Hello there
 
I'm writing to say how dismayed I am at the recent decision to change the design of Sarsons vinegar bottles, specifically the bottle's cap.
 
I've used Sarsons malt vinegar all my life, and have always endeavoured to purchase the better value larger bottles and containers to use in refilling a smaller Sarsons 'shaker' bottle.
 
As I recall, many years ago it was just a case of removing a little clear plastic insert, and latterly, all we needed to do was unscrew the flip-top cap.
 
However, having had to recently purchase a replacement 400ml shaker bottle, I'm horrified to discover that the new cap is moulded over the bottle-top, and henceforth it's now virtually impossible to refill the bottle.
 
I fully understand Sarsons following the recent example of Lea & Perrins in making it extremely difficult for charlatans and fraudsters to refill your branded bottles with (undoubtedly) inferior substitutes, but as is always the case in these matters, it's the honest consumer - i.e. me - who ends up suffering as a result.
 
If, on the other hand, this is a marketing strategy to force customers to purchase the smaller volume bottles at inflated prices, then I'm afraid that, especially considering the current state of the economy, you should be completely ashamed of yourselves.
 
As I use as lot of vinegar, I usually buy the 2 litre plastic 'refill' bottles as this offers the best value for money. However, unless I now go to the extra expense of purchasing a separate vinegar bottle, I will be unable to (conveniently) use up my stock of bulk-bought Sarsons vinegar.
 
Please be good enough to pass on my comments to the relevant department, and let's hope that this matter is soon resolved to the satisfaction of your loyal and honourable patrons.
 
Many thanks
 

Can you not just buy a third party vinegar shaker?

 
Then the bastards will have won

Hey Steve, you should log on to Amazon and see if they are running any deals you could take advantage of and buy yourself a LIFE. Sheesh man, I worry about you sometimes, and this is one of those times.

Randy

 
You may mock Randy.
 
But the many UK grocery forums I belong to are afire with this particular grievance.

 
Interestingly enough...
 
Back in my explorer days, I was once captured by a tribe of giant cannibals.
 
They tied me up, put me in a large pot and began to soak me in vinegar...
 
"Enough is enough!" I exclaimed, "Why don't you pickle someone your own size?"

Gee Steve...  These bottles of, um, vinegar weren't meant to be refilled!
 

 
HTH.

SteveStrummerUK
 You may mock Randy. But the many UK grocery forums I belong to are afire with this particular grievance.

Quite possibly the funniest thing I've read anywhere this year.

SteveStrummerUK
 
Then the bastards will have won

I hear you. I'm a big fan of the refill as well. There's this foaming hand soap that I buy from Whole Foods and I just fill the foaming dispenser up with a refill that they do. But even though it's supposed to be exactly the same soap, I've noticed that the refill doesn't foam as well as the stuff that came in the original bottle. And because of that, you end up going through it quicker. It's true, they are bastards. 
 
But seriously, I understand the British obsession with vinegar. Chips are not chips without it. I don't do the Sarsons/chips thing any more since living over here (you can't get proper chippy chips in this country for love nor money), but I do sprinkle some vinegar on my salad every night. Only I've just recently discovered the joys of coconut vinegar. Before that I was using apple cider vinegar. I don't think I've seen a good old brown malt here. 

SteveStrummerUK
 
Then the bastards will have won

I hear you. I'm a big fan of the refill as well. There's this foaming hand soap that I buy from Whole Foods and I just fill the foaming dispenser up with a refill that they do. But even though it's supposed to be exactly the same soap, I've noticed that the refill doesn't foam as well as the stuff that came in the original bottle. And because of that, you end up going through it quicker. It's true, they are bastards. 
 
But seriously, I understand the British obsession with vinegar. Chips are not chips without it. I don't do the Sarsons/chips thing any more since living over here (you can't get proper chippy chips in this country for love nor money), but I do sprinkle some vinegar on my salad every night. Only I've just recently discovered the joys of coconut vinegar. Before that I was using apple cider vinegar. I don't think I've seen a good old brown malt here.