An adult diaper is amazingly complex product but yet looks so simple on the outside. The idea of an adult diaper is so simple, a piece of plastic with padding in it to contain fluids and solid matter. When you describe it like that, an adult diaper seems so simple. But, the making of an adult diaper is complex and takes into consideration a lot of factors. So many factors go into making an adult diaper including design, appearance, absorbency, material used, features, and cost. There is a balancing act that must be played with creating adult diapers because manufacturers don’t want to create a super everything diaper that is going to cost butt-loads of money so that only a few select people buy it…that would not be profitable nor beneficial to the masses.
For example, an adult diaper manufacturer could create a super absorbent diaper by purely using polymer which absorbs many times more than pulp/fluff in an adult diaper. But, this would do two things:
- Make the cost of the diaper skyrocket because polymer is a lot more expensive than pulp.
- For ABDLs, using purely polymer would cause the diaper to be a lot thinner if it did not contain any pulp at all.
So, an adult diaper manufacturer has a balancing act to play. Depending on what they are aiming for, they may add more or less polymer depending on the absorbency they are going for. This exact situation can be seen in the adult diaper industry today, especially in the adult baby and diaper lover world.
The materials used to make adult diapers is extremely important in the diaper manufacturing process. Everything from the type of plastic to the woven inner-lining of the diaper. There are many different types of plastic outer coverings and the one you choose is important. Some plastics have big pores and are more susceptible to leaking or feeling clammy because moisture from wetting the diaper seeps into the plastic outer coating. The inner-lining of an adult diaper is probably a seemingly “taken for granted” part of the diaper. But, if you were to compare certain adult diapers side by side you would be able to feel and immense difference in softness of the inner lining (inside) between them. Bambino Diapers are famous for probably having the softest inner-lining on the market because they have a specially patented blend that makes the inner lining very soft. So, if you compare for example, a Bambino Diaper’s inner lining to an Attends – you can definitely tell the difference in the diaper’s softness of the inner-lining.
Cost is one of the biggest factors that goes into creating adult diapers. Keeping the diaper affordable but with the best features, absorbency, and materials used can prove quite a complex process. Plus, the diaper provider/manufacturer’s “profitability factor” must be taken into account. Obviously, each diaper sold is earning a profit for a diaper company, that amount earned is determined by the diaper company. Obviously, some companies are going to be more apt to make a “quick buck” by jacking up their prices. A person can easily determine the “greed factor” of a company by comparing that companies products with competitor’s prices in conjunction with features. Below, is a PRIME example of this:
The premium adult diapers include Bambino Diapers, Abena X-Plus, Secure X-Plus, Molicare and some would say the ABUniverse Diaper. If you were to shop around for prices of EACH of these diapers you would notice a similarity somewhat (between a few cents to 10-20 cents per diaper) between the Bambino, Abena, Secure, and Molicare; BUT, there is an outlier and its strange. The ABUniverse diaper costs around $2.25 PER DIAPER (ABU Cushie) while the Bambino is $1.36 PER DIAPER, Abena is $1.37 PER DIAPER, Secure is $1.36 PER DIAPER, and Molicare ranges from $1.40 to $1.57 PER DIAPER (depending on which store). This is NOT a knock against the ABUniverse diaper but just merely pointing out a huge discrepancy in price of their diaper compared to the rest of the premium adult diaper market.
To further the argument above, the ABUniverse Cushie diaper does NOT have any insane features that would possibly cause the price to be jacked up so high. Technically, the ABUniverse diaper is less absorbent than the Abena, Molicare, Bambino and Secure adult diapers. The materials are of higher quality in all the other diapers than ABUniverse. The only thing different is the look/design. The pure design itself should not cause such a huge price discrepancy. The only thing to conclude from this is that ABUniverse is more interested in making a higher profit by charging an outrageous price for technically an inferior diaper to its competitors in the premium diaper market. For those with lots of money and really just want the looks, the ABUniverse diaper might be up your alley, but I know I cannot afford to shell out that sort of money when I can get better absorbency, features, and comfort in a Bambino, Abena, Secure, or Molicare diaper.
This article is not meant to bash any diaper but rather point out pure facts and educate the ABDL community and anyone else looking to purchase adult diapers. Money is always tight now a days for many people, including myself, and I am trying to get the best bang for my buck. Much of the adult baby and diaper lover community does not think about these things, which you don’t have to, but I just wanted to provide a little tidbit of information that I take into consideration when purchasing my adult diapers (which is quite often). Money does not grow on trees for me, so I will take a cheaper price adult diaper with better absorbency, features, and material over a super expensive diaper that only has a different look. But, then again, everyone is different and after something different..
