This just Chaps my ***

I get so tired of picking up a product and it is slightly less than what it was before. A gallon of bleach isn't a gallon anymore. A quart of ice cream is less, and the list can go on. We are still paying more for the product, it's just that the manufacturer is being sneaky about the price hike. I would rather pay a few pennies more and get the full amount rather than have them be sneaky about the rise in price. Normally I would stand up for the manufacturers by stating that they are having to pay their employees etc; but with a lot of stuff NAFTA sent the manufacturers out of country to produce their products leaving Americans out of work. I have no sympathy for the manufacturers and they should be honest and they also should make allowances for the consumer during tough times. But their eyes are constantly on the profit margin and profits. If they don't make the profits then their CEO's don't get the huge bonuses at the end of the year. Something isn't right there, is it? No one has yet to explain to me why a CEO is worth $60 million dollars at the end of a year. $60 million would help provide a lot of jobs to a lot of unemployed workers. Manufacturers figure that the public won't notice for the most part. They also have it somewhere in the back of their minds that the public is stupid. They aren't giving us much credit for brains or smart shopping. It's like when they "improve" a product and make a big deal over improving it, and when you pick it up it is smaller in quantity and the quality is often less than it was before. It is interesting to me as I am a business major in college. I love to sit back and watch what is going on with the purchasers and the manufacturers. Then the retail stores is even more fun to watch...

I know what you mean. We pay the same price for less product. I am with you. Companies would have to think we were blind not to notice the change. They give us pretty packaging to soften the blow while they make more profit by giving us less. If they are going to downsize packaging, they should at least downsize the price too.

Hey LKo, I hear ya-I've started shopping @ dollar general for more of groceries ie:snacks,hamberg helper etc.. the chain grocers have gone way over board. I'm wondering how to get a membership @ SAM's. |:)

Look at this as just another tax on the public... Global Corporate greed... Little cuts, instead on one foul blow... But I do know about foul blows... So there again we are in a time of need and needs that need to be changed. I hope that change comes soon... Maybe I need to do more organizing of my writings as things are getting more and more clear... What makes a person a celebrity? What makes a person immortal?

I think those businessmen being blame in that particular aspect. Because of their greediness they put that one...

This has been going on a lot. Companies don't want to hike prices because they know we will notice and complain so many have changed the amount of content in the packet (but not necessarily the size of the packet). I'd rather they were honest because we do notice anyway and then get mad because they've been sneaky.

Sadly, they have to cover their costs - so first they made the packaging smaller but kept the price the same, then they raised the prices because their costs continued to go up... Honestly, they really aren't trying to cheat you, they are just trying to make their own ends meet and make a profit - because they wouldn't make them at all if there wasn't some profit to make out of it. If they can't make a profit, they close the factory and then there are MORE people out of work and looking for jobs... That's the facts of life...

hi lakots12 yes i did the same thing as I was hungry for Lays old fashioned potato chips, I mean the real thing, and instead of the usual price and the nice big bag the bag was a lot smaller and the price was much higher, and this was in Walmart where the prices are supposed to be lower than anywhere else. they must think we are dumb not to see the packages are now smaller and the price is much higher. in this economy you would think that they would try to make the bags the s ame size as before but the price down where it should be. instead they are all too greedy.Its also in a lot of packages of hard candy too, And its really so annoying especially at this time of year. I have to keep a stock of hard candy on hand for times when my blood sugar drops too low,hard candy like orange juice is the best to bring up your blood sugar to normal.

It's not only the chip people that are doing that. I have noticed alot of things even cans that are smaller. Take tuna for example. Use to a can of tuna would make enough for quite a few sandwiches now there is very little tuna in a can it's mostly water.It is very aggravating but think it's a sign of the times.

I would rather use PayPal if I could but find very few sites I use that takes it. Packaging is done by weight and weight costs more now days. No more comes in the package for the price! Buy less for more is pretty much how it works. Ugly as it may be. Sad reality check, my friend.

yes this is happening with almost everything. even in the 99 cent and dollar stores i've noticed. i think everyone noticed and i think its being done because even all the companies and food distributers are having financial problems because of the high spending of our officials. they dont care what they do with our money. its obvious in their high living when some in our country are not only starving but homeless

smaller package but the price remains fixed or packaging but the price rise was a difficult choice for consumers and producers

I agree. What I really hate about chips though is the fact that at least half of them are crushed. I used to work in a grocery store and I noticed that the vendor throws them around like they're nothing (causing the chips to crush). He doesn't care. Needless to say, I don't buy chips anymore.

Bluebell icecream refuses to downsize their packaging for the sake of keeping prices competitive. I think there really is no choice in the matter. Businesses like everyone else trying to keep afloat. I would rather pay a bit higher than to be tricked into a smaller bag. the consumer isn't as dumb as we might seem, we DO NOTICE.

I think they think alot of people won't notice, but I do. Even Hamburger Helper has downsized. It is crazy. They have just found a way to keep their profits up.

Yes I have noticed this to They just want to make their money, they are not interested in People I hardly buy anything like this because it is costing to much and I can't afford it This world is not about caring for People any more but for money does not matter who gets hurt

oh,but there's "settling weight".. pft..right. i rarely buy chips anymore because half the bag is air.it's a total ripoff.

Yes, I agree things are very expensive. I especially notice it where we live on an island where a lot of tourists hang out. Things seem way more expensive. The people who live on this island go across to the mainland to do most of their shopping.

I stopped buying chips alot because of this reason. I love chips especially as an evening snack. But nothing makes me madder then paying a few bucks for a bag that is all blown up but only have filled. There are bags i have bought where the bag is just half way full not even 3/4. Its ridiculous. So now ive started to buy pringles. They don't reduce the amount in the can. Although their price has gone up but only fifty cents. So far its the only thing i haven't found a reason to complain.

I tell you what I've noticed it too and big time. We have 5 in our family so I have to pinch pennies everywhere I can. Cereal in the regular grocery stores is ridiculous, canned goods, condiments you name it it's all gone up up up in price but way down in size. So I've had to make some adjustments to my shopping. For canned/packaged goods I go to grocery outlet mostly, however I make note of what I can buy at my local dollar store that is the same size for a better price. Many times what we find at the dollar store as far as ketchup, mustard etc.. comes in the smaller containers so I look to see if it's cheaper to buy say 1 large bottle at the grocery store, or two small ones at the dollar store. Fresh fruits and veggies I usually get a Safeway unless another market has good sales. I have also become a very good fan of coupons LOL! I don't do my shopping all in one day because the two stores I normally shop at are on opposite sides of town so I pick a day where I'll be running other errands by grocery outlet to do my shopping there, and the same if I'm going to Safeway though it's much closer to my home. This way I'm not wasting a lot of gas either. Really need to watch those "reduced prices" or buy 2 for $5 deals etc. because many times it's actually cheaper to buy 2 of another brand or size and you get a better deal in quantity also. This year anything we could grow in a garden we did, and we saved a lot that way. Potato Chips and Cereal I find I get better deals at the dollar store. Sometimes they don't taste as good depending on what you get but most of the time they taste ok.