Stihl Motomix- stores the same as Aspen?

[outonalimb]

I would like to make it clear that I am in no way accusing the retailers in the UK of profiteering but until someone from Aspen can show me the underlying manufacturing costs (not likely to happen anytime soon) I will remain very skeptical about the price.

[GardenKit]

I would like to make it clear that I am in no way accusing the retailers in the UK of profiteering but until someone from Aspen can show me the underlying manufacturing costs (not likely to happen anytime soon) I will remain very skeptical about the price.

Its quite obvious none of us, including dealers like myself are ever going to know the manufacturing costs, but try to think of it this way.

 

Aspen buy in the Alkylate fuel in tankers from the few refineries that have the expensive alkylation facilities, so not only do they have a quite high cost for their raw material, but also transportation and storage costs.

 

They then blend the raw alkylate to make their Aspen fuel. the blends are different according to the climate of the end market. I have visited the plant and seen this firsthand. Their investment is huge.

 

The bulk Aspen is then packaged on automated lines into 1 litre, 5 litre, 25 litre (not for UK) and 200 litre containers, or distributed in bulk to stations in Sweden.

 

The sealed 5 l containers are shrinkwrapped in 3's then palletised for distribution by road and sea to the UK where they are stored in a bonded warehouse before onward distribution to dealers by road.

 

The dealer then stores it in fire rated cabinets for retail to end users.

 

So assuming the dealer wants to make a profit, which of course he does, and if that profit were as little as £3.00 per can (60p per litre) then by the time the dealer has taken his 60p and the taxman has taken the fuel duty and the VATman has had his 20% then the price per litre is already the £1.44 out of the £1.50 you want to pay.

 

But then Aspen UK (Anglo American Oil) want to make a bit for their trouble, the haulage company wants to charge for distribution within the UK, and the Swedish haulage company wants to earn a few bob for shipping it to the UK and the Ferry wants a couple of quid to bring the lorry over the wet stuff.

 

And I am willing to bet that Aspen Sweden need some money to run their plant and pay their staff, as well as a quid or two to buy the raw alkylate from the oil companies.

 

Get the picture?

 

I am amazed its not more expensive.

[outonalimb]

I really hadn't realized what philanthropists Aspen were.