One of our customers popped into see us recently. We couldn’t resist taking advantage of their visit to take a photo of their Lintran dog box. It’s not a new one by any means. The design and manufacturing of the boxes have evolved since that purchase. But this particular customer isn’t looking to upgrade – they’re still very happy with it. Which is great news. The box is in daily use and has been for… wait for it… 35 years!
That’s pretty impressive, don’t you think? How many big-ticket items can any of us legitimately claim last that long? It certainly got us thinking, so we decided to do some calculations.
A one-off cost for a lifetime of use
Today, the equivalent ready-made Lintran dog transit box today would be the DB7, which costs £630. The Dog’s Trust puts the average lifespan of a dog at 12 years. On that basis alone, the cost of a Lintran DB7 dog box would equate to £52.50 per year over that dog’s lifetime. Take the dog in the car once a week and that’s essentially £1 per journey. More regular journeys and we’re talking peanuts! And that’s just allowing for one dog. The DB7 is suitable for two, so that would equate to just £26.25 per dog per year. To keep them safe on every single journey.
All of which means our customer, who has owned multiple dogs over that 35-year period, has enjoyed excellent value for money! And we love that their Lintran dog transit box has continued to be fit for purpose for such a long time. Indeed, we are proud of the work that goes into making every box. But we’re even prouder of the fact that we are keeping countless dogs safe and secure every time they travel in one of our dog transit boxes. Because, ultimately, that’s what Lintran is all about – providing strong dog boxes designed and built to protect dogs from injury in the event of a road traffic accident.
You get what you pay for
Well that’s one phrase that springs to mind! Buy cheap, buy twice (or more) is another. Yes, we all love a bargain – especially when the cost of living is so high – but what’s the point when cheap imitations aren’t fit for purpose? Why pay less and run the risk that the product may fail. The consequences don’t bear imagining.
How does the cost of a Lintran dog box shape up in the grand scheme of things?
Battersea estimates the average annual cost of owning a dog is £1,800 – £2,000. This includes food, treats, insurance, monthly health plan and professional grooming. On top of that there are all kinds of other occasional purchases, such as toys, replacement of an old collar, harness or lead, a new bed or basket.
There’s also all the things you might do with your dog. Do you go to weekly training classes. Do you participate in activities such as agility, dock diving or scent work? What if you have a nervous dog that can only be let off lead in a secure field? Maybe you use a professional walker or daycare. Holidays may mean booking kennels or home-boarding. It all mounts up.
All for the love our dogs
All the costs we’ve mentioned equate to the price we willingly pay to share our lives with the most wonderful animals ever. And the only reason we’re drawing attention to these costs is because we appreciate that our dog transit boxes aren’t cheap to buy. And cost is an important consideration.
However, when you look at all those other costs, the one-off purchase of a dog transit box starts to look less of an expense. Especially when the only reason to buy again might be because of changing vehicle. We stand by our commitment to build quality boxes that are designed to keep their occupants safe and secure – that surely puts Lintran dog boxes firmly in the investment camp. What do you think?