The economics of hybrid diapers is broken

[dannic]

If t is trolling, isn't the best thing to just walk (click) away and ignore? Here's my naivete coming out: I had to search google for what trolling is, lol. I live in a happy place. (where everyone loves cloth diapers)

[TooBusyBearcubs]

Also, if your intent was maybe to indirectly send a message to the manufacturers, you won't really be successful here, since most of the diaper gurus on DiaperSwappers are Work-At-Home-Moms who make GORGEOUS diapers, not really the bigwigs of the hybrid companies. Everybody else is a cloth loving mama or daddy.

[JeDeeLenae]

Originally Posted by kbstanley3 Also, no one can rip you off if you choose not to buy their product. =) There are plenty of other options out there to use for diapering needs.

Completely agree. Not everyone does this for economics

Sent from my SGH-T959V using DS Forum

[ALNaturMom]

Originally Posted by blakesdad Hi, we have been using disposable diapers for our 1-week old son. Looking at them, the sheer wastefulness is staggering: not only do we throw away a dozen diapers every day, but those diapers are usually only a little bit soiled in terms of both area dirtied and what they're soiled with (ie urine is not that big a deal). So, we had this bright idea: use cloth diapers. But it quickly came up that we did not want to be burdened with washing endless poopy diapers just to be less wasteful. A little research later, and I found the product I thought would solve both problems: hybrid diapers. Less waste, roughly the same amount of work, and - because you're buying a small insert instead of the whole diaper - lower cost. What could go wrong? Well, as it turns out, hybrid diapers make no sense. Let's take a look at their sorted prices (diaperjunction.com): Huggies disposable diapers: $.28 each Flip Diaper inserts: $.31 each Grovia Biosoakers: $.38 each gDiaper Biodegradables: $.40 each The kicker is, of course, that not only are the hybrid inserts more expensive, but there are also other costs, such as the original holding diaper which costs as much as 50+ disposables itself, plus the detergent, water, and other costs of actually using the hybrids. Now, I ask you, why would I pay more for something which gives me less? Not only is the product literally less material and craftsmanship, but it offers less utility in that I would now be washing the holding diaper and doing the work of putting in and removing the insert, whereas the disposable you just toss. For the privilege of doing more work, and getting less product, I'm going to pay more? That is totally bonkers. The economics of hybrid diapers are fundamentally flawed. Cloth diapers, of course, over the long haul are cheaper by 90% than disposable. If you're willing to do all the poopy laundry for ~2 years and assign your labor and sensibility no value, that is. Hybrid diapers, however, are priced so irrationally it's now no surprise that I've never once seen them on the shelves in a store - why would any consumer buy them? The answer of course is that the product is entirely targeted at "yuppies" and "greenies" and other hypothetical consumers who the businesses in question believe to be devoid of any money sense or who are willing to pay more just to get some vague sense of eased conscience. That's sad really, because as I said, I was initially interested in the product precisely because I am environmentally conscious and wanted to do the right thing. But being ripped off by some company because they think I'm foolish enough to whimsically part ways with my money is insulting. Inserts should be $.15-.20 each, maximum. I'm looking forward to buying them at that time. In the meantime, I look forward to seeing what possible rational explanation there could be from someone who has actually bought some of these and doesn't consider them a poor deal. Anyone care to defend this gross fleecing of not only the consumer, but also the planet, by incentivizing us to choose continuing purchase of wasteful diapers over enriching a corporation who believes we will pay them more profit to not have a guilty conscience?

You should check out the Thrifty section. There are people who cloth diaper from birth through potty training for $100-$300. Your entire post comes across as bitter and angry. You don't have to agree with the choices of others. If you don't like hybrids, then don't buy any. We stick to prefolds for the cost and ease of washing them, and have some all-in-ones for the convenience factor. We started cloth diapering when our oldest developed food allergies at 1 month old. He would have explosive mucousy poops that would blow out of all disposable brands. The only thing that held the poop in was a prefold with a tight jellyroll and a Bummis super whisper wrap, or a Bumgenius all-in-one. If you want to look at our economics, look at the ruined $60 boutique outfits that were gifts from his grandmother from when he wore disposables that couldn't keep the poop inside the diaper. Cloth diapers are cheaper than a ruined wardrobe of fabrics that weren't made for poop.

