Water is all around us.
We use it for cooking, cleaning, and drinking.
Most of us have the luxury of going to any sink in our homes, turning it on, and water comes out.
You can even buy bottled water if you want.
There is no limit to the various types of bottled water you can find on your grocery store shelves.
One of those types is Fiji Water.
It is also one of the most expensive brands of bottled water you will find.
You may not even know why you pay so much for Fiji Water.
You just know you like the taste and continue to pay the price.
This article gives you some insight into why you are paying so much for water, but not just any water, Fiji Water.
Why Is Fiji Water So Expensive?
1. Transporting The Water
While it is an obvious statement to say that Fiji Water comes from Fiji, it deserves mention.
This also means that the water has to get from Fiji to your grocery store shelves or even delivered to your home.
Fiji is an island country located in the Pacific.
It is roughly 7,000 miles away.
That is a long distance to transport bottled water, and it comes at a cost.
To give an example of the resources needed to transport water, it is an 18-hour flight via airplane from Fiji to New York.
It is a four-hour drive from the water source in Fiji to the airport.
That is a large amount of fuel, energy, and human power to move water from Fiji to the US.
This also means that half the price you pay for a bottle of Fiji Water is for the cost of transporting it from the water source.
It is easy to forget the source of the water when you are looking at the sticker price, but the location of the source matters for the bottom line.
The bottom line here is that the consumer is paying for water that comes from a source many thousands of miles away.
2. Environmental Sustainability
There is a lot of conversation about how to be sustainable today.
It refers to practices that are able to be used for a long time and do not deplete non-renewable natural resources.
Many companies and organizations have begun using techniques that are sustainable.
Fiji Water has made a similar pledge for their company.
Their focus is to change the way they use plastic within their organization.
There has been a large amount of negative press for water companies and their use of plastic water bottles.
In an effort to combat that negative press, Fiji Water has spent millions of dollars to make itself a green company.
The company passes the cost of sustainability along to you, the consumer.
Fiji Water has reduced their carbon footprint, which means they take up less space and use fewer resources.
They also dedicated themselves to reducing carbon emissions, which means changing the way they produce their water.
This also allows the consumer to feel good about buying Fiji Water.
You can feel like you are helping or preserving the environment by purchasing Fiji Water.
The focus on the environment also makes it a little more tolerable when you pay a higher price at checkout.
3. Image
Fiji Water is one of the most imported bottled water brands in the US.
Fiji Water is served in some of the most expensive hotels in the US.
You will find it in the minibars, as well as spas and restaurants.
There are a great many people that drink Fiji Water simply because it gives them a sense of status.
Fiji Water bottles have a distinct look.
There is no other water bottle out there that looks like a Fiji Water bottle.
When you have one in your hand, it is noticed from across the room.
This allows Fiji Water to charge you a higher price because there is a certain amount of status associated with it.
Many people continue to pay the prices simply to have a Fiji Water bottle in their hands.
Fiji Water bottles are square, whereas all other water bottles are round.
A square water bottle costs much more than a round water bottle.
It requires special equipment to create the bottles, which is not a typical machine.
Round water bottles do not need something special because they are common and can use standard equipment.
On the other hand, square bottles require the use of specially designed equipment that only Fiji Water uses.
There is an additional cost for that, which goes into the price of each water bottle.
4. Supply And Demand
There is always the issue of supply and demand.
The higher the demand for any one item, the higher the cost is going to be for that one item.
The balance between supply and demand is a common focus when it comes to cost.
The higher the demand for something means that the production company can charge more for the item.
The consumers want it, so they will pay the price for it.
Fiji Water is used in the most exclusive hotels and spas, which also increases the demand.
These organizations have exclusive deals with brands like Fiji Water, which drives up the demand.
When consumers see products like Fiji Water in places like that, it makes them believe they are good products and want to use them, if they do not already.
This increases the demand, which also increases the cost.
5. Water Source
Another high cost for Fiji Water is the actual source of the water.
The company uses artesian water, which means it comes from an aquifer.
An aquifer is a chamber that is underground and forms naturally.
The chamber lies beneath layers of rock and earth which works to protect the water from any contamination.
This gives you the purest possible water.
Because of the location of the aquifer, it does not flow naturally as a stream does.
The company must tap into the aquifer to gain access to the water.
As you can imagine, this is an expensive endeavor.
In addition, the company maintains a factory in Fiji.
This plant runs 24 hours a day, every day, to get water to you.
This plant requires electricity, but Fiji does not have the infrastructure to handle that power drain.
To resolve this, the Fiji Water company has generators that require diesel fuel to power them, which then powers the entire factory.
There are other costs associated with running a factory, which include employee costs.
For every employee, there is a salary and benefits.
These benefits may include health care and a retirement program.
They may also include other benefits.
All of this comes at a cost that is passed along to the consumer.
If you want to enjoy the taste of Fiji Water, you will continue to have to pay the price for obtaining it from the source.
6. The Contents Of The Water
Fiji Water is entirely unspoiled, which means you are getting the best possible water for yourself.
While it is not the only water that is bottled at the source, it is unique.
This is because the bottling happens in Fiji in the Yagara Valley on the Viti Levu Island.
There is no other bottled water that can say that.
The water remains untouched until it hits your lips.
As a result, it has a soft and smooth taste that you will not find in other brands of bottled water.
It has a unique mineral profile because of its source and the fact that it remains untouched.
Fiji Water has many minerals, including silica, calcium, and magnesium.
