128 replies to this topic

[David]

have you ever tried saying to your local fireworks supplier "I've seen this at XYZ Supermarket, what can you do for me?"

Not everyone lives near an all year round fireworks shop. There are none at all in the Manchester, Liverpool and Central Lancashire area. Also if you live in the North East there isn't a single all year round fireworks shop. If you live in somewhere like Hexham, Alnwick or Morpeth your only option around bonfire night is the supermarket or the newsagent.

As for me, I am happy to travel the country to visit fireworks shops- I love it. But for many people that simply isn't a viable option.

[W.P]

Of course year round firework suppliers are there to make money, no one ever suggested they weren't but to suggest that we are ALL in business to make a fast buck is insulting.

Did I lie? Taking risk is how to make money. If a shop owner forks out £500 and SOLELY relies on selling fireworks then it's not the customers responsibility to financially aid them.

Supplying fireworks all year around means that we develop a knowledge of our products and can better help our customers choose fireworks that are best suited to them, try doing that in Lidl.

But, am I a customer who still believes that fireworks use smokeless powder in salutes? No. We all here have a much greater understanding of fireworks than the general public thus we naturally can tell what fireworks would be of better quality and what suits us better- brand name or no brand name. When it comes to knowing what fireworks are best, google searches and looking at the Consumer fireworks section of this site is sufficient so we do not need this extra service supplied by dedicated suppliers.

Also the inference that a supermarket is automatically cheaper, or indeed that a year round supplier is DOUBLE the price is just incorrect . I'm not saying you should pay more for your fireworks but have you ever tried saying to your local fireworks supplier "I've seen this at XYZ Supermarket, what can you do for me?" you may be suprised!

But did you not earlier say this: "pricing my arse" therefore inferring that the prices WERE higher in dedicated pyrosuppliers? You seem to be missing my point, at no point did I say the quality of service is better than in supermarkets, I simply referred to the price of the products on sale. You seemed to be making up some story about being loyal to firework suppliers therefore inferring that we should spend extra money to pay for the same product just because they offer us service we do not need.

[David]

Just a general point, not refering directly to anything anyone said. I don't think its correct to make the generalisation that supermarkets are cheaper than fireworks shops.

Some supermarkets are very over priced (most obviously Tesco), and some fireworks shops offer genuine deals and discounts etc.

[Rip Rap]

Also if you live in the North East there isn't a single all year round fireworks shop.

There is one opening today for all year sales in Darlington - http://www.21stcenturyfireworks.co.uk - their website offers a decent all round selection. I am going to try to get there sometime this week.

[pmhcfc]

Just a general point, not refering directly to anything anyone said. I don't think its correct to make the generalisation that supermarkets are cheaper than fireworks shops.

Some supermarkets are very over priced (most obviously Tesco), and some fireworks shops offer genuine deals and discounts etc.

But isn't the whole point the fact that supermarkets are designed to a specific 'audience' - How many 'serious' firework lovers are going to get their whole selection from a supermarket? Not many of us on here for a start. I've already got mine for this year, did so two weeks ago. Ok I had to travel 100 miles to the nearest decent (all year round) supplier, but I'm already to go and also got an unbelievable deal on my 'stash'.

If you want to see the business the supermarkets do on their selection boxes, then pop into one of them on Friday the 2nd or Sat the 3rd, the queues will be huge and the supermarket will be doing a roaring trade. People think because the supermarkets do such good deals on the shopping items, then their firework selection boxes naturally follow suit. These are purely for the firework 'likers'...A nice pretty little selection of fountains with the odd mine thrown in..I have bought fireworks from supermarkets in the past - purely for a few top ups - and the one's I'd truly recommend would be the Black Mamba rockets from Morrison's. They are £24 for 5, but at least they are a decent rocket.

[David]

But isn't the whole point the fact that supermarkets are designed to a specific 'audience'

Yes, I agree with pretty much everything you said!

I was in Morrisons today, their stuff looks pretty lame. They are selling selection boxes at highly inflated prices, then doing it as an eternal (IE its never NOT) "Buy one get one free." I wonder why anyone would want an identical selection, when the stuff is so "samey" to begin with? I guess people are just a bit gullible. Somerfield are even worse- I think their box is £19.99 buy one get one free.

