Is my math wrong on this?

[PTmowerMech]

I was thinking about getting a 55 gallon drum of Stens 10w-40. My price shows $1,395.63. That's 220qts, right?
$1395.63 divided by 220 = $6.34 per quart. (+shipping)
But if you buy them by the case (32oz bottles), it's only $5.27 per quart.

If my math is right, you're losing money by buying the big drum.

 

[sgkent]

you get the drum. We used to buy a drum and then a truck would come by and charge us by the gallon only for the oil when they refilled it.

 

[bertsmobile1]

I was thinking about getting a 55 gallon drum of Stens 10w-40. My price shows $1,395.63. That's 220qts, right?
$1395.63 divided by 220 = $6.34 per quart. (+shipping)
But if you buy them by the case (32oz bottles), it's only $5.27 per quart.

If my math is right, you're losing money by buying the big drum.

I don't know how the marketing goes in the USA but at least once every 2 years Stens do an oil special , often down to 1/2 price so that is when I buy my oil .
I get SAE 30 mower oil directly from the refiner / blender in 44's ( 202 L or 222 quarts )
It is around 5% more expensive that way but I pay cash for it thus it does not appear on my inventory
Down here the tax department look at your oil use & consider every X litre of oil = Y number of services = $ Z dollars of income
So my inventory only shows the 10w40 honda oil
Mostly I buy in 5 gallon drums with a tap and use very long neck measuring jugs to fill the mowers which means I can avoid using funnels

As for the old drums, I get $20 to $ 40 at the gate for them .
Two are kept for dirty oil that I take to the recyclers every year or so and swap them for empties .

 

[ILENGINE]

@PTmowerMech Actually what you are seeing is very common. It has been the norm to be able to purchase quart bottles cheaper than 5 gallon or 55 gallon drums for several years. Or at least for the common person. maybe different if you purchase a few thousand gallon a year like auto dealership and oil change places will.

 

[PTmowerMech]

you get the drum. We used to buy a drum and then a truck would come by and charge us by the gallon only for the oil when they refilled it.

It's a dollar a quart cheaper to buy the case of quart bottles. You can get 18 cases, that's the 220 quarts (or 55 gallons) for $1160. That's $235 cheaper than the drum.
I guess I need to look into how much an oil company would refill my drums. I'm kind of sold on the zinc content in Stens.

And you don't have to dish out $1,400 at once.

 

[PTmowerMech]

@PTmowerMech Actually what you are seeing is very common. It has been the norm to be able to purchase quart bottles cheaper than 5 gallon or 55 gallon drums for several years. Or at least for the common person. maybe different if you purchase a few thousand gallon a year like auto dealership and oil change places will.

Several years ago, I used to smoke Winston lights. The Murphy's USA was always the cheapest in town. So one day, I'm standing in line to by a carton, and I noticed the price of a carton was actually more than just buying 10 packs. So when I got to the counter, I asked for 10 packs. The lady says you mean a carton? So I explained it was $2 cheaper for 10 packs than by the carton. She seemed a little rattled that someone figured that out.

 

[Hammermechanicman]

I did the same thing. I just buy the 10w-30 by the case of quarts. Upside is it helps getting orders over the $150 for free shipping. I use well over 100 quarts a year so i am buying a case a month.
A local auto repair shop swithched to quarts because he can mail order cheaper than having the oil company truck deliver oil in bulk.

 

[StarTech]

I was thinking about getting a 55 gallon drum of Stens 10w-40. My price shows $1,395.63. That's 220qts, right?
$1395.63 divided by 220 = $6.34 per quart. (+shipping)
But if you buy them by the case (32oz bottles), it's only $5.27 per quart.

If my math is right, you're losing money by buying the big drum.

First you probably looking at Stens 051-616 [55 gal] which Lucas Synthetic 10w30. Now the Stens 770-133 [55 gal] Conv 10-30 oil is much lower @ about $3.32 / qt.

Hmmm my Stens price on the case of oil [Stens 770-132] is only $3.88 / qt but I am probably on a better discount plan. But I don't use conventional oil any more for my customers mowers. I am paying around 5.40 / qt for Mobile One 15w50 synthetic.

Beside I have two problems if I got 55 gallon drum. One I have place to store them. Second I would need a pump to get the oil out. Those 5 qt jugs are easier to store on the shelf. I only purchase 40 qts so far this year. Beside shipping is probably a killer too.

 

[ILENGINE]

First you probably looking at Stens 051-616 [55 gal] which Lucas Synthetic 10w30. Now the Stens 770-133 [55 gal] Conv 10-30 oil is much lower @ about $3.32 / qt.

Hmmm my Stens price on the case of oil [Stens 770-132] is only $3.88 / qt but I am probably on a better discount plan. But I don't use conventional oil any more for my customers mowers. I am paying around 5.40 / qt for Mobile One 15w50 synthetic.

Beside I have two problems if I got 55 gallon drum. One I have place to store them. Second I would need a pump to get the oil out. Those 5 qt jugs are easier to store on the shelf. I only purchase 40 qts so far this year. Beside shipping is probably a killer too.

Even when the front side price on the 55 gallon drum looks appealing you need or in this case @PTmowerMech also will need to consider what the LTL freight on the barrel of oil will cost. And being 55 gallon and not 54 falls under different hazmat requirements.

 

[PTmowerMech]

First you probably looking at Stens 051-616 [55 gal] which Lucas Synthetic 10w30. Now the Stens 770-133 [55 gal] Conv 10-30 oil is much lower @ about $3.32 / qt.

Hmmm my Stens price on the case of oil [Stens 770-132] is only $3.88 / qt but I am probably on a better discount plan. But I don't use conventional oil any more for my customers mowers. I am paying around 5.40 / qt for Mobile One 15w50 synthetic.

Beside I have two problems if I got 55 gallon drum. One I have place to store them. Second I would need a pump to get the oil out. Those 5 qt jugs are easier to store on the shelf. I only purchase 40 qts so far this year. Beside shipping is probably a killer too.

You're right. While searching and scrolling, I got ahead of myself. Almost $4 per quart.
Space is definitely an issue with me too, now.