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I was wondering if anyone could share their thoughts on Orchidland True Value/general store. After Malama and Ace closed, I find myself needing some soil, propane and a few other items. I head over to Orchidland because I did not feel like dealing with all the traffic just to go to Keeau and I could not believe my eyes.
The last time I filled propane, I got it filled for just under $20. Orchidland is charging $5.80 a gallon?
The last time I bought a bale of Promix soil, it was $48. Orchidland is charging $62.50.
When it was all said and done for a few more items I would have spent almost $40 more than I would have in Pahoa. Is this the norm up there? It doesn't seem right. Those are huge jumps in price compared to competitors.
If this is the norm, how do they generate enough revenue to stay open? Are there that many people with that much money to blow coming out of Orchidland to justify those prices?
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Vote with your feet. Go elsewhere and tell everyone you know...
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Orchidland Store has always had high prices. Nothing new. It's a great place to go when all you need is one screw (16 cents last week) If ice cream is a must, you'll generally pay almost 10$ for Dryers. (2 for 5$ last week at Foodland) Hilo is the only option for regular shopping unless you don't have transportation. Then, Orchidland gets your $...
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I just filled my two 23 gallon tanks yesterday afternoon at Pahoa Battery. $4.32 per gallon. Orchidland has always been high on propane.
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Vote with your feet. Go elsewhere and tell everyone you know...
It's almost as if the lack of commercial development has become a problem.
Good thing we can all still Drive To Hilo.
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Pro Mix is a MUST ?
I mean right now must have?
Propane has always been super high there .
We stop in there maybe 2 times a year if that.
make your list of things you may run out of,a week or two prior and when you make that Hilo run,get all in Hilo.
Shop smart and with your own wallet in mind.
They stay open because you MUST have your Pro mix RIGHT NOW.
Hara/Sako store has cheaper promix.
We just filled a 5 gallon bottle of propane in Hilo for $18.84.We get senior discount of 10 Percent.
Plan ahead,shop smart.
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They stay open because you MUST have your Pro mix RIGHT NOW.
Well, yeah. If you leave the grow operation unattended for too long, rippers will come.
LMAO Kalakoa, you are going to make some defend their lettuce and tomato operations. On a more serious note though the price gouging is real and affects many locally. Pro-mix is used by many of our local farmers that sell their produce at our local farmers markets. Why has the price of pro-mix gone up so much in the past 5 years or so? Pro-mix is a must when you have 50 treys to start every 3 days or when you want to grow lettuce up off the ground away from the dangerous Puna slugs. Why doesn't our local mining companies like Stanford's or brysons offer homemade soils equivalent or better to pro-mix at an even cheaper price? Or do they and most farmers are not aware?
Puna is in the middle of an on going disaster and most are trying to learn to live with these possible changes to an even more rural district than before. Yet millions of aid dollars are being spent on gravel, power lines and poles, while the costs of such importance to feed our local community and welcomed tourists only go up in price. Things like pro-mix, propane and solar should be offered affordable in this area during such times as these. Maybe take a few million from the up keep to the new tourists gravel roadways and proportion it to our biggest produce farmers to help them continue growing organic healthy foods at reasonable prices for our local consumers.
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What is the price of Pro-mix at Pahoa Feed? They are still open.
Speaking of Pahoa Feed - when is Smokey Joe's going to be open? Or has he gone for good?
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Free market. As in you are free to shop elsewhere...
