Does rising inflation bring you down?
Everything is going up: gas, electricity, food, diapers, health care, and beer. You know this, so I won’t expand, but perhaps what you didn’t know is the item on the store shelf, while it may still cost the same, is actually . . . smaller. Yep, National Public Radio covered this story a few weeks back, asking if you’d notice that box of Fruit Loops was a bit smaller.
Instead of passing the costs along to consumers in a straight up price rise, they’re playing with our psyches, putting less product in that smaller box. They’re saving by putting less in the box, and they’re saving shipping from the smaller box. It’s a win-win . . . for them.
Read this recent NBC article to see the source of this quote:
To Dean Smith, the two containers of Breyers ice cream looked exactly the same at his supermarket in Evansville, Ind. Then he looked closely and figured out that the old package was 1¾ quarts, while the new package was just 1½ quarts.
People were saying the same thing the other day at work. My favorite is when they change the container’s shape and label it “new design” when it’s designed to cut volume. Even “buying bulk” preparedness style is getting redefined. Keep your eye peeled party peeps. Watch the cost AND the packaging.
Hell, there was even a local news article the other day on the number of complaints to the Maine Attorney General’s Office on people getting short changed on firewood. As I said before, firewood prices are up big time. All of these small time operators are hopping in on the action trying to score a buck. Some are crooked, others just don’t know that Maine law defines what a “cord” is, whether it’s a stacked cord or a “loose thrown” cord.
– Ranger Man
5 comments
Have seen several items including grits, oatmeal and other cereals in smaller packages with less product. Smaller packages = more on trucks (saves on shipping due to higher fuel prices).
Less product = reduced costs. Always look at the cost per pound, ounce, etc. to get true cost of a product.
RW
Yeah, firewood is notorious for vendors ripping people off. It’s easy to stack firewood so that it takes up more space than necessary. Since a cord is a volume measure this increases profits. If the vendor dumps the wood in a pile it is difficult to assess its true volume until it is stacked, by which time he may be long gone.
If you can shortchange a customer by 15 or 20% that can make a big difference in profits. Capitalism at its finest!
Also, inferior wood is often given such as poplar. The whole thing reeks of ripoff, which is why a reputable source of firewood is golden and a good relationship to have as more and more people jump on the firewood bandwagon.
Ranger Man – Love the site!
Any kid can tell you that candy bars have been shrinking and the prices going up at turns for at least the last 50 years – before that I have no memory but an confident the trend is not new by any means. First shrink the portion at the same price, then rise the price and the cycle continues.
I’ve noticed this trend too, the bastards! That’s why I peg the “real” inflation at the grocery store at 30%. I can see it going up quite a bit more, too. Or is that “shrinking down”? Time to plant yer own, and starve the beast. I can see a whole lot more poaching in the near future too….
Yeah unfortunately I have seen this crap as well when I go shopping with the little woman. It really pisses me off to no end.