Shrinkflation and other scams

[frugal.rock]

Figured we needed a shrinkflation thread.
2 things have urked me lately, in regards to said thread title.

As an Australian, I find reprehensible to buy a meat pie and find it only half filled. What a joke.
A first for me. As much air space in there as filling.
A couple of weeks ago was a traveller pie (Four n Twenty brand)(was on the road), and yesterday, one from a bakery.

The other scam that seems to be on the increase, no visible pricing, then exorbitant prices at the counter.
A servo shocked the daylights out of me, as well as a bakery not previously visited before.

I'm now going to ask for prices beforehand when prices aren't posted, as it's freakin daylight robbery.

I refused to purchase a drink at another servo after the exorbitant price rang up, the attendant then preceded to give me a nice discount on 2 other drinks after I complained about daylight robbery.
The 2 drinks together were $1 more than the other single drink. Different products though.

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind paying fair prices, I am frugal and love a bargain, but I hate getting ripped off.
On these occasions lately, I was tired and not willing to voice my opinion as going elsewhere wasn't really an option.
Those shops go in the memory palace for avoidance next time.

Time for lunch!

 

[Dona Ferentes]

Time for lunch!

good thread. ️

we're mug consumers.

A combination of familiarity and loyalty to a product, and a shrinking range of alternatives had us squeezed.

And "convenience" comes at a cost.

 

[rolly1]

LOL you are right, like when you open a bag of chips and it is literally half full.

 

[divs4ever]

Figured we needed a shrinkflation thread.
2 things have urked me lately, in regards to said thread title.

As an Australian, I find reprehensible to buy a meat pie and find it only half filled. What a joke.
A first for me. As much air space in there as filling.
A couple of weeks ago was a traveller pie (Four n Twenty brand)(was on the road), and yesterday, one from a bakery.

The other scam that seems to be on the increase, no visible pricing, then exorbitant prices at the counter.
A servo shocked the daylights out of me, as well as a bakery not previously visited before.

I'm now going to ask for prices beforehand when prices aren't posted, as it's freakin daylight robbery.

I refused to purchase a drink at another servo after the exorbitant price rang up, the attendant then preceded to give me a nice discount on 2 other drinks after I complained about daylight robbery.
The 2 drinks together were $1 more than the other single drink. Different products though.

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind paying fair prices, I am frugal and love a bargain, but I hate getting ripped off.
On these occasions lately, I was tired and not willing to voice my opinion as going elsewhere wasn't really an option.
Those shops go in the memory palace for avoidance next time.

Time for lunch!

am very experienced at shrinkflation having endured it in the '70's in my teenage/young adult years , of course there was normal ( ?? ) inflation going on at the same time ( sometimes on the same product and the same time !?!? ****!!! )

but the part that REALLY annoyed me ( despite being a devout tightwad ) was the fancy new packaging to distract you from the fact half the product was missing despite the price rise ( chocolate-makers were particularly active at that )

but the upside is now when i consider buying corporate debt i use a microscope to read the fine print , because the distrust generated in those times is burned deep into my psyche

boycott is always an option on my shopping list

 

[frugal.rock]

LOL you are right, like when you open a bag of chips and it is literally half full.

Makes you wonder and think.
"Is this just a one off unlucky bag? or is it part of a corporate scam to do a run of underfilled bags?"

Same with the meat pies, was I unlucky enough to get the last pie in a batch where there wasn't enough filling left?
Or were they all like that?

I know you are referring to crisp style chips, but the old saying "cheap as chips" is a misnomer now!

 

[Dona Ferentes]

? I know you are referring to crisp style chips, but the old saying "cheap as chips" is a misnomer now!

done to a crisp

 

[divs4ever]

Makes you wonder and think.
"Is this just a one off unlucky bag? or is it part of a corporate scam to do a run of underfilled bags?"

Same with the meat pies, was I unlucky enough to get the last pie in a batch where there wasn't enough filling left?
Or were they all like that?

I know you are referring to crisp style chips, but the old saying "cheap as chips" is a misnomer now!

in theory .... in this day and age of automated production lines ( even in modern bake-houses ) one might think the computer ( scales ) along the line would pick out the error/deficient product

in this decade i would veer more towards a stable trend ( rather than human or mechanical error )

 

[Dona Ferentes]

in theory .... in this day and age of automated production lines ( even in modern bake-houses ) one might think the computer ( scales ) along the line would pick out the error/deficient product

in this decade i would veer more towards a stable trend ( rather than human or mechanical error )

yep,

all they have to do is retool for the new configurations.

