How much have kits gone up in last few years?

[lovelldr]

Was reading through this old thread as thinking of doing a geordie kit at some point, until I stumbled upon this post:

http://jimsbeerkit.co.uk/forum/viewtopi ... 33#p164633

Where, it states that the cost of the Geordie kit is £4.99 from Wilkos. I remember when I commented something to my mum a while back about me starting to do my homebrew, she said about how it was expensive! My dad used to brew, but hadn't been able to for quite a few years before he passed, but I never expected it to have gone up so much within 4 years! Means that it's more than double what it used to cost!!!

Have the costs of raw ingrediants really gone up that much, or is it a case of "let's price everything up"?!

[vacant]

In 2007 I did a few of the £4.99 kits, using beer enhancer added £3.50 I think. I preferred the £14.99 wherry kits from Wilkos which are currently available for £15

[Wooderson]

I remember in 99' John Bull kit's in Morrisons were £4.99 and Geordie were the premium option at £5.75 though occasionally JB's could be had on a BOGOF offer.

[cellone]

Have they had the benefit of an expanding customer base with out much competition?

There does seem to of been an increase in both range of existing companies plus new ones popping up in the last 18 mths.

[Rookie]

Shop around. I am amazed at how much the price of an item can be so different from one HBS to another. One shop a few miles from my house sells most of it's hops at $2.49 an ounce yet another shop 20 miles farther away sells it's hops in two ounce packs for $2.50-3.00. I prefer the closer one, but not having an unlimited brewing budget I do get some things at other shops.