Shrinkflation and other scams

[Smurf1976]

I bought a cake. Not something I do at all frequently, haven't bought one for many years actually, but anyway I bought one.

Either my memory's not as good as I thought it was or cakes used to be a lot bigger than they are now.

Downside I haven't eaten it. New neighbours invited me over so I thought I'd better not turn up empty handed, so a cake it was.

Might have to buy another one and eat it myself.

 

[qldfrog]

I usually mix packets of various muesli, clusters and cereal for breakfast..
Too much carbohydrates and sugars so not a recommendation.
Anyway, we have moved from 750 or 800g per cardboard boxes or bag to now absolutely ridiculous weights 380g, etc..and when in boxes..same size boxes full of..air
Now, i always rely on price per kg ... Cheap as I am
But i have to trust Coles for the computation as head counting non rounded 380 or 460 g into price per kg a little bit above my effort threshold when buying cereals
But yes muesli boxes/bags severely affected by shrinkflation

 

[divs4ever]

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

was that in the cereal itself of just the unfilled part of the box ?

( the last lot i saw looked/felt more like popcorn )

 

[TimeISmoney]

was that in the cereal itself of just the unfilled part of the box ?

( the last lot i saw looked/felt more like popcorn )

That was the unfilled part of the box, a big box that you think is full to the top, but nope.

Instead of trying to tick people, why not just make a smaller box and save on packaging and transporting, and charge less?

I don't eat them much, I went back to rolled oats, much healthier than a bit of compressed cardboard dipped in sugar.

 

[Craton]

Yes, great thread, fantastic to read but sadly all too true.

My memory recalls that I could buy two lollies for half a penny, then this become two for a penny, then 1 for a penny, enter Feb 1966 and it was 1c per lollie which very quickly became one lollie for 2c.

Porcini mushrooms are one of my pet peeves with shrinkflation.
Over a period of 15 years or so I've been buying the same brand from the same store. Started as 1kg bag of dried porcini for around $45. Seemed like every time I bought a bag the price went up $5.
The price became $80 for the kilo then the weight dropped to 700g but of course, the price didn't. Last 700g bag was around $95 a few months ago.
Porcini have always been expensive but geez, these have become a special occasion only ingredient.

I've no proof (pun intended) but I thought that spirits went from 750ml to 700ml bottles ages ago too. Can't be certain on that though.

The Old El Paso taco kit's we buy, the salsa doesn't have a few pieces of diced jalapeños in it any more, different altogher to my taste buds as before. My partner reckons that the taco shells are thinner now too.

Here's one that sucks.
Partner bought two bras, same colour, same size, same everything until she tried them on at home. One was a perfect fit, the other, despite the sizing on the label, way too big. As these items are underwear, she can't exchange the incorrectly sized one. Not happy 'cos as any good other half should know, any good bra ain't cheap.
And no, it didn't fit me...

On and on it goes and where will it end?
No doubt the boffins will find new and even more inventive ways to scam us mug punters out of our coin eh...

 

[divs4ever]

Yes, great thread, fantastic to read but sadly all too true.

My memory recalls that I could buy two lollies for half a penny, then this become two for a penny, then 1 for a penny, enter Feb 1966 and it was 1c per lollie which very quickly became one lollie for 2c.

Porcini mushrooms are one of my pet peeves with shrinkflation.
Over a period of 15 years or so I've been buying the same brand from the same store. Started as 1kg bag of dried porcini for around $45. Seemed like every time I bought a bag the price went up $5.
The price became $80 for the kilo then the weight dropped to 700g but of course, the price didn't. Last 700g bag was around $95 a few months ago.
Porcini have always been expensive but geez, these have become a special occasion only ingredient.

I've no proof (pun intended) but I thought that spirits went from 750ml to 700ml bottles ages ago too. Can't be certain on that though.

The Old El Paso taco kit's we buy, the salsa doesn't have a few pieces of diced jalapeños in it any more, different altogher to my taste buds as before. My partner reckons that the taco shells are thinner now too.

Here's one that sucks.
Partner bought two bras, same colour, same size, same everything until she tried them on at home. One was a perfect fit, the other, despite the sizing on the label, way too big. As these items are underwear, she can't exchange the incorrectly sized one. Not happy 'cos as any good other half should know, any good bra ain't cheap.
And no, it didn't fit me...

