Grumble about MDF prices

Went into the local hardware store today to buy some MDF for making a mould for a resin bowl (see thread in Woodturning-General). Anyway, I couldn't believe their pricing structure. It really is "craft wood" isn't - i.e. made for people without a clue...

There were boards that were almost identical size (one was 16mm thick, one was 18mm thick) - the smaller one was 2/3rds of the price. Then the really stupid thing was there were boards which were 450mmx900mmx18mm which actually cost more than boards which were 600mmx900mmx18mm... :confused:

Considering I was just going to chop it up and laminate it I wasn't fussed and just went for the cheapest one for volume of material - but really, it was all just a bit ridiculous. I probably spent 5 minutes just trying to figure out why the pricing appeared weird (was I missing something) - simple answer, stupid pricing scheme.

I am sure that there is a logical explanation to this, such as supply and demand, but REALLY...

Cam

I could only assume that the manufacturer has to make more cuts to create the smaller boards therefore the labour costs are higher ?

Full sheet (2400x1200) prices make more sense in that a 12mm board will be cheaper than a 16mm than a 18mm etc.

Yeah, but material costs will be lower and the price difference was more what I was talking about. There appeared to be no consistency. Boards of the same size but different thicknesses sometimes the thicker board was cheaper... The prices really did look like someone had just randomly made them up as they saw fit.

If all boards of size XXX by YYY were about Z% more than boards that were AAA by BBB then it would make sense, but the pricing really was all over the place. :confused:

Cam

I suspect that one or more of the following are creating the situation that Cam has described:
1. shop assistant error - some people don't really seem to care whether what they do is right or not - 16mm and 18mm are almost the same, as are 450mm and 600mm, aren't they.
2. pricing changes over time and stock not being properly rotated so old stock is sold first.
3. supply from different suppliers with differing pricing structures (each logical within themselves, but not directly comparable with each other).

As always, remember that if facts are equally consistent with a stuff up and a conspiracy, 99 times out of 100, IT'S A STUFFUP.

Bigger boards are more common, more produced therefore cheaper????
Like buying a six pack, two six packs are almost the same price as a slab but people still buy a sixer on a daily basis, I often wonder why.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Iain

people still buy a sixer on a daily basis, I often wonder why.

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'Cause if all you've got is six then that's all you can drink. :p ;) :D

I used to work with a bloke who drank a slab a day, and on weekends two a day.
He also reckoned he didn't have a drinking problem, bloke was a complete asrehole too...............
His Father died and left him sever hundred thousand $$$$$$$, he bought a pub:D :D :D :D :D
Went broke in about a year:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Iain

......people still buy a sixer on a daily basis, I often wonder why.

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Worked with a guy once who readily admitted that he had a drinking problem. When he was talking to me about it once, he described his problem as "one's too many and six is not enough". Like craigb said, if you've only got six then that is all you can drink. It is a way of controlling consumption for those who know they won't be able to control their consumption once they have that first one.

Regards,
Mirboo.

You need to find someone to whom MDF is a waste product!

My inlaws get their door blanks with a slab of MDF on the top & bottom.
These sheets are 18 mm to 30 mm thick - whatever was on hand when the doors were being churned out.

They toss these out as rubbish. Heck, they even pay someone to take them away.

I'm sure there are other industries who receive their raw sheet product protected by scrap MDF.

You can imagine how I feel, wandering through Bunnies looking at $$$ for 600 x 900 x 9mm !!!

Cheers,
Andrew

Well, if anyone in Tassie is throwing away the stuff, let me know. That being said, I don't have much use for it usually. This is just an unusual task...

Cam

Also look for a board supplier.
The pallets of MDF are brought in with the top board used as a sacrifial piece which is then thrown away.
Also look for "out of spec" orders, which are sold at 50%, or less, of normal price.

Maybe its the glue fumes from the MDF are affecting the staff? :D

Firstly 16mm mdf is the commodity item that is what is made & sold in the largest volume. It is not unreasonable to expect to wangle a better price on 16mm.

You are talking a hardware shop here too.

If you want a better price go to a board supplier... where the cabinet makers shop. My board supplier is quite happy to sell one sheet.

board suppliers are also the ones who will have packer sheets, some will give them away mine sells them for $10 a sheet, some of the packers I have snaged have been just fine once you trim the corners off.

If you are fishing for off cuts try a coffin maker. A sheet is 2400... people are usualy arround 1800. lots of off cuts

cheers

Ahhh. Good ideas.

Thanks Soundman. It looks like I have some more phonebook surfing to do.

Greenie on its way...

Cam

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CameronPotter

Went into the local hardware store today to buy some MDF for making a mould for a resin bowl (see thread in Woodturning-General). Anyway, I couldn't believe their pricing structure. It really is "craft wood" isn't - i.e. made for people without a clue...

There were boards that were almost identical size (one was 16mm thick, one was 18mm thick) - the smaller one was 2/3rds of the price. Then the really stupid thing was there were boards which were 450mmx900mmx18mm which actually cost more than boards which were 600mmx900mmx18mm... :confused:

Considering I was just going to chop it up and laminate it I wasn't fussed and just went for the cheapest one for volume of material - but really, it was all just a bit ridiculous. I probably spent 5 minutes just trying to figure out why the pricing appeared weird (was I missing something) - simple answer, stupid pricing scheme.

I am sure that there is a logical explanation to this, such as supply and demand, but REALLY...

Cam

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sorry for reviving this thread, but i had this crazy mdf pricing issue a few days ago at bunnings.

Purchased two full sheets of 6mm-16mm mdf, as the sales guy was writting up my ticket, just happened to look at the 18mm mdf price.

ie 4 cents more a sheet than the 16mm mdf lol, good news is the manager gave me 30 bucks off total price.

HJ0 bunnies makes me laugh, while keeping me a little richer