Thank you for the article, I was scratching my head as well when comparing the prices between the different diapers against ABU.
^ Yes, the article is meant to just bring to light general information and I used ABUniverse as a prime example because its just so obvious. I am not trying to hate on their product but the price is outrageous in my mind for an inferior diaper to the others I named.
Interesting topic for diapers and cost. I’ve ordered samples for Bambino and Secure Personal Care and the sample packs are a tad high but you know what you are getting with those two companys. Even if its only 2 diapers in a sample pack. At XP Medical you 4 diapers in a sample pack for about $5.00 and they got quality diapers of a few good brands. ABUNIVERSE I just don’t quite know about yet as I have not ordered from them for varouis reasons. Price being the main one and a comfort level when ordering diapers. About $8.95 for any one sample of any diaper they have. They do have a mega sample pack that has 1 of each diaper they have but not the new chusie diaper they have about to come on pre-order and they are currently out of the mega sample packs so I just don’t know if I will or will not order and thats kinda driving me a bit crazy about them. Besides Abena and Molicare they have, I can’t say about there Abena X-Plus with prints on them but a wild guess would be diaper tapes that have various prints would be my guess and for an X-plus diaper I would just order from XP MEDICAL or SPC. Everyone has a preference for ones own choice for diapers I guess.
black-dragon: The only reason Bambino and Secure’s sample packs are so high are because every sample package requires them to rip open a package or case basically causing them to lose money if they charged the normal price. Bambino tailors more to getting the cheaper price for people who order packs and cases thus is why they have the cheapest premium diaper on the market with the best features, absorbency, etc.
Bambino may have tad higher sample packs but not as many people order sample packs as other things probably. But, Bambino and Secure have the cheapest case price per diaper. Tick for tack I guess…ABU is a mystery to me because both the sample packs and their cases, packs, etc. are all sky high in prices…idk.
Actually, Adrian, design does cost something. I can only imagine what they had to go through in order to be able to use the authentic Pampers print (I can smell a licensing fee!), but they probably had to pay to set up manufacturing to make a diaper with only one tape. Did you ask them about this before you posted? I think not.
If you’re going for cheap, there are diapers out there a lot less expensive than Bambinos. The problem is that they don’t have the right look or feel. Again, you’re paying for design.
Penny: I know design costs something – I honestly just got tired of typing and figured people would get the point. But, its not the authentic Pampers print…its their own design as they have already pointed out. But, anyhow it is just merely a frontal tape (no different than other diapers) and then the few designs on the diaper. Even still, that does not make a diaper $1 more per diaper roughly…it just doesn’t. I understand the diaper is a “novelty” diaper but I can assure you they have jacked the price up because they know they can get away with it because of the look (which is smart on their part) but truly sad that the people who will pay for it have to shell out so much money.
I never said I was going for cheap – read my post – I said, I would rather a more effective diaper in multiple categories that is “cheaper” than ABUniverse’s diaper. I never said I wanted a cheap diaper…I just said if it comes down to it, I will choose the premium diaper that is less expensive especially if it has more features and better absorbency because absorbency and comfort are the most important things to me…which I understand isn’t all that important to everyone…but that is ME.
As I recall, when Bambinos first came out, they cost about 2$ a diaper. True, shipping was included, but they were the most expensive diapers around before the price drop.
Bambinos also has the infrastructure to make large amount of diapers when needed. If you can have a larger supply, you can easily lower prices to get a higher demand and make a larger profit, simple economics of course.
I’m sure people realize that the cushies has an artificial price inflation (Of course, neither of us know about design fees, or the manufacturing fees that ABUniverse has compared to Bambino, so there may be more than meets the eye) But people like to pay for extra for things.
I can get a burger at a fast food joint for 1$, and then get another burger downtown for over 20$. Yet no one complains about the price difference then, because people know the 20$ burger is a treat, a night out to dress all fancy and live the big life.
Cushies fill that niche. On a utilitarian purpose, they will get beat on absorbency and similar features. But I don’t wear for utility purposes, I wear for plewp_e and to feel little. So designs plays a huge purpose to me. My partner looked at the Cushies and squeed with delight on the idea of putting me in one. She has never ‘squeed’ about a diaper before, so Cushies have a value that no other diaper has.
So to summarize. Bambinos are cheaper and excellent quality, Cushies are the 20$ burger that is a treat.