Morrisons top box is £45 with some rockets and a couple of cakes "free". The biggest items in the box are a 19 shot cake and a 32 shot cake, which would retail for about £1.99 - £2.99 each.

[pmhcfc]

Yes, I agree with pretty much everything you said!

I was in Morrisons today, their stuff looks pretty lame. They are selling selection boxes at highly inflated prices, then doing it as an eternal (IE its never NOT) "Buy one get one free." I wonder why anyone would want an identical selection, when the stuff is so "samey" to begin with?

Simple really-- You get two selection boxes for, say, £20 and do a deal with a mate or friend...They give you £10, you give them a selection box and you're both 'happy' (cough cough)

Edited by pmhcfc, 15 October 2007 - 11:02 AM.

[W.P]

But isn't the whole point the fact that supermarkets are designed to a specific 'audience' - How many 'serious' firework lovers are going to get their whole selection from a supermarket? Not many of us on here for a start. I've already got mine for this year, did so two weeks ago. Ok I had to travel 100 miles to the nearest decent (all year round) supplier, but I'm already to go and also got an unbelievable deal on my 'stash'.

No it wasn't, the whole point was this idea of "loyalty" to dedicated dealers.

Edited by W.P, 15 October 2007 - 06:11 PM.

[David]

As I've always said, I think firework shops are best- and I personally do choose to buy from them over supermarkets.

But if you are limited to supermarkets, or simply choose to buy from them, the best I've seen, all things considered, is the Aldi boxes. For £10 you get an angled multi fountain, 2 multiple tube Roman candles, 2 roman candles, two starburst barrages, and some fountains, including the titchy but great fun "Fritz Flintstone" . Straight pricing, too, (IE non of this buy one get one "free" flim flam) and from a well respected German brand.

Edited by David, 15 October 2007 - 08:44 PM.

[W.P]

But if you are limited to supermarkets, or simply choose to buy from them, the best I've seen, all things considered, is the Aldi boxes. For £10 you get an angled multi fountain, 2 multiple tube Roman candles, 2 roman candles, two starburst barrages, and some fountains, including the titchy but great fun "Fritz Flintstone" . Straight pricing, too, (IE non of this buy one get one "free" flim flam) and from a well respected German brand.

And Aldi is exactly where I'm heading to on Thursday + Next Thursday. The box you described, any particular name for it?

[Asteroid]

I saw the aldi catalogue too, and it looks like a fantastic selection, especially the £4.99 cyberbox selection, and others!

[David]

I went into Sainsburys , very poor. They have Standard Fireworks, £10 -£40 boxes- just the same very average stuff. They also have a few barrages, I think they come free with selection boxes.

People might buy Standard out of nostalgia, thinking it is a grand old British brand. For those who don't know, it was bought out by Black Cat in the 90s.

It simply isn't the same stuff we remember from the past- different country of manufacture, different ownership- above all different style fireworks.

I saw the aldi catalogue too, and it looks like a fantastic selection

Its certainly good value, but the selection itself is poor- even in the small box they double up on most things- although maybe the idea is you fire in pairs?

I guess it depends on your budget- if you are doing a small back garden display then it should be OK, but anything bigger and there simply isn't the variety on sale at Aldi. Just for example- Men shun do no less than 14 little barrages- all noticably different- in the £1.99 to £2.99 range.

Edited by David, 18 October 2007 - 03:17 AM.

[Prestonboi]

The Morrisons leaflets for anyone interested:

[David]

Another one to avoid- Brothers "Helter Skelter" 5 , thats right 5 fireworks, all of which are lame and tame fountains, in large hollow cardboard cases. For £10.

As for the Morrisons stuff above , remember that the Brass Monkey, Silver Tiger and Golden Dragon boxes arn't worth £10, £25, and £35. They are about as good as stuff that sells for HALF that price- but you do get one " free." EG Brass Monkey (£10) is very similar to Lidls £5 box- its the same brand.

I know I've said this before, but I must admit I hate "buy one get one free" trickery. Morrisons are one of the worst for it, too.

As for the rest of the stuff-

Eruption is very good indeed, and the bigger cakes look OK- but still- such a limited selection.

Edited by David, 18 October 2007 - 08:57 PM.

[David]

A few updates-

Co-op- Average Standard Stuff.

Netto- Actually, not bad- its the old Astra brand, now owned by Cosmic- selection boxes start at £3.99- so much better than this Buy on get one free £10 nonsence.