It also contains 100 percent natural electrolytes, including potassium, chloride, and sodium.
These minerals are dissolved in your blood and carry an electric charge that helps to regulate your nerve and muscle functioning.
Electrolytes also help to maintain the balance of base and acid in your body.
Fiji Water is good for your body, more than other standard bottled water options.
The pH level of Fiji Water is 7.7, which is in the typical range for water.
Natural water can be impacted by gas and other minerals that change the pH level.
The pH level of Fiji Water allows it to be more alkaline than acidic.
7. Plastic Bottles
There has been a lot of scrutiny over the use of plastic bottles in the past years.
There have been incredibly more data that show the use of plastic bottles is not good for you.
However, plastic has become a great way to store and carry items, primarily liquid.
As a result, plastic was widely used for water bottles.
Unfortunately, it has also come to light that plastic is not great for the environment.
This created some expensive challenges for water bottle companies, including Fiji Water.
There are requirements put forth by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about the appropriate use of plastic containers for food and drinks.
Fiji Water is in line with all standards and regulations.
Fiji Water bottles their water in a high-grade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic.
This type of plastic is considered safe by the FDA and is allowed to come into contact with drinks and food.
This plastic is recyclable and is used for other things once recycled.
These plastic bottles may be used for clothes, carpeting, and construction materials.
This plastic has been in use for years by many companies.
It has been studied and is safe for use in items that are going to be consumed.
Fiji Water does not use Bisphenol A (BPA) in its bottles.
This is a chemical that is used in plastic and has been proven to be harmful to humans, which is why Fiji Water does not use it.
Following these standards does come with a cost, which also causes your bottle of Fiji Water to be higher in price.
8. Advertising Costs
There is a lot of advertising and marketing that goes into the production of Fiji Water.
Fiji Water works hard to encourage consumers to buy their product and to make you think it is better than all the other bottled water available.
They spend a great deal of money telling you what sets them apart.
In addition to commercials, internet ads, and print ads, they allow their bottles to advertise for them.
Their bottles look different because of their square shape and are easy to spot.
They also produce six unique labels that advertise Fiji Water.
Each label highlights something specific about Fiji Water.
The labels include words to indicate that Fiji Water is the Earth’s finest water or that it is untouched.
The labels also state that it is natural artesian water.
When you are drinking Fiji Water, you are advertising for them.
Not only do others see you drinking it, but they also see the labels on the bottles.
In addition, Fiji Water intentionally sets its price a little higher than its competitors.
The rationale behind this is that if consumers see a higher price for the water, they will think it is better water.
They will think there is a reason it is priced so high and want to buy it.
Consumers will also think that because the price is higher, there is a status associated with it.
It makes consumers think, “If I have this water, this means that I can afford to buy this water,” which also brings a sense of status with it.
It is a brilliant strategy on the part of Fiji Water because it works.
9. Employees’ Salaries
Part of the cost of Fiji Water is what they pay their employees.
They pay their employees slightly above-average wages, which is great for the employees.
However, this employee salary cost is transferred along to you when you buy the water.
They offer benefits to their employees as well, which also goes into the overhead costs.
These are expected costs that you pay every time you purchase an item.
It tends to be more noticeable when you are paying for an already high-priced item.
10. People Will Pay For It
It was mentioned above, but it bears repeating.
The main reason that Fiji Water is so expensive is that consumers continue to pay for it.
No matter what the price, there is a high percentage of consumers who will pay it.
As long as people are willing to pay for it, the price will remain high.
While you can debate whether or not Fiji Water is worth the cost, the fact remains the cost is high.
There are many things about Fiji Water that draw people in to pay for it.
It is uniquely sourced from the Fiji Islands.
It has a unique look with its square bottle.
Fiji Water is associated with being expensive.
Any one of these reasons alone may be why consumers are willing to pay the cost of Fiji Water.
Regardless of the reason, as long as the consumer is willing to buy it, Fiji Water company will continue to charge you the high price.
How Can I Save Money On Fiji Water?
If you know that you enjoy Fiji Water and you want to continue to drink it, you may be interested in learning how to save money on the water.
To be honest, there are not all that many ways to save money on Fiji Water.
You can find coupons online to use when making a Fiji Water purchase.
Fiji Water offers a discount online for your first water purchase.
You can pay attention to store ads and buy it only when it is on sale.
If you drink Fiji Water all the time, when you find a coupon or a deal, you can stock up and buy as much of it as you can afford or store.
You can buy Fiji Water in bulk to save money.
Some wholesale shopper clubs, like Sam’s Club, may also sell Fiji Water.
When you buy from these clubs, you are buying in bulk, but you are paying less for each individual bottle, which is a cost-savings to you.
If you drink Fiji Water all the time, it makes the most financial sense for you to purchase it this way.
If you are an occasional drinker of Fiji Water, it may be just as cost-effective to pay the price at the store when you see it, or you can choose to purchase it only when it is on sale.
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mary makrenos says
Hi! I’m a new customer! The FijiWater tastes wonderful and I have an illness and the wonderful nutrients in FiJi Water is helping me with it! Incredible! Thank you! I read all of the rhetoric about it and it is amazing!
I will continue to use this wonderful water because of the benefits!
Side story: My brother was stationed in Fiji. We were writing letters and sending them to Fiji!
God’s Blessings! Sincerely, mm
Brety says
It sounds like the fiji water company is really arrogant. We have an artesian well in salt lake.. It free of charge. Fiji water is for the uneducated about true value of a product.