Shrink ray’ hits consumers’ wallets

[napi21]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25570106/

With fuel and delivery costs rising, food manufacturers are faced with raising their prices or giving you less, and it seems that less is the growing trend.

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.

“You can’t tell at all,” Smith said.

Tod Marks, senior editor for retailing at Consumer Reports, says you’re not imagining things. What the consumer protection Web site Consumerist.com calls the Grocery Shrink Ray is hitting products all over the store.

The practice is called short-sizing, and it’s becoming increasingly common to shrink how much stuff goes into the same old box to keep costs down.

What would you prefer? Less in the package or higher prices? DON'T SAY NEITHER! We all understand the rising fuel costs, wheat, sugar, milk, and damn near everything else! Something has to give. I would prefer what they're doing because at least I can still afford to buy a package of comething!

[rucky]

1. Less!

is probably "enough" by any other culture's standards.

[DJ13]

2. What would you prefer? Less in the package or higher prices?

Higher prices.

Why?

Because many items go on sale on a regular basis, making the value the same as it was before the price increase.

Oh, and that reporter is blind if he couldnt tell the difference between a 1.75qt size and the new 1.5qt container.

The new version is quite a bit shorter.

[truedelphi]

5. Well many consumers are frazzled people with a basketful of food and 2 kids in tow

And they are not going to immediately notice that the ice cream is now one seventh smaller than it was the week before.

[uppityperson]

3. I picked up a container of yogurt today and was appalled.

Individual container marked down since exp date was near, mostly what I buy these days. What appalled me was how light it was. I could not find a weight on it, so checked another (thinking maybe they'd only partially filled it). Finally I found it said "mousse", whipped yogurt. So, take yogurt, whip in a bunch of air and you can have it fill 2 containers! Wonderful! And the same price since, after all, they did have to whip it for you.

I would prefer the same amount in the package and higher prices. Otherwise it just seems deceptive.

[AnneD]

4. I have always calculated my purchases based on....

unit price. I noticed this bait and switch trend over 2 years ago. It has accelerated tremendously as of late.

[iamjoy]

6. Depends On The Product

the problem with short sizing is we become accustomed to a certain portion size. There are so many servings in a container. If the amount is decreased, our number of servings is thrown out of whack. We may actually end up consuming more to even out things. Also, some recipes call for "one 16oz can of -----" if that can has been short sized to 15 oz, the whole recipe can be screwed up.

Besides, raising prices is honest, or at least obvious. Most of us pay attention to prices, but don't look at the weight of products. If they are not changing the size of the packaging, only the contents, it is very easy to fool people.

[samplegirl]

7. Anyone notice that the laundry detergent

is all going to super concentrated??? Yet you still get fewer loads if you figure it out.

[TwixVoy]

8. This is a good thing

it is signifigantly reducing the amount of plastic trash over time even if it does average out to be a few loads less.

[EbenezerMcIntosh]

9. Our dollars have been devalued 49% since Bush took office

I would prefer that the Federal Reserve stop ruining our currency by printing worthless paper money to fund an illegal war.

None of the above.

[lonestarnot]

10. And bring back

is it M3...? reporting of how much money is being printed.

[EbenezerMcIntosh]

11. I loathe secrecy in illegal government functions, myself.

;)

[Ichingcarpenter]

13. That one is never touch by the news especially the financial news

The Feds did bank loans since last August that I counted up to a trillion and a half
of money that was printed up to save those bastards.

BTW, I was shopping for my granola cereal today and pointed out to everyone
in the aisle that their packages are just as tall but half as thin as they use to buy.

Everyone, went Wow!, I didn't notice that but since you mentioned it.........

My package (box) which was an off brand I bought, was one pound of content and half the size as the 'new kellogg' brand packages. I showed them the box to what they bought and theirs only had
10 oz. of food in it, but they did notice the thinest of the box after I pointed it out.

America, you can sell them anything and make a fortune, it is considered and is the greatest consumer nation on earth filled with suckers.

[malaise]

12. Less in the package at the same price is still a price increase

You're already paying a higher price.