What is cheaper?

There are a lot of intelligent people in this world. But not everyone has everything in their skill set. I for example can't cook. Something doesn't click with it. I want to, but I just don't get it. Some people are the same with analysing value.

I've been in retail for many many years, mainly in furniture, and I've had some excellent clients, but it's easier to remember the crazy ones. "Your competitor is having a 50% off sale". "Erm, yes ma'am they are, but their regular price is $1000 and ours is $490..." "Well unless you're willing to do 50% off then I'm shopping at your competitor". (Sears used to love this trick. I worked both for and against them, and the artificial mark-ups they did so they could trick people about a "sale" was incredible. There is a reason they're out of business btw)

This is something we see a little bit here too. Thankfully the construction industry isn't afflicted by the "sale" mentality, but a surprising amount of people still don't get the idea of value. 

Spectralock 1 is a prime example. It's grout. It's premixed. And It's $153.60 for a 1 gallon pail. That's a lot right?! I mean, you can go to Lowes or Home Depot and get some grout for like $10. So that's cheaper. 

Well no it's not. What's "cheaper" about it. Sure, if you've got $10 in your pocket, then that's your only option (actually it's not because bizarrely in Canada we still don't include the tax on the advertised price). But if you really add it up and think about it then it actually gets quite expensive in the long run. 

At the risk of this blog becoming a regurgitation of my collage economic course, price is only one factor of value and what is "cheaper".

Spectralock 1 is much easier to work with that a lesser grout. It's much stronger. It's much faster to work with. It's going to last longer. It's going to be easier to clean since it's so stain resistant. It's going to be better.

Your a contractor? Your time matters. Your reputation matters. And compared to the bill you're sending the client, this $150 is a relatively small amount. 

Your a home owner? We then make it easier on yourself. You don't have to worry about staining. You don't have to worry about redoing the grout in a few years time. This is going to look good for years to come. 

A $10 bag wont.

So there you go. 

What is cheaper anyway?