December 26, 2013
18th entry, Brienzwiler
How annoying to suddenly learn that oil-based paint is only available in little tubes of 290 ml at a max. As a long-time and always faithful customer actually very annoying to be brushed off by sales clerks with the argument that large amounts (in five kilo canisters) are not in demand anymore. The manufacturer is just not interested in producing larger quantities because there is not enough money to be made. Why can’t they produce tubes of 290 ml and of 500 and 1000 ml as well? The drying out of an opened tube would not be as bad as it is today with the five kilo canister. It seems to me that it is just a question of goodwill.
This is how the costs compare: A canister of five kilo oil paint costs 196 Swiss francs. A tube of 290 ml costs 25 Swiss francs. 17 tubes equal 4.93 kilos at a cost of 425 Swiss francs. This is an additional cost of 229 francs. You might call it a concealed markup. All I can do now is to point this out to my art supplier and complain a lot. I am making a lot of calls and I am looking for remaining stock of five kilo canisters in shades of yellow abroad. God knows there are more pleasant things to do with my time. We are living in the 21. Century and starting in 2014 it will not be possible to purchase chromatic oil-based paints in quantities larger than 290 ml. Except – how else could it be – in black and white.
Happy New Year!