this post was submitted on 12 Sep 2023
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Mildly Interesting

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[–] [email protected] 88 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I guess they have their use, but I dislike green extension cords. my daughter has a few of them, and she tends to leave them laying in the grass when I go over to mow her yard.

She now has a few shorter ones.

[–] ZoopZeZoop 36 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Not good for visibility, but great for blending. We use them for Christmas and Halloween so that you don't see a ton of cords about. I have to move them or weed eat around them if it rains much during those months.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Ah that makes sense. I live in Canada, our ground is white and covered with snowdrifts that time of year.

[–] BornVolcano 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, you could put a rainbow neon cord down there, you're not seeing any of it in -20

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Hell, I've lost my car a few times under the snow. You know you're a true Canadian when you have shovel dents on your hood.

[–] Lifecoach5000 36 points 9 months ago (4 children)

Well the green one is only for the garden according to the label. Don’t even think about plugging it in indoors.

[–] [email protected] 42 points 9 months ago (3 children)

I plugged it indoors.

I now have a garden in my bathroom.

[–] MrJameGumb 7 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

I think you have to go to same prison as the people who cut the tags off their mattresses now

[–] BloodSlut 4 points 9 months ago

That doesnt sound too bad tbh

[–] [email protected] 19 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Garden use might mean a different plastic that resists UV light better than the orange one.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 9 months ago

My greens ones haven't faded. The orange ones are almost white after a year outside.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

Oh man, I thought about it. What happens now?

[–] Hazdaz 27 points 9 months ago

Orange is probably the bulk of the cords sold, so green is made in lower quantities and thus higher per-unit cost.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Well, green energy tends to be a bit more pricy

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago
[–] CodyCannoli 18 points 9 months ago (1 children)

My guess is people who care about whether the cables blend in with their lawn are willing to pay more for them.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 9 months ago (1 children)

It's also possible they sell fewer green ones, meaning they produce fewer and don't get as much of a benefit from economies of scale.

[–] ericisshort 9 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

You’re right. This is just evidence of a modern well-run supply chain.

Amazon does this better than anyone, and you’ll commonly find products available in different colors with each having a slightly different price. These prices change dynamically based on trends like historic and forecasted demand, current on hand quantities, and many other factors.

Edit to add: Some more advanced brick and mortar stores (see B&H Photo in NYC) use electronic price displays in the shelving to allow them to change prices more dynamically and frequently without having to incur the labor costs of restickering and retagging product.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 9 months ago (3 children)

Theoretically it could be that the ingredient to make the coating green cost more, but most likely it's just an attempt to get more money.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 9 months ago

Green ones are only used for decorative reasons, so the suppliers may make fewer green cords thus driving up the price.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago

It also could be that they want to clear the shelf space of the orange cords, and for some reason they have more of them than the green once.

But of course, the store is business and they exist to make money.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago

While it probably is the latter; I remember when I worked for sherwin williams, green was one of the most expensive colored pigments.

[–] esc27 11 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Might be a nudge to get people to default to orange and only buy green if they really want it to make their stock needs more predictable.

[–] RedEyeFlightControl 15 points 9 months ago (1 children)

It actually might be related to the cost of the color of the jacketing itself. The different dyes used in plastic production have varying costs, in lots of cases.

[–] Takumidesh 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

It's likely lower volume too, so the cost in switching brings a higher opportunity/downtime cost on smaller runs.

[–] RedEyeFlightControl 3 points 9 months ago

Good points! One might need an additional catalyst or flex additive, as well.

[–] youstolemyname 11 points 9 months ago

The ends are different also

[–] Jimmycakes 9 points 9 months ago

Green dye has been on shortage for a while

[–] [email protected] 8 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Car colors are often $1000 difference.

[–] CADmonkey 10 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Fun fact, this is part of the reason so many cars are silver, white, or black now. A lot of base models of cars are only available in those three colors, along with maybe red. To get a different color, you have to get an upgraded package... and there's your $1k price jump.

[–] Hazdaz 6 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I'd be happy to spend $1k more for better colors, but many new cars don't even come in any interesting colors regardless of the price.

[–] CADmonkey 2 points 9 months ago (2 children)

This is also true.

My wife and I have accidentally ended up with a purple car and a green truck, both stick out in a sea of silver bubbles.

[–] Hazdaz 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

purple car and a green truck

Tell me you drive Dodge without telling me you drive Dodge.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

I just thought a couple of days ago that how awesome it would be if we have a LOT of colorful cars. Not just the same 4-5 always. Parking lots are fucking boring these days.

[–] Max17 7 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Shame on you I’m colorblind

[–] [email protected] 9 points 9 months ago

So, light gray is cheaper than dark gray.

[–] FancyManacles 7 points 9 months ago

Garden cord has a slightly thicker shielding because it is designed to be outside for extended periods.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

They aren't the same cord, the green one is a thinner wire size and is 14 gauge, and the orange one is thicker at 12 gauge.

EDIT: Nevermind, they are the same, I saw the 12 gauge wire, not the orange 14, that's on me.

[–] dipshit 4 points 9 months ago

camouflage fee

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (2 children)

In Canada, they charge 50-100% for black extension cords

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago

In Europe red are usuallly the cheap PVC ones while black has higher quality insulation and last much longer, well worth the price difference.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

that's a bit funny but I can't think of why

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Something something, going green is expensive?

[–] LazaroFilm 2 points 9 months ago

I use stingers used on film sets instead. It’s more that $1 markup.

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