97 cents would have been a promotional price with the 3 dollars being the regular price. If you have a bulk supplier available to you there the per cubic foot rate in bulk is usually much less than when you buy it bagged.

hmmmm...I hope you are right. That cashier lady at Home Depot who told me that it would never again be lower than $3.00 sure is a liar. I know about the promotional sale, that's when I usually buy it, but when I asked her directly when is the next one, she said the price won't go down.

I look for potting soil etc at home depot. They have what they call "culls". When the bags get ripped or damaged they sell them in a lot for half price. They put them out in the morning.