Well. Incontinent citizens get their diapers or pads paid for through their healthcare secured rights. It’s all in the law – at least in Denmark and other European countries. And no – it’s not the cheapest brands available the citizens are offered. In Denmark the typical brands provided for free to incontinent citizens, who have a permanent protection need declared by a doctor, are Abena (Danish product) or Tena (Swedish product). I guess that offer is not a part american healthcare? Would it be an offer in Obamas healthcare reform?
I am not really impressed with what I have seen from AB universe. I’ve never thought their designs were really cute and babyish. Maybe it is because the company I work for makes some of the cutest things in the world (in my opinion) and I am in Japan where cuteness is abundant.
It doesn’t really look like what I would conceder a ‘pampers print’
And the tape over other diapers!!? what is what that? I have never really understood that.
I am still dying to try Bambino’s (they wont ship here *crys*!!). If I am spending money for disposable diapers, then I want to make sure they are super soft and very absorbent. My pet peeve is feeling a leak run down your leg….
All the diapers your mentioned as quality diapers seem to be a million times better than the cheep diapers they have here in Japan. Every brand I have tried here has been very scratchy and have leaked on me. That is one reason why I am only wearing cloth diapers here, which are cuter work wonders.
So if you ever go to Japan, pack your Bambinos…
I have to agree with Adrian. When I priced out the new cushies with shipping to Canada they came in at $3.35 per diaper as compared to $1.87 for Bambino’s. That made my decision pretty easy.
Of course if I had millions of dollars to blow, then I would have a small collection of ABU’s diapers for a rainy day. Its not that I am trying to trash their diaper and thats what I think “certain” people are so touchy about. I am just merely pointing out a huge price differential that seems ABU has inflated their prices.
Some people want to play the “Bambinos were more expensive in the beginning angle” and yes they were…but I went back and looked at what they costed in the beginning…it was a matter of a few dollars PER CASE which adds up to a few cents extra per diaper. Bambino lowered their prices because they wanted to compete with Abena’s pricing schemes (which are one of the most competitive priced). That is why Bambino and Abena are so closely in line with pricing because really the Abena is the only other diaper up to par with Bambino’s absorbency besides the Secure X-Plus.
In the UK, there’s limited variety and choice unless you are buying through your NHS branch–which isnt always a good idea.
I did read the post. Twice.
No matter how much you say you’re not trying to bash anyone, you are bashing the ABU company and pretty darn hard. I’ve had nothing but good experiences with their diapers and those I play with like them quite a lot as well. Since the people I play with are not medical wearers and don’t go through so many diapers (most only wear when they’re with me), we can indulge and spend a little more on a product that has the right look and feel. It just seems to me that you’re ignoring that side of it.
And, since the Cushies only just came out, it’s a little odd that you’ve developed such a negative opinion already, even if you were sent a preview pack.
I didn’t get a preview pack first off and that is why I cannot speculate and DIDN’T on the specifications. Even though they did state the specifications are basically identical to their Super Dry Kids diaper. I just merely noted the price. Just because you don’t like my opinion and assume its fully negative doesn’t mean I am being hard on them…I pointed out a huge price discrepancy and that is it. Nothing else. I knew someone had to come out of the woodwork and immediately start an argument over what I said about ABU’s prices.
People bash Bambinos all day for what they supposively don’t do. I never criticize them for what they say…I only tell them my experiences when I buy them. People have a right to their opinion, which seems to be hard for some people to accept. The only reason I approve your comments Penny is because they are at least well written and decently respectful, which I appreciate. I just wish you and a few others would not automatically assume I hate a certain diaper because I don’t want to pay that price…LIKE I SAID, if I had millions to blow then I would buy them…but I don’t. Period.
Penny I don’t think Adrian was bashing but you also made a good point about those of us who have to wear and those that don’t. If I wanted a few fun diapers at $3.35 canadian it’s not a huge deal but when I go through 5 diapers a day X 365 days it matters so it changes my choices to one of economy rather than fun. I really appreciate Bambino’s pricing because I can still have an amazingly absorbent diaper that still has a fun side.
I know this post is old and no one will probably see this comment but I kinda want to speak my mind about one thing, the one thing I hate about bambinos is that they charges you extra per size. I think that’s bull, but I have no choose either buy a size that barley fits and save ten bucks or go a size up, I mean at least at abuniverce they don’t charge you if you want to size up, but that’s my onion. And of course im going to go with ab cause im more for a play diaper then a everyday thing. Also abu. Is now only 1.37 per diaper when bought as a case.