Did you notice at the store: Same price, less in package?
By jonesy123
@jonesy123 (3948)
United States
June 22, 2008 7:26pm CST
I heard a report a couple of days ago on the Today show where they showed that manufacturers keep product prices the same by putting less in the package. Some packages are still the same size, some are a miniscule amount smaller. It's barely noticeable.
So, next time when I had to go get groceries I took a closer look. The Cocoa Krispies box was now 16.5 oz instead of 17.5. The box was just an itsy bitsy bit smaller, too. I had been wondering why even though I buy a lot of the same stuff and package size there is suddenly more space on my shelves and I seem to run out of things faster. Turns out, some of the other boxes/packages of things I regularly buy had less in it, too. In a way I feel ripped off.
Have you noticed this yet?
3 people like this
11 responses
@Jangalajim (56)
• United States
23 Jun 08
I haven't really been noticing but I've been wondering if that would be done. Because of the gas price going up, everybody else has to charge more for their services. It's just a fact of life. Maybe a tiny reduction in the amount in a box would be good for people who don't have the money to pay increased prices. I do have mixed feelings on this but that's the way it is.
1 person likes this
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
23 Jun 08
In essence you still have to pay more because you run out of an item earlier. That means you have to buy it more frequently.
1 person likes this
@Jangalajim (56)
• United States
23 Jun 08
Yep, that's right. Of course, you can buy more packages at onetime and make the grocery store and the manufacturer or producer happier. But, that doesn't make you happier, for sure.
1 person likes this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
23 Jun 08
The reason Walmart can sell cake mixes etc cheaper is because of this reason....they have less in the packages. And it's not like it 's a secret you just have to investigate. I found this out a long time ago....but I think it's getting more popular with different companies.
1 person likes this
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
23 Jun 08
I knew it was occasionally done, but usually I also see a different cover or something. But you are right, it seems like several companies took this step fairly recently and that's probably because it made the news and it was also more easily for me to notice.
1 person likes this
@the_vicar (1477)
• United States
23 Jun 08
That's why the present administration says there is no inflation. They just keep th eprice the same and then try to fool people into thinking the economy is just the same or better. Of course we act like fools because we just accept it and go on rather than complaining. Most companies hope you won't notice that you are getting less bang for oyour buck. In some instances,you have to buy two cans or two boxes to get what youused to spend for one. Sure, there is no inflation. Anyone who believes that please stand on your head so that you can knock some sense into yourself.
@teison2 (5921)
• Norway
23 Jun 08
This has been going on as long as I can remember. If one compares the box sizes from 30 years back and now it really shows. Though some things has gone the other way. Chips, soda and candy comes in larger sizes. Maybe all the good for you stuff gets smaller and smaller and the bad for you stuff gets larger and larger
1 person likes this
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
23 Jun 08
Interesting observation. I have to look into that.
1 person likes this
@moneyandgc (3428)
• United States
23 Jun 08
I read about this last week. People are barely scraping by as it is and now they are going to give even less, yet make you pay the same price. I noticed it with cereal and potato chips first.
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
23 Jun 08
I have noticed in my shopping that some prices have increased while the package is smaller. I had read that companies were going to start packaging food in tighter boxes to save money in the packaging. But, as you said, seems they are also cheating us by putting less food in those smaller packages. But the one pet peeve I have is with the packaging of chips. You seem to get only half a package and the rest is only air. The only food that seems to have stayed the same is canned goods. I have yet to find a can good that wasn't completely full.
@bowtieguy (5915)
• United States
23 Jun 08
I have noticed this the most with cereals and other boxed food items mostly. the price will stay the same or slightly increase and at the same time the packaging shinks. I guess the manufacturers think were stupid or something, it beging to become a real conspearacy.
1 person likes this
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
26 Jun 08
Potato chips have been guilty of this FOREVER. With food costs going up, this may be the way companies are dealing with it. Sure isn't fair to the consumer. Not when trying to feed a family.
@vera5d (4005)
• United States
23 Jun 08
I noticed this a few months ago. The sad thing is even though you are getting less, you're starting to pay more because prices keep going up and up!
I feel like I'm being ripped off or cheated too. So most things I just don't buy anymore. But then I start to feel like we've become so cheap and frugal we are starting to deprive ourselves, lol.
1 person likes this
