goodmans.net	$4.09	14	413.98	$0.29	$0.99
Barbasol Brisk	Dollar General	$1.59	5	147.85	$0.32	$1.08
Barbasol Pacific Rush	Dollar General	$1.59	5	147.85	$0.32	$1.08
Bootlegger's (Bay Rum Mix)	Homemade	$1.43	3	88.71	$0.48	$1.61
Clubman	Sally	$6.29	12.5	369.625	$0.50	$1.70
Brut Splash-On	Base Exchange	$3.69	7	206.99	$0.53	$1.78
Master Bay Rum	Sally	$8.29	15	443.55	$0.55	$1.87
Afta - Balm	Commissary	$1.69	3	88.71	$0.56	$1.91
Skin Bracer	Commissary	$2.90	5	147.85	$0.58	$1.96
Florida Water	Walgreens	$4.39	7.5	221.775	$0.59	$1.98
Clubman VI Bay Rum	Walgreens	$7.99	12	354.84	$0.67	$2.25
Pinaud Lilac Vegetal	Walgreens	$7.99	12	354.84	$0.67	$2.25
Aqua Velva Ice Blue	Commissary	$2.69	3.5	103.495	$0.77	$2.60
Aqua Velva Musk	Commissary	$2.69	3.5	103.495	$0.77	$2.60
Brut Aftershave	Commissary	$3.99	5	147.85	$0.80	$2.70
Old Spice	Commissary	$4.38	4.25	125.6725	$1.03	$3.49
Nivea - Balm	Commissary	$3.50	3.3	97.581	$1.06	$3.59
Brut Attitude	Walmart	$7.47	3.4	100.538	$2.20	$7.43

 

[lvanarsdall]

This is great stuff. A thanks to both of you for your efforts.

 

[Luc]

Funny, AV is cheaper here than in the US...

 

[TheVez2]

Really? And my price is at the Base Commissary, which is cheaper than buying it at Walmart or just about any other place here.

 

[Arcadies]

Funny, AV is cheaper here than in the US...

I think it depends where you get it and what size packaging you get, larger being cheaper and all that.

Locally I can get a large 7oz/207ml bottle of AV for $4.32 (tax included) which is about .62 per ounce.

 

[TheVez2]

That is a killer price on AV. What is your source?

 

[Arcadies]

That is a killer price on AV. What is your source?

Walmart...granted I'm not sure if the price is still the same or not. I bought four 7oz bottles back in December when I noticed they were in stock, a rarity at my Walmart, some reason the large bottles are getting harder to find.
Anyway, they were $3.94 per bottle plus tax...which in my area is a lousy 9.75%. What I have on hand should hopefully last me at least 5-6 years or more, considering I rotate between 6-7 other aftershaves.

 

[TheVez2]

Wow! I think your Walmart had the large bottles either on rollback or mismarked for the small bottles. I've looked at several walmarts and their price on either size could never beat what I buy them for on base.

 

[buca3152]

I use unrefined shea butter or raw coco butter. I got the idea from AOS balm which has shea butter mostly and glycerin. For moisturizing, you cant beat them and scented stuff irritates me. For $10 a POUND it will last a LONG time. YMMV as I have heard some people break out using either of these, I don't though.

 

[Graeme F]

You North American chaps are very lucky indeed with those prices. Having got some samples from a UK importer, I've taken a shine to Pinaud Clubman and although I can't get prices like yours, it's still great value for money at around £3 ($4.57) per 100ml from http://www.shavingworld.com/product/132/clubman-pinaud-after-shave-lotion-16-oz473-ml.aspx

 

[Luc]

You North American chaps are very lucky indeed with those prices. Having got some samples from a UK importer, I've taken a shine to Pinaud Clubman and although I can't get prices like yours, it's still great value for money at around £3 ($4.57) per 100ml from http://www.shavingworld.com/product/132/clubman-pinaud-after-shave-lotion-16-oz473-ml.aspx

I think if you do the same exercise with your local products, it would be pretty interesting to see which AS would be your pick if you go by price. Having the price factor shown like that pushed me toward another AS...

