Carefresh - Best Prices

[Tripecac]

Here's where we can keep track of the cheapest places to buy Carefresh.

I tend to buy bulk, and usually post the prices of ten 50L bags. So, unless otherwise stated, the "bags" I mention are always 50L.

Here's some links to stores which usually have the best deals:

[Tripecac]

Right now, the cheapest deals are at . They have a deal where you get one free 23L bag for every 50L bag you buy; this works out to 1.46 bags for the price of 1. Also, use coupon code "springsale" to get free shipping.

Here's the current prices, based on ten 50L bags:

PetCo.com

Carefresh:
- 14.6 bags ($139.70) + shipping ($0) + tax ($11.73) = total ($151.43)
- price per bag = $10.37

Carefresh Ultra:
- 14.6 bags ($215.90) + shipping ($0) + tax ($18.14) = total ($234.04)
- price per bag = $16.03

[Tripecac]

Time to buy Carefresh again. PetCo no longer has any good deals. Here's the current best deal (not very good):

PetSmart
- coupon: PETENTN (until 2007-08-31)
- 10 bags ($149.90) + shipping ($0) + tax ($12.59) = $162.49
- price per bag = $16.25

[Tripecac]

There's a better deal now:

PetSmart
- coupon: SAVESEP (until 2007-09-30)
- 10 bags ($127.41) + shipping ($0) + tax ($10.70) = $138.11
- price per bag = $13.81

PetCo doesn't have any good discounts now (although they do have free shipping).

PetFoodDirect has decent prices, but shipping is outrageously expensive.

[Tripecac]

Things are about the same:


- coupon: none needed (automatic)
- 10 bags ($127.41) + shipping ($0) + tax ($10.70) = $138.11
- price per bag = $13.81


- no good discounts now


- good base price, but shipping is outrageously expensive
- with promo code PFD060320D (20% discount):
- 10 bags ($111.92) + shipping ($69.76) = $181.68
- price per bag = $18.17

[Tripecac]

Carefresh prices have been very bad recently:


- coupon: PETWINNER (15% off)
- 10 bags ($209.90) - 15% ($31.49) + shipping ($0) + tax ($14.99) = $193.40
- price per bag = $19.34


- coupon: springsavings (free shipping)
- 10 bags ($189.90) + shipping ($0) + tax ($15.95) = $205.85
- price per bag = $20.59


- coupon: PFD3618I (20% off)
- 10 bags ($139.90) - 20% ($27.98) + shipping ($72.76) = $184.68
- price per bag = $18.47

[Tripecac]

Great news! After months of inexplicably high prices, PetCo finally has a decent deal:


- coupon: PCCABIN10FS (10% off and free shipping)
- 10 bags ($149.70) - 10% off ($14.97) + shipping ($0) + tax ($11.32) = $146.05
- price per bag = $14.61

[Tripecac]

Carefresh prices at the 3 big stores (PetCo, PetSmart, PetFoodDirect) are all horrible right now. I couldn't find anything less than $18/bag, and that's with coupons. Yikes!

[Tripecac]

PetCo has a decent deal right now, if their site is correct in stating that their largest Carefresh bag is "60L" instead of the usual "50L".


- coupon: affreg (free shipping)
- 10 bags ($159.90) + shipping ($0) + tax ($13.43) = $173.33
- price per bag = $17.33

Now, if each bag is 60L instead of 50L, then each liter costs 1/6 less relative to the 50L prices that I've been quoting so far. So you could think of the adjusted price as:

- price per 50L bag = $17.33 * 5/6 = $14.44

The latter price is pretty good, if it's for real. I'll try to find out.

[Tripecac]

Good news, the 60L bags are for real. They're a little longer and thicker than the 50L bags, and say "60L" on them. So, right now PetCo looks like the best bet.

[Tripecac]

Here are current prices for 60L bags of Carefresh. I won't bother doing the conversion to equivalent 50L prices, since it seems like the 60L bags are here to stay.


- coupon: SAVEJUL (15% off)
- 10 bags ($209.90) - 15% ($31.49) + shipping ($0) + tax ($14.99) = $193.40
- price per 60L bag = $19.34


- coupon: PCCABIN1065 (10% off and free shipping)
- 10 bags ($159.90) - 10% ($15.99) + shipping ($0) + tax ($12.09) = $156.00
- price per 60L bag = $15.60


- coupon: PET3547 (20% off)
- 10 bags ($139.90) - 20% ($27.98) + shipping ($76.07) = $187.99
- price per 50L bag = $18.80

PetCo is the current winner. Their deal is better than last month.

Note, however that the new 60L bags seems more loosely packed than the old 50L bags. So it's not like this is a super bargain.

[Tripecac]

PetCo has a deal where you get a free 5L Carefresh Colors with each 60L. So that's like getting a free 50L bag.


- coupon: PCCABIN1065 (10% off and free shipping)
- 10 x 60L bags ($189.90) - 10% ($18.99) + shipping ($0) + tax ($14.36) = $185.27
- plus 10 x 5L Carefresh Colors = 50L extra ($0)
- price per liter = ($185.27 + $0) / (600L + 50L) = $0.285
- price per 60L = $17.10

Meanwhile, PetSmart seems to have gotten rid of its automatic free shipping with orders > $50. So you now have to use a free shipping coupon code, which means you can't use another coupon code:


- coupon: SHIP (free shipping)
- 10 bags ($209.90) + shipping ($0) + tax ($17.63) = $227.53
- price per 60L bag = $22.75

Not much has changed with PetFoodDirect, which is still apparently selling the smaller 50L bags:


- coupon: PET3570 (22% off)
- 10 bags ($139.90) - 22% ($30.78) + shipping ($77.31) = $186.43
- price per 50L bag = $18.64 (plus tax)

[Tripecac]

PetCo lets you buy in bulk now (up to 180L). Unfortunately, it's still expensive:


- coupon: afftxt (10% off and free shipping)
- 3 x 180L bags ($185.97) - 10% ($18.60) + shipping ($0) + tax ($14.06) = $181.43
- price per liter = ($181.43 / 540L) = $0.336
- price per 60L = $20.16

PetSmart only gives you free shipping if you DO NOT use a coupon. Since shipping is normally more than 20% of the Carefresh cost, the best deal is to avoid using coupons:


- coupon: (none)
- 10 bags ($209.90) + shipping ($0) + tax ($17.63) = $227.53
- price per 60L bag = $22.75

PetFoodDirect is even more expensive than before:


- coupon: PERBF17 (17% off)
- 10 bags ($164.90) - 17% ($28.03) + shipping ($81.19 ) = $218.06
- price per 50L bag = $21.81 (plus tax)