I go through about 1.5 liters of soda a day and have tired of bringing new bottles into work each week. I can feel the receptionist judging me as I walk by with a armload of 2 liter bottles although, being a receptionist, she is judging me regardless.

The setup is simple and operation easy. Here are my thoughts:

  • The notion of “fresh” soda is alien to me. Some things don’t get better fresh. I don’t care about fresh sugar, rice, nice or oatmeal, nor do I care about fresh soda.
  • I’m a procedure person and the quality of bottle to bottle seems hard to keep.
  • I do like the ability to adjust the level of carbonation.
  • Most of the flavors are just far enough off to what they emulate that it’s a bit too ersatz for me.
  • The exception to the above is “Diet Energy” which is a spot on copy Red Bull for about 1/10th the price per serving.
  • The fruity flavors lack in fruitiness.

The cost effectiveness for most of the regular flavors is debatable as a serving clocks in at about 55 cents per liter.  This is only a bit below the 66 cents per liter I pay for name brand when purchased in quantity while on sale and is well above what I would pay for a store brand at around 44 cents a liter.  Iced tea runs me about 35 cents a liter and bottled water 32.  I’m paying for convenience EXCEPT in the case of Diet Energy which is ludicrously cost effective.

I needed around 150 eye droppers to make Cartesian divers for my Webelos weekend.  I checked with a scientific supply house to see if they had any.  They were out of 144 packs but still had 12 packs of which I was able to purchase 12.  I wanted to see if I could get the 144 price which was 20% less so I called:

Me:  I see you’re out of 144 packs of medical droppers.  Can I just get 12 12 packs and have it rung up as a 144 pack?
Service Person: No, we’re out of stock of 144 packs and combining 12 12 packs would not be the same as there’s more packaging involved.
Me: But it’s the same number of medical droppers.  Do you have a bulk discount program?
Service Person: Yes, special orders placed with a quantity greater than 11 receive a discount.
Me: How much is that discount?
Service Person: 20%
Me: So I can’t get it listed as a 144 pack but I can buy 12 packs in the same quantity and get 20% off bringing it to the exact same price?
Service Person: Yes, I’m sorry that’s the best I can do.
Me: …. I’ll live.