On and on it goes and where will it end?
No doubt the boffins will find new and even more inventive ways to scam us mug punters out of our coin eh...

ah yes , you must be close to my vintage

i quickly caught on to the built in inflation when decimal currency was introduced

and yes you have to be very careful on clothing sizes there are several standards in sizing in the global community , and IF some of those products were smuggled from a different area ( not just from Asia )

BTW high prices do NOT guarantee quality ( or even money back if dissatisfied )

 

[farmerge]

ah yes , you must be close to my vintage

i quickly caught on to the built in inflation when decimal currency was introduced

and yes you have to be very careful on clothing sizes there are several standards in sizing in the global community , and IF some of those products were smuggled from a different area ( not just from Asia )

BTW high prices do NOT guarantee quality ( or even money back if dissatisfied )

It matters not in which direction you spin, the product(s) are getter less in size and more expensive.

 

[frugal.rock]

One was a perfect fit, the other, despite the sizing on the label, way too big. As these items are underwear, she can't exchange the incorrectly sized one.

Boobytrapped!
It's been mislabeled so it's not the consumers problem. Take it back for a refund, show the other one.
You can always offer to display the problem using 2 coconuts, oranges, mandarins or whatever the case may be.

 

[Smurf1976]

Another one is changing not the quantity but the quality.

Eg adding "filler" ingredients to food products so as to reduce the quantity of more expensive ingredients.

Anything mechanical they'll thin out the metal, use a cheaper grade of steel that rusts easily, use plastic bushings instead of ball bearings, etc.

Electronics there's some downright shoddy engineering in a lot of consumer grade stuff. Bearing in mind consumer products are already the lowest tier of electronics design and manufacturing, so a cheap version of that tends to be even worse.

My dishwasher is 33 years old, came with the house. Extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom I'm not sure but judging by appearance and that they're Email branded I'd say circa 1980. Heater in the bathroom I'm guessing is original from when the house was built 60 years ago just by the look of it. I doubt anything electrical, mechanical or electronic built today will survive anywhere close to that long.

 

[farmerge]

Another one is changing not the quantity but the quality.

Eg adding "filler" ingredients to food products so as to reduce the quantity of more expensive ingredients.

Anything mechanical they'll thin out the metal, use a cheaper grade of steel that rusts easily, use plastic bushings instead of ball bearings, etc.

Electronics there's some downright shoddy engineering in a lot of consumer grade stuff. Bearing in mind consumer products are already the lowest tier of electronics design and manufacturing, so a cheap version of that tends to be even worse.

My dishwasher is 33 years old, came with the house. Extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom I'm not sure but judging by appearance and that they're Email branded I'd say circa 1980. Heater in the bathroom I'm guessing is original from when the house was built 60 years ago just by the look of it. I doubt anything electrical, mechanical or electronic built today will survive anywhere close to that long.

Anything that lives past 10 years has generally gone past its "use by date" these days.

 

[farmerge]

We do have a dishwasher that must be getting to about 45 years old. and still in working order.
I guess because we rarely use it may account for its longevity.

 

[qldfrog]

2 more items popping to mind
Chocolate blocks, your Cadbury style milk or dark chocolate..
We now end up with 100g Lindt, 160g or 180g
Seriously?
Whittaker kept to 250g...well nearly
See below


But our New Zealand cousins are not immune..eggs are sold..10 to a "dozen" there...
No small extra margin

 

[farmerge]

2 more items popping to mind
Chocolate blocks, your Cadbury style milk or dark chocolate..
We now end up with 100g Lindt, 160g or 180g
Seriously?
Whittaker kept to 250g...well nearly
See below
View attachment 206529

But our New Zealand cousins are not immune..eggs are sold..10 to a "dozen" there...
No small extra margin

10 now equals a dozen wow, I must have missed something when I was at school.

 

[qldfrog]

10 now equals a dozen wow, I must have missed something when I was at school.

They do not say dozen obviously but yes choose is between 6 or 10 eggs boxes...

 

[Bourseboy]

Funny story. We had an Indesit dishwasher (made in Italy). Never had an issue, but after many years I replaced the hoses. Month or so later a family member offered us a fancy name 2 year old dishwasher (probably was melee....or Miele). We got the fancy machine and put the probably 20 year old Indesit up for sale at a price about equal to cost of hoses. Sold quickly and the guy who bought it said he wanted an Indesit, because they are the best. Our 'new' machine did not last long and we bought an Asko, no issues in 15 years.