News: Lidl's fireworks on sale; Monday 16th Oct

Posted 10 October 2006 - 04:13 PM

Just a heads up: I don't know if this should be in the news/commercial fireworks/or whatever section.
I'm also not any part of Lidl's so this is info, not a commercial advert.

Anyway, as the title says, Lidl's annual firework range goes on sale on Monday 16th of Oct (Must be 18 years old to buy them)

Amongst other things they have the following:

2 different packs of Rockets ( 5 and 4 in each pack)
2 selection boxes (an 18 piece and a 26 piece which includes 3 rockets)
3 "Cakes" (25 shot (which is the most expensive?!?!) a 30 shot one and a 90 shot one!)

I first brought them starting in 2004 and they were a great selection and reasonably priced. Last year, 2005 they were still very good value and a good range of effects but I did notice that some of the bigger looking fountains were just 12mm ID ones with boxes added around the sides to make them look much bigger fireworks than they actually were.

Something else I noted last year was that the rockets that came in with the larger selection box were actually better than the big plastic pack of 5 rockets brought separately. The 3 rockets in the selection box were "Whistle" rockets and made a great ear-piercing scream as they went on their way; with a good burst of stars at the end.

Anyway, a good supplement to your Nov 5th party. (Especially if your tubes and stars haven't dried in time)

Chris.

Edited by Shrubsole, 10 October 2006 - 06:56 PM.

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Posted 10 October 2006 - 06:00 PM

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Posted 15 October 2006 - 07:53 PM

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Posted 16 October 2006 - 09:50 AM

Got 2 big selection boxes this morning at 9:30, so that's an extra 52 pieces of fun!

Reports from the girl on the checkout of my local branch said they were "going fast" - That's why I got there early.

I'm going to be concentrating on Catherine Wheels this year as 1. I've never made them before and 2. they just don't seem to do them anymore. (None in the selection boxes I got or for sale separately)

Catherine Wheels are fun things I remember from my childhood days and it seems a shame to loose them and why I don't know? - What can be move fun than a firework that moves? (or more likely doesn't which is just as funny!) They are also relatively easy to make and "fairly" safe(ish) (That's if you nail it securely and are a good distance away)

It think it's a natural progression from fountains and slightly safer than rockets (Not lifting, bursting on the ground, going off course, etc) and far safer than firing shells (Which of course most of us don't do anyway as we don't have a CAT 4 licence

LONG LIVE THE CATHERINE WHEEL!

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Posted 17 October 2006 - 08:38 PM

Thought members might be interested to see what's in the Lidl box
Black Nebula.

Looks great eh? Thought I would have a look at what's really in it...

Here's a spaceloop2



The case is 12 x 4.5 5.5 cm

but open it up and you get


The actual firework is 1cm inside diameter length of composition 9cm

How about a nice cone?

well not really

It's just a tiny fountain put in a cone shaped case.

Now don't get me wrong, Lidl are good value and sell this box cheaper than other people.

Not so sure what I think about Benwell who import this though... They are not the only ones - in the last few years many packs like this seem to be on sale. It seems to me that there is an intention to deceive here. In the 'good old days' you could see what you were getting - with this kind of casing you have no idea and the fireworks are massivly oversold. It will be an OK little display and not all items are as bad as those shown (the cake and rockets look OK) but I think a lot of people will be dissapointed. I'm thinking about contactating trading standards about these sort of fireworks - what do other members think?

Teaching moft plainly, and withall moft exactly, the composing of all manner of fire-works for tryumph and recreation (John Bate 1635)
thegreenman

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Posted 17 October 2006 - 10:56 PM

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Posted 18 October 2006 - 12:38 PM

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Posted 18 October 2006 - 12:57 PM

Thanks for posting those photos, Phil.

They explain nicely what I was trying to say in an earlier post, only much better!
I saved all the tubes from last year (as you do) and they where exactly the same as in your photos.


A con? Well yes, as something isn't as it is made out to be. I'd hate to think what the legal angle on that would be, as they will just argue that it's packaging. They could even argue that a bigger box holds the firework safely and makes it more stable. Also that it makes the outer wall cooler when/if someone picks up the firework just after it's has finished.

So all in all, I don't think that there would be any legal grounds that you could get them on and I think that this will start to become the norm with consumer fireworks as cost cutting, penny pinching companies try to get more money out of us for less product.

I've had an idea! - Why not make our own fireworks?

The bottom line is that they are still a good collection of additional fireworks that deliver some nice effects. Especially for the money.



Edit: It would be interesting to hear from members about the other supermarket fireworks on sale: Are they doing the same thing with the cases? It would also be of interest to everyone here if you do approach Trading Standards and what they have to say in the matter. (Or even the importer)

Edited by Shrubsole, 18 October 2006 - 01:20 PM.

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Posted 18 October 2006 - 01:11 PM

I got a pack like that from Lidl last year, and it was a bit of a disappointment, however I also got a rocket pack and they were fairly good. I don't know yet if I'll buy any more rockets but I won't be buying the "multi-packs" of fireworks. I'm not surprised they are so small inside.

Well one thing every year that I note in Lidl's is that they sell like hot cakes!
That's why I was in there at 9:30 on the first day they went on sale and they were flying out of the door.

So basically, if you are still making your mind up, you may well be disappointed.
Especially with the big rockets and big selection packs as they look very attractive for the money and usually zoom out of the door (unlit) on the first day.

Also, I prefer the 3 rockets that came in the big selection box to the big 5 packs sold separately. The selection box ones last year, gave out the most delightful ear piercing scream as they went up and a reasonable star-burst at the end.

Personally, if I want better than that, I would make my own.

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Posted 21 October 2006 - 05:15 PM

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Posted 21 October 2006 - 05:45 PM

OK, interest in fireworks to be resumed in the spring. It usually is.

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Posted 21 October 2006 - 09:56 PM

It would be interesting to hear from members about the other supermarket fireworks on sale: Are they doing the same thing with the cases?

I'd imagine they are. There doesn't seem to be a huge difference in most of the selection boxes for sale these days. A proper examination/comparison of some selection boxes would be good though

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Posted 21 October 2006 - 10:14 PM

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Posted 22 October 2006 - 06:53 PM

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Posted 22 October 2006 - 07:49 PM

I'm going to be concentrating on Catherine Wheels this year as 1. I've never made them before and 2. they just don't seem to do them anymore. (None in the selection boxes I got or for sale separately)

Catherine Wheels are fun things I remember from my childhood days and it seems a shame to loose them and why I don't know?

Having worked in manufacturing I suspect they don't do them for these reasons:-

Less easy to automate production than tubes (that goes for the cones as well), awkward shapes.

Less space for labelling/marketing bumf.

The manufacturer can't make them look huge easily, so they will look small compared to the rest of the range.

Less easy for schoolchildren to assemble perhaps?

Cynical, moi?

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