Shrinkflation should be banned!

Z

Zellephant

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If there is one practice in food retail I absolutely despise its shrinkflation. I wish some food services governing body can ban the practice.

I did a Bcom degree for my sins a 2 decades ago, so I somewhat understand the psychology of pricing, and what people are willing to pay for a product etc. But seriously, especially things that are generally sold by weight or volume, keep to the standard measures man. Stop trying to fool people into thinking the prices aren’t too bad, but meanwhile you’re shaving 15% of the volume while keeping the packaging looking the same. It’s scaly, and it surely only fools the particularly price sensitive, ie taking advantage of the poor, or the incredibly stupid (in which case, let them be fooled). As for everyone else, it’s just a pain in the ass.

I mean, if I do my weekly groceries, and I have planed 4 meals that will each require 250gr of Cheddar, then I need 1Kg of cheddar. I know cheese is expensive, but don’t try make me feel the increase less by now selling the “bulk buy” as 900gr instead of 1Kg (and I see some are now even 850gr).

So now, I either need to buy 1.8kg of cheese to get the “bulk buy” discount, or pay more per kg, and buy two of the smaller 600gr packs. It’s annoying.

I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before yogurts will become 900ml instead of 1litre as well.

That’s my rant for the day. But seriously food retailers, let’s stop being shady and let’s cut the shrinkflation
 
Feel the same as you. Buy 1bag of peas for example 1kg split it into 2 it covers 2 meals now with the 750g pack now I have to buy more packs just to cover the same meal. Ok I normally buy a few packs of veg at a time but it was pour half out put rest in freezer for next meal now I have to weigh it every time.
 
Oh there is another thing they do.
Product in the same container the same pictures and the same placement on the shelf butyet so different
Yes I'm looking at you "dairy snack" masquerading between the yoghurt. Bought it once now I avoid that brand all together, see that other companies is following suit.

1741682570833.png

One is not like the other ! Yeah you can't call it yoghurt anymore right Danone because its flavored milk! and it tasted like you used powdered milk on top.
 
Raising prices vs reducing product sizes - six of one, half a dozen of the other.
 
biena said:
Oh there is another thing they do.
Product in the same container the same pictures and the same placement on the shelf butyet so different
Yes I'm looking at you "dairy snack" masquerading between the yoghurt. Bought it once now I avoid that brand all together, see that other companies is following suit.

View attachment 1803109

One is not like the other ! Yeah you can't call it yoghurt anymore right Danone because its flavored milk! and it tasted like you used powdered milk on top.
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You're not wrong, technically it's almost yoghurt, but on the same basis as American Cheese is almost cheese :)
 
bwana said:
Raising prices vs reducing product sizes - six of one, half a dozen of the other.
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No, it’s not the same. Shrinking the package size to keep the unit price the same is annoying, and I don’t know who they fooling. I accept the prices are increasing, but then respect me enough to just up the price accordingly and keep selling it to me in proper quantities. When I buy foodstuff I look at the price per kg/l not the price per unit.

Shrinking package sizes is a scaly trick they do to fool niave shoppers into not realising the rising prices, while they keep their profit margins solid.

If a kg of cheese now needs to cost R169.00, then charge me R169.00 and give me a 1Kg of cheese. Don’t keep charging me R149.00 but now only give me 850gr…
 
You sound like my clients who now complain that they only get 4 inches for the price they used to get 6 inches before.
 
Please ban recipe/formula changes too. Latest is the "new improved" Sunlight dishwashing liquid. Thinner now, and with an awful chemical smell.
 
Zellephant said:
No, it’s not the same. Shrinking the package size to keep the unit price the same is annoying, and I don’t know who they fooling. I accept the prices are increasing, but then respect me enough to just up the price accordingly and keep selling it to me in proper quantities.
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Unless they're selling eleven eggs in a carton designed for a dozen I don't see the problem. Who established these proper quantities to begin with?

Zellephant said:
When I buy foodstuff I look at the price per kg/l not the price per unit.
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The price per kg/l is increasing either way.
 
Zellephant said:
No, it’s not the same. Shrinking the package size to keep the unit price the same is annoying, and I don’t know who they fooling. I accept the prices are increasing, but then respect me enough to just up the price accordingly and keep selling it to me in proper quantities. When I buy foodstuff I look at the price per kg/l not the price per unit.

Shrinking package sizes is a scaly trick they do to fool niave shoppers into not realising the rising prices, while they keep their profit margins solid.

If a kg of cheese now needs to cost R169.00, then charge me R169.00 and give me a 1Kg of cheese. Don’t keep charging me R149.00 but now only give me 850gr…
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Retailers are in cahoots with the government to keep reported CPI down.
 
bwana said:
Unless they're selling eleven eggs in a carton designed for a dozen I don't see the problem. Who established these proper quantities to begin with?
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Have you ever asked a butcher for 900grams of wors? No, people ask for half kilo or a kilo etc. prepackaged cheese “bulk buy” from Woolworths, or Lancewood or whomever used to always be 1Kg, then they dropped it to 900gr and now 850gr - so that they can keep the sticker price the same. It’s annoying. I don’t care that the price increased (well I do, but it’s a separate issue), I still want to buy my cheese by the KG, I still want my yogurt to be 1Kg and my tub of ice-cream to be 2litres.

Just coz the price went up doesn’t mean I need less of it.
bwana said:
The price per kg/l is increasing either way.
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I’m not sure what the point is you’re trying to make. We all know that the price is increasing, so why do they try hide the increase behind smaller packages. I know the price of cheese is up, but I still need 1Kg, and I’m 100% willing to pay the price for 1Kg, but now it’s packaged in 900gr/850gr packs.
 
What bugs me the most when buying building materials, especially wood beams:

If I request 38 mm x 38 mm I expect 38 mm x 38 mm, not the 34 x 34 that you have labelled as 38 x 38. Nor the 38 mm x 124 mm that you have labelled as such, but when measured is 118 x 34.

This not only compromises the strength of the structure that I am repairing/extending, but it also doesn't match the existing material which is the standard! This means that I have to totally replace perfectly sound material to match what is now available. 😡
 
Dairy Maid ice cream is masters of this tactic.
2l->1.8l and kept price unchanged
1.8l price increase
1.8l->2l with massive marketing on new 2l with obvious price increase
2l->1.8l and kept price unchanged
1.8l price increase and now @ R74.95.

Product not selling anymore and now have to deal massively to shift units. Buy 2 for R100 at various retailers.
 
ShaunSA said:
First world problems :ROFL:
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And? What’s your point. I lead a pretty first world lifestyle here, so I’m allowed to have first world problems.

On the flip side, it’s those living in third world conditions that suffer the most under this practice. The ones who can’t afford to just buy 2 packets of frozen veg per week, because they survive hand to mouth on a weekly wage. Do previously the 1 pack a week was enough, but now it’s not. So now they have to buy 2 of the smaller packages (at a higher price/kg) just to get buy.

Also, in real first world countries, this type of practice is banned under their consumer rights laws
 
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