 

[global_dev]

I can then quickly see which AS is cheap and which AS is the most expensive. The results are not what I was expecting...

i don't see what you weren't expecting. "In the end, it made me realise that what I thought was "good value" wasn't if I compare the price for the same quantity."

is it about proraso or brut or buying SBO at metro? or that buying 200ml of one thing isn't saving that much over 100ml of another?

 

[Graeme F]

That's easy - £2.49 for 125ml of Forest Fresh AS at Super drug = helluva cheap per 100ml. It's not half bad either.

 

[Luc]

i don't see what you weren't expecting. "In the end, it made me realise that what I thought was "good value" wasn't if I compare the price for the same quantity."

is it about proraso or brut or buying SBO at metro? or that buying 200ml of one thing isn't saving that much over 100ml of another?

Actually, the one that I thought was good value is not on my list.

If you look at the aftershave that I have twice, 3 times, 4 times, etc. For sure, the cheaper price is the best for that one. It depends where I go. That was not the point of the exercise. It's good to know where you can go to get a cheaper price. However, knowing that your cheaper price versus your other cheaper price = this difference is what I was looking for.

where it changes, is when I have 1 source for an Aftershave and that after shave seemed like a good deal (quantity vs performance). However, if I look at how much I'm paying for that one versus Aqua Velva or Skin Bracer, different story since it wasn't on the same scale.

 

[global_dev]

Actually, the one that I thought was good value is not on my list.

If you look at the aftershave that I have twice, 3 times, 4 times, etc. For sure, the cheaper price is the best for that one. It depends where I go. That was not the point of the exercise. It's good to know where you can go to get a cheaper price. However, knowing that your cheaper price versus your other cheaper price = this difference is what I was looking for.

where it changes, is when I have 1 source for an Aftershave and that after shave seemed like a good deal (quantity vs performance). However, if I look at how much I'm paying for that one versus Aqua Velva or Skin Bracer, different story since it wasn't on the same scale.

hmm... let me see if i can understand it a bit better.

you are saying that A/S performance related to 100ml cost can be considered an almost quantifiable unit. And when you consider that unit scale against various A/S's, it becomes obvious which is the best value. I think it's a bit in the weeds (not a bad thing, mind you) unless you have a $ ceiling you can't pass for any reason.

You weren't making that type of assessment before? I think i do it on a rough scale in my head, based on what i consider merits of A/S i enjoy. But since I don't have a hard and fast budget, i play it a bit loose. especially when the differences are such small scales.

I think 1ml of A/S I don't enjoy is a waste of money for me.... which is how i got to AdP, probably considered one of the worst A/S values out there by many.

 

[Luc]

hmm... let me see if i can understand it a bit better.

you are saying that A/S performance related to 100ml cost can be considered an almost quantifiable unit. And when you consider that unit scale against various A/S's, it becomes obvious which is the best value. I think it's a bit in the weeds (not a bad thing, mind you) unless you have a $ ceiling you can't pass for any reason.

You weren't making that type of assessment before? I think i do it on a rough scale in my head, based on what i consider merits of A/S i enjoy. But since I don't have a hard and fast budget, i play it a bit loose. especially when the differences are such small scales.

I think 1ml of A/S I don't enjoy is a waste of money for me.... which is how i got to AdP, probably considered one of the worst A/S values out there by many.

What I'm saying is that before I did the Excel spreadsheet I did not know the "normalised" cost per 100ml that aftershave.

So, aftershave A cost A, aftershave b (different quantity) cost b.

By putting AS A and B on the same scale (1ml, 100ml, etc) it gives you another variable, the exact cost factor. What seemed to be cost worthy before is now a different story.

In other words, I now have the exact information about price. I needed that excel spreadsheet to do it. Hope it clears it.