Litter Lady l May 13, 2011 l A couple weeks ago, my sister and I snagged a deal we’re pretty proud of. We both use the same pricey shampoo and conditioner, which runs around $30 per 8-ounce bottle. We know this seems like an exorbitant amount to shell out for hair products, but we attribute our addiction to struggling with years of frizzy, unmanageable hair.
Recently, my brother-in-law put a stop to my sister’s spending on these products that in reality end up being washed down the drain after you use them. My sister soon took to the Internet, desperately searching for a deal on the liquid gold. Luckily, she found an online retailer that boasted bulk sizes of the products for a pretty sweet price tag (see massive bottles below).
This bulk buy was a good decision for several reasons other Spendsters should consider before making a big purchase.
Things to Consider Before Buying in Bulk
- We knew we would use the items, because my sister and I wash our hair every day. Some spendsters, like this woman, buy in bulk just because they think they might use the item, which ends up collecting dust in the basement. Go with the one-week rule: If you’re not going to start using the item within several days of purchasing it, take it back.
- We bought sans expiration date. We knew our hair products wouldn’t go bad for a few years, but many bulk purchases come in the form of food that, even with preservatives, can go bad. Avoid finding yourself with expired edibles, like Donavan’s soda.
- Bigger was better for our wallets. We did the math and figured out that buying the 67-ounce bottles for $85 each made the hair products cost $1.26 per ounce, instead of what we used to pay ($3.75 per ounce). Many stores already have these calculations figured out for you on the price tag, so make sure you’re getting a significant deal.
- Shipping was not a deal breaker. Paying to ship heavier bulk products can cut down on the amount you’re saving by buying the bigger size. I paid $11 to get my purchases to my door, so this raised the per-ounce price by only 10 cents.
- We could have gotten an even better discount by joining the club. The website offered a membership that would have waived the shipping costs, but the membership cost extra and I knew I wouldn’t shop there enough to make it worth my buck. Before joining a club at warehouse stores such as Sam’s Club or Costco, shop on a free day when you can try out the members-only prices and consider whether the annual membership is worth it.
- We had room for the items. My new giant shampoo and conditioner bottles fit nicely on the ledge near my shower. However, if you’re buying in larger quantities, make sure you have enough room in your home. You don’t want to end up buying a storage unit like these parents.
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