Why are protein powders so expensive?

I can always find a big container of some for about $15. I don’t think that’s too bad.

Because people will buy them for that price. If they didn’t, the price would lower.

Like anything for babies. Because they f@cking can.

Because they have to process the protein, and then mix it into whatever blend/flavor they make. I’m sure there’s some mark up on it (if there’s no profit why would they bother?) ... But my assumption on the across the board cost would be that it costs money to process the protein.

@MrItty
I don’t.
We financially challenged fitness enthusiasts buy eggs instead, or canned fish, or cottage cheese.

I think it’s due to people believing that a more expensive product is somehow better then a cheap one. Example: two cans on the shelf; one is $5 and the other $20. You’ll likely assume that the $20 supplement has higher quality ingredients that will deliver quicker or better results. That assumption will no doubt be reinforced on the label.

I can get you some spirulina in bulk, if you like… or show you where to buy it.

Sellers sell it for the highest they can where people’s willingness to pay is at the margin, and at the price it is the most efficient for the sellers, and where the price and amount sold is still good.

@GladysMensch
Again… I don’t know about the rest of you, but I for one ain’t gonna spend twenty bucks if I can get the same amount of actual protein for a lot less money.
If a $5 can of powder offers more grams of protein per dollar than a box of eggs, while the $20 can offers less, then the competition is between cheap powder and eggs, while the expensive powder is never even an option.

I’m suddenly wondering how other people shop.

As a side note: if you want cheap protein, take a calculator to the supermarket, and take some time to browse through all the meat, eggs, fish and other protein food stuffs. (Look up the amount of protein per 100 grams of food, multiply by 10 and divide by the price per kilogram, and you’ll get the amount of protein per dollar. Take notes.)
Yes, you will look like a dork. No, you shouldn’t care. These are just random supermarket people.
Math is the secret to the universe. Use it wisely.

I recently found a type of liverwurst that yielded more than twice as much protein per Euro as the eggs I’d been wolfing down for ages. It can really pay to take some time to compare.

@Fyrius Agree^^