 

[frugal.rock]

One for the oldies, I mused there's probably more meat on a single blackbird than I got in my four n twenty traveller pie...

 

[divs4ever]

One for the oldies, I mused there's probably more meat on a single blackbird than I got in my four n twenty traveller pie...

some heavy crows up here , maybe enough for several pies once you include the gravy ( and other flavorings )

the adult magpies aren't exactly lightweights either ( up here ) maybe two pies in one of them

 

[farmerge]

some heavy crows up here , maybe enough for several pies once you include the gravy ( and other flavorings )

the adult magpies aren't exactly lightweights either ( up here ) maybe two pies in one of them

@divs4ever Both of these birds over here are protected, great for the Magies but Crows well not so sure.
In my misguided youth with a farming cousin , we used to set up rabbit traps with an egg on the plate and the trap wired to a strainer post. Caught many during the school holidays.

 

[Bellcose]

we're mug consumers.

Consuming mugs would be be slightly gritty on the teeth I would think.

As long as it isn't my coffee mug which shrinks. I was having a fit of the horrors at the very thought.

Saw an example of shrikflation yesterday. Paying for milk and the person in front held up a Cherry Ripe bar and exclaimed "Really!" It must have been half the size since I last purchased one (I rarely eat confectionery now) but apparently the price was about the same.

 

[divs4ever]

@divs4ever Both of these birds over here are protected, great for the Magies but Crows well not so sure.
In my misguided youth with a farming cousin , we used to set up rabbit traps with an egg on the plate and the trap wired to a strainer post. Caught many during the school holidays.

the magies are no problem for me , some were tame when i moved in ( near the house ) , and the crows don't seem to cause any trouble either ( although did get the blames for some stuff from the previous owner )

what i thought was a crow chasing a chicken certainly didn't behave like a crow when i got in the way .. a black hawk about the same size ?? ( because that is how it acted and maneuvered ) definitely not a currawong ( got close enough to almost slap it in the head with my hand !! ( almost flew into me )

Currawong - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Smurf1976]

As an Australian, I find reprehensible to buy a meat pie and find it only half filled. What a joke.
A first for me. As much air space in there as filling.
A couple of weeks ago was a traveller pie (Four n Twenty brand)(was on the road), and yesterday, one from a bakery.

Pies are one of those things a bit like beer. Preference seems to depend on what you're used to.

Always thought National Pies were pretty decent but then that does reflect that bias, they're made in Hobart so they're most of the pies I've ever eaten.

National Pies

tasmanianbakeries.com.au

 

[Dona Ferentes]

Pies are one of those things a bit like beer. Preference seems to depend on what you're used to.

Always thought National Pies were pretty decent but then that does reflect that bias, they're made in Hobart so they're most of the pies I've ever eaten.

National Pies

tasmanianbakeries.com.au

I only recently realised, having grown up there, that National Pies aren't national.

Also, they are rectangular, not round.

 

[TimeISmoney]

Makes you wonder and think.
"Is this just a one off unlucky bag? or is it part of a corporate scam to do a run of underfilled bags?"

Same with the meat pies, was I unlucky enough to get the last pie in a batch where there wasn't enough filling left?
Or were they all like that?

I know you are referring to crisp style chips, but the old saying "cheap as chips" is a misnomer now!

I opened a box of Nutra Grain the other day, but half full of air.

 

[DannyB0000]

I bought a bag of chips once from a petrol station and it was half full, I thought that sucks. The chips that I liked were cheaper at Woolies or Coles, more chips but at a cheaper price than the servo.

 

[farmerge]

Pies are one of those things a bit like beer. Preference seems to depend on what you're used to.

Always thought National Pies were pretty decent but then that does reflect that bias, they're made in Hobart so they're most of the pies I've ever eaten.

National Pies

tasmanianbakeries.com.au

Bindoon and Bakers Hill pie shops best I've ever had.

 

[Smurf1976]

Friskies cat food was 1kg now 700g in the bag.

 

[farmerge]

Friskies cat food was 1kg now 700g in the bag.

Like most things these days, the goods are decreasing in size and the cost seems to go up accordingly.
I have a strong liking for ginger nuts. Noticeably smaller than years ago.
Sadly when Mills and Ware were bought out by Arnotts the quality also diminished in size also.
Actually I don't think that Arnotts will ever be a patch on Mills and Ware.
just a blast from the past. Nostalgia