Sure, they're geared to bulk buying.
I can buy one bag of soil and the guy behind me will order 2 dump trucks full.
But still, I live in Humboldt County and we have businesses here that are geared towards being competitive. The more I look the more I find that I already stock or use at my store, but so much cheaper than any other source. Next time I'm there I'll give myself an hour, maybe bring a beer.
That bag of Fox Farm Ocean Forest costs me $11. Local plant stores $17.99. Back east I've heard $30. Between me and the store I probably buy 10-15 per year, so it adds up.
Bulk pots 1/3 the price of Amazon or local nurseries.
Pond planter baskets the same.
Plants trays and humidity domes.
Expanded clay balls, close to $3 lb from my supplier WITH a 38% discount, .70 cents lb in a 50lb bag.
Pressure sprayer about 1/3 the cost ( we use them to mist the reptiles and plants) compared to the hardware store. We go through about 3 a year since we use them so often the seals go bad.
Flat plastic thingies to jot a price and stock number with Sharpie and shove in the soil, 80% cheaper than anyone else.
I assume most have different pricing tiers depending on the customer (manager's my buddy so I'm sitting pretty good), but might be worth checking out depending on where you live.
Even better, now I've got him and his employees coming to us to buy carnivorous plants we're growing in the same humidity domes I bought from them! Mostly sundews, everyone seems to love them.
