One Of The Great Mysteries Of Life

[foxychick]

Why does cycle oil cost £4.00 for a 125ml bottle yet you can get a 5 litre container of chainsaw oil for £15 from screwfix? Are we being had here by these suppliers and shops?

[hamster]

Because people don't want to buy 5l of oil - it would last a lifetime and then some. And the chainsaw can doesn't have a dripper nozzle. Paint is cheaper per litre in big 20l cans - but how much cash do you want to tie up in bulk buying?

You can buy bikes cheaper if you buy a sea container full.

[mikeymo]

Because it costs money to put things in smaller bottles?

Because some retailers have bigger overheads than others?

Because it costs more money to sell many small amounts of a material than it does to sell one large amount?

Because some people don't want a 5 litre bottle of chainsaw oil cluttering up the place?

Because a 125ml bottle of oil isn't much use to somebody who runs a chain saw?

Because £4 is less than £15, and some people won't pay an extra £11 for something they'll never use?

[mikeymo]

Because people don't want to buy 5l of oil - it would last a lifetime and then some. And the chainsaw can doesn't have a dripper nozzle. Paint is cheaper per litre in big 20l cans - but how much cash do you want to tie up in bulk buying?

You can buy bikes cheaper if you buy a sea container full.

If you can get a sea container. One well know retailer here is struggling to get a container to get the frames they've had made in the far east back to the UK.

[foxychick]

You can get a litre of chain oil for £3.00.

[peetee]

Because people don't want to buy 5l of oil - it would last a lifetime and then some. And the chainsaw can doesn't have a dripper nozzle. Paint is cheaper per litre in big 20l cans - but how much cash do you want to tie up in bulk buying?

You can buy bikes cheaper if you buy a sea container full.

If you can get a sea container. One well know retailer here is struggling to get a container to get the frames they've had made in the far east back to the UK.

I have just had an email from one of my bike parts wholesale companies in which they state, and I quote:
With the ongoing Covid-19 situation and also Brexit changes at the ports, stock is not only being delayed but shipping costs for containers have jumped on average from £2,000 to £10,000.

[mikeymo]

You can get a litre of chain oil for £3.00.

Go for it. It sounds like a better deal than the rip-off £4 for 125ml cycle oil. Mystery solved.

[bgnukem]

I tried chainsaw oil for a while but went back to Finishline cross country.

The chainsaw oil has good resistance to being flung off the chain, as you'd expect, and seemed to have good film strength based on nothing more scientific than rubbing it between my fingers, but it was a bit too gloopy and attractive to dirt IME. The chain got gunked up more often with it on, rather like engine oil.

[gregoryoftours]

Why does cycle oil cost £4.00 for a 125ml bottle yet you can get a 5 litre container of chainsaw oil for £15 from screwfix? Are we being had here by these suppliers and shops?

£4 for 125ml sounds like an absolute bargain!

[Paulatic]

5l of chainsaw lasts me a few years and it isn’t all used on the chainsaw. I mix it 1 part to 4 parts white spirit for the bikes.
Around 20 yrs ago I bought 25l of two stroke oil at the same price of 5 x 500 ml from the Garage. Still a lot left and will see me out.

[fastpedaller]

I tried chainsaw oil for a while but went back to Finishline cross country.

The chainsaw oil has good resistance to being flung off the chain, as you'd expect, and seemed to have good film strength based on nothing more scientific than rubbing it between my fingers, but it was a bit too gloopy and attractive to dirt IME. The chain got gunked up more often with it on, rather like engine oil.

The one I bought said on the bottle "Anti-fling". It wasn't....... ended up all over the chainstay and seatstay. I'll give the remains to my neighbour who uses a chainsaw, and listen for the swearing

[Beagler]

I have a chainsaw and if I leave the chainsaw oil on it it goos it up that much that it goes solid. I always spray the chain with GT85 when leaving it for long periods.