Downsizing of grocery items, pricing goes up

[Kelemvor]

One that I've noticed for years is Graham Crackers.

There used to be 11 crackers in each package. I know because I'd make a certain thing that always took 10 crackers and I'd always have 1 left. Then at some point it changed to 10 and now it's down to 9.

 

[Mloot]

My wife gets Ozarka bottled water at Walmart. At our local store the 24-pk case has recently been replaced with a new, 20-pk version.

 

[HannibalX]

Originally posted by: kranky
I have noticed over the years that large bags of potato chips have stayed the same physical size, but the weight has shrunk so the bag is now only half-full.

Originally posted by: Pale Rider
I have noticed a plethora of food stuffs that have a package lable of a certain volume but actually contain much less.

For instance:

Coffee
Cereal
Frozen vegetables
Frozen meats
Chips
Spices
Pasta
Bread

I have been noticing this over the last ten years or so.

Are you suggesting the packages don't contain the weight marked on the package? That's pretty hard to believe.

Have you actually done any measuring yourself? If not then please do so. Don't take my word for it.

 

[BuckNaked]

Dove bar soap... It was 4.75 oz, then 4.5, 4.25 and now I think its 4.20 oz... all for the same price or higher...

 

[SludgeFactory]

Frozen vegetables, they shrunk my broccoli bags from 16 oz to 13 oz.

Don't think I didn't notice bastards!

 

[KarenMarie]

coffee

 

[Eos]

Peanut Buster Parfait from Dairy Queen.

When I was a kid 15 plus years ago, your fingers got all chocolaty when you were about to finish the dessert. Now the spoon towers over the top of the container.

 

[BoomerD]

Coffee was one of the first ones to abandon the traditional size and increase the price too.

In years gone by, ground coffee was sold in 1 lb, 2 lb, and 3 lb containers, nowadays, the 3 lb'er is 39 oz.

 

[Modelworks]

They are getting clever at it too.
Like the mentioned potato chips.
They keep the bag the same size but change how much they put in it.
Or they make the jar of something taller but change the weight.

Cadbury eggs are smaller now too.
I blame the rabbit !

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: Modelworks
They just covered this on abc news, about how manufacturers are quietly shrinking packages of things like cereal but raising the price. Food companies don't deny it, just say the cost of raw goods is higher.

So what products have you noticed that have shrunk ?
For me:
Cereal
Ice cream, appeared to be half gallon, was 4oz less
Coffee, was 16oz, now 14oz.

I'm sure there is more

The cost of raw goods IS higher, add in general inflation and you have reasons for prices either increasing, or you getting less for the same money.
It happens all the time, it's just more noticeable right now because the price of raw materials is rising sharply (like doubling of wheat in a year etc).

It's nothing new. It's called business and economics.

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: Lonyo



The cost of raw goods IS higher, add in general inflation and you have reasons for prices either increasing, or you getting less for the same money.
It happens all the time, it's just more noticeable right now because the price of raw materials is rising sharply (like doubling of wheat in a year etc).

It's nothing new. It's called business and economics.

I don't have a problem with them raising prices, I don't like it, but I understand it.
I just hate the sneaky way they are doing it.

 

[ShotgunSteven]

I remember Tostino's frozen pizzas shrinking when I was a kid, and I think they just recently shrank again.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

I remember when I was a little kid seeing a show that had someone like lewis black complain about shrinking sizes and increasing prices. Must have been 14+ years ago.

 

[MrBond]

Originally posted by: Twista
detergent soap is now 2x contentracted (sp)

The package is downsized, but the only thing they leave out is water. They just dilute the master batch of detergent with half as much water as before. The caps are different so you use less and in theory, get the same number of uses in a smaller bottle.

A lot of people are suspicious about the smaller packages though, even with the big marketing push. When you suddenly reduce the size of the package by 50%, people are going to expect they're getting short-changed.

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: TwiceOver
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups have shrunk quite a bit.

All candy, especially the candy bars, have been shrinking for 20+ years, IMO.

The ones they call "extra large" now are the size of what they use to be when I was a kid.

MotionMan

 

[Gothgar]

most bottled drinks are now 16.9 ounces instead of 20

 

[Fritzo]

Potato chips! They used to have 1 lb bags, now they're 10-12oz...I've even seen 9oz specalty bags.

 

[rezinn]

Originally posted by: Pale Rider
I have noticed a plethora of food stuffs that have a package lable of a certain volume but actually contain much less.

For instance:

Coffee
Cereal
Frozen vegetables
Frozen meats
Chips
Spices
Pasta
Bread

I have been noticing this over the last ten years or so.

None of these things are sold by volume. Just because the bag is half empty doesn't mean you got ripped off. If you actually were to weigh what's inside you'd probably realize you're wrong. But if not, you're sharp for noticing and you should have things you're actually shorted on refunded.

 

[ballmode]

Either we will go broke or lose weight...


maybe I should buy some land and start a farm ....

 

[Born2bwire]

Originally posted by: Modelworks

Originally posted by: Lonyo



The cost of raw goods IS higher, add in general inflation and you have reasons for prices either increasing, or you getting less for the same money.
It happens all the time, it's just more noticeable right now because the price of raw materials is rising sharply (like doubling of wheat in a year etc).

It's nothing new. It's called business and economics.

I don't have a problem with them raising prices, I don't like it, but I understand it.
I just hate the sneaky way they are doing it.

What do you want them to do? Put a big ass sticker on the package that says, "Now less for your money!"

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: Born2bwire

Originally posted by: Modelworks

Originally posted by: Lonyo
I don't have a problem with them raising prices, I don't like it, but I understand it.
I just hate the sneaky way they are doing it.

What do you want them to do? Put a big ass sticker on the package that says, "Now less for your money!"

They are being deceptive by raising the prices in a way designed to hide the fact that prices are being raised. Of course, it is perfectly legal and within their rights, but I still think it is deceptive.

MotionMan

 

[Mday]

soda
orange juice
ice cream (again)
potato chips
candy bars

 

[Sonikku]

Most intelligent people will agree Pepsi is the superior beverage, but I've noticed a 2 liter of Pepsi is now going for $1.50 in Walmart Super Center and $1.09 in Dollar General.

 

[foghorn67]

I go to Target and Costco to offset some of the increases.

 

[xeemzor]

Originally posted by: Sonikku
Most intelligent people will agree Pepsi is the superior beverage, but I've noticed a 2 liter of Pepsi is now going for $1.50 in Walmart Super Center and $1.09 in Dollar General.

Someone works for pepsi I see.