[Kabuki24]

Originally Posted by blakesdad Hi, we have been using disposable diapers for our 1-week old son. Looking at them, the sheer wastefulness is staggering: not only do we throw away a dozen diapers every day, but those diapers are usually only a little bit soiled in terms of both area dirtied and what they're soiled with (ie urine is not that big a deal). So, we had this bright idea: use cloth diapers. But it quickly came up that we did not want to be burdened with washing endless poopy diapers just to be less wasteful. A little research later, and I found the product I thought would solve both problems: hybrid diapers. Less waste, roughly the same amount of work, and - because you're buying a small insert instead of the whole diaper - lower cost. What could go wrong? Well, as it turns out, hybrid diapers make no sense. Let's take a look at their sorted prices (diaperjunction.com): Huggies disposable diapers: $.28 each Flip Diaper inserts: $.31 each Grovia Biosoakers: $.38 each gDiaper Biodegradables: $.40 each The kicker is, of course, that not only are the hybrid inserts more expensive, but there are also other costs, such as the original holding diaper which costs as much as 50+ disposables itself, plus the detergent, water, and other costs of actually using the hybrids. Now, I ask you, why would I pay more for something which gives me less? Not only is the product literally less material and craftsmanship, but it offers less utility in that I would now be washing the holding diaper and doing the work of putting in and removing the insert, whereas the disposable you just toss. For the privilege of doing more work, and getting less product, I'm going to pay more? That is totally bonkers. The economics of hybrid diapers are fundamentally flawed. Cloth diapers, of course, over the long haul are cheaper by 90% than disposable. If you're willing to do all the poopy laundry for ~2 years and assign your labor and sensibility no value, that is. Hybrid diapers, however, are priced so irrationally it's now no surprise that I've never once seen them on the shelves in a store - why would any consumer buy them? The answer of course is that the product is entirely targeted at "yuppies" and "greenies" and other hypothetical consumers who the businesses in question believe to be devoid of any money sense or who are willing to pay more just to get some vague sense of eased conscience. That's sad really, because as I said, I was initially interested in the product precisely because I am environmentally conscious and wanted to do the right thing. But being ripped off by some company because they think I'm foolish enough to whimsically part ways with my money is insulting. Inserts should be $.15-.20 each, maximum. I'm looking forward to buying them at that time. In the meantime, I look forward to seeing what possible rational explanation there could be from someone who has actually bought some of these and doesn't consider them a poor deal. Anyone care to defend this gross fleecing of not only the consumer, but also the planet, by incentivizing us to choose continuing purchase of wasteful diapers over enriching a corporation who believes we will pay them more profit to not have a guilty conscience?

Althought I completely agree with you on the cost part of hybrids not making sense, you have no idea obviously how easy it is to wash diapers. Don't knock something until you try it. I spend 1/2 max MAX a week tossing dipes in the wash and stuffing them. It's easy. You've believing a cloth diaper myth.

[Leah52]

Originally Posted by blakesdad The answer of course is that the product is entirely targeted at "yuppies" and "greenies" and other hypothetical consumers who the businesses in question believe to be devoid of any money sense or who are willing to pay more just to get some vague sense of eased conscience. That's sad really, because as I said, I was initially interested in the product precisely because I am environmentally conscious and wanted to do the right thing. But being ripped off by some company because they think I'm foolish enough to whimsically part ways with my money is insulting.

And I just want to address this one point since I think it is a gross misjudgment: IMO if you talk to companies like Cotton Babies (makers of Flips) and Grovia then they will tell you that cloth diaper users are probably some of the most cost conscious parents out there so I don't think they are trying to pretend that their diaper inserts are more affordable than disposable diapers. They are providing a convenience item and people always expect to pay more for convenience. Personally I think it was a little naive of you to expect any different especially since you overlooked the glaringly obvious difference between conventional disposables and biodegradable inserts which accounts for the price difference.

[mibarra]

I agree with PPs, the higher cost of hybrid is due to biodegrade-ability of the insert. To truly compare cost you must compare to biodegradable diapers. Of course, very little biodegrades in our nightmare landfills...they should really be composted.

[Kabuki24]

Originally Posted by Leah52 And I just want to address this one point since I think it is a gross misjudgment: IMO if you talk to companies like Cotton Babies (makers of Flips) and Grovia then they will tell you that cloth diaper users are probably some of the most cost conscious parents out there so I don't think they are trying to pretend that their diaper inserts are more affordable than disposable diapers. They are providing a convenience item and people always expect to pay more for convenience. Personally I think it was a little naive of you to expect any different especially since you overlooked the glaringly obvious difference between conventional disposables and biodegradable inserts which accounts for the price difference.

Well said.

And, I really think OP is a total troll!

[junebug2311]

Originally Posted by dannic If t is trolling, isn't the best thing to just walk (click) away and ignore? Here's my naivete coming out: I had to search google for what trolling is, lol. I live in a happy place. (where everyone loves cloth diapers)

I think trolls are really there to make people mad.. And once they are pointed out as trolls they don't have as much fun.

[Leah52]

Originally Posted by Kabuki24 Well said. And, I really think OP is a total troll!

I think he is a troll too, my replies are for the benefit of those who might be researching diaper options and are thrown off by his illogical ranting.