If I could find one for that price I'd go for it, too. But some of us are far from dealers. Last year I found one at a hardware store and they were asking $32. That's about the same price as mail order with shipping and handling. Then you need a test cup which is even more expensive than the hydrometer. And with my luck I'd use it once and break it, lol. I can buy a gallon and a half of syrup for less than that and save a whole lot of work for myself. But where's the fun in that