[billethkid]

This one has to do with dog food but the lesson applies to many retail opportunities.

At one of the big pet stores last night I bought the usual natural type dog food I always do.....biggest bag they carry of our brand....29 pounds $33.99.

When I get it home and toss it on the one we have in the pantry....it looks smaller. Guess what it is!!! The one in the pantry ....29 pounds for $33.99....the one I bought last night.....27.5 pounds for $33.99....3.3 pounds less for the same $$$$.

I called the store this morning. They said Iams had resized their bags but did not lower the pricing. The gave me Iams 800 number.

I called Iams. They said yes they did resize their bigger bags BUT also reduced the pricing with a slight increase included in the new pricing. They said they can only recommend pricing....the retailer is free to do as they wish. Iams is going to send a bunch of coupons.

I called the store back and confronted the manager with my findings. He was a little off guard. I asked him to relax and consider at least notifying the customers of the size change.....and the customer could conclude then and there they are being screwed!!!

Pay attention to the resizing trend. I has happened in many cereals. Those vac packed bricks of coffee a few years ago used to be one pound...then down to 13 ounces and I think they are down to 10 or 11 ounces.
All accompanied by a slight price reduction that actually hides a price increase the the dollars or cents per ounce.

Pay attention. I now read lables closely and do not buy the down sized products. There are still some manufacturers and retailers who believe in providing the customer a sustained value.

There I feel better already!!

btk

[Sable99]

i saw the same thing with the body wash I use -- Soft Soap Ultra Rich Shea Butter and Almond Oil. The bottles used to be 18 fl. oz and they are now 15 fl. oz. I will say I love this body wash!! I have a very mild case of psoriasis (sp?) and this product really helps.

[2BNTV]

I notice this trend with a couple of products at BJ's here in CT.

My father who owned a luncheonette business told my mother to charge a little more for a sandwhich instead of making it smaller as people will notice the difference as they are not stupid.

I guess it's a sign of the times.

[batman911]

You should see the LARGE pizza at Pizza Hut. They now cut it into 8 slices instead of 12 because the slices were noticeable small. I believe it is the same size as what a medium was at one time.

[shcisamax]

Originally Posted by billethkid

When I get it home and toss it on the one we have in the pantry....it looks smaller. Guess what it is!!! The one in the pantry ....29 pounds for $33.99....the one I bought last night.....27.5 pounds for $33.99....3.3 pounds less for the same $$$$.


btk

I think the math might be wrong. I think, but I am math challenged so could be wrong, the difference in pounds is 1.5 not 3.3. But your point is well taken. Everything is getting smaller but costing the same or more.
I noticed the same with canned tuna fish.

[billethkid]

I have absolutely no idea how I came up with 3.3!!!!! NONE!!!

Thanx for the catch.

btk

[TrudyM]

Just bought come girl scout cookies. I alsways feel sorry for the girls as I remember my quota when I was young. It is now $4 a box and the box is alot smaller than it use to be. Of course it is for charity.
You are right, you have to be careful. My husband (mister math in his head) will notice when the sticker on the shelf that has the per oz price doesn't match the product. Usually it is a resize situation and the retailer didn't notice and didn't change the sticker. My helpful hubby trots up to the desk in the market smiles and says look you missed this. As you can imagine they just love him. (At least they pretend they do)

[mac9]

When was the last time that you bought a half gallon of ice cream?!

[Mack184]

Originally Posted by mac9

When was the last time that you bought a half gallon of ice cream?!

Actually last week. Blue Bell at Publix. It's also available at WalMart. Blue Bell is a Texas dairy and distributes it's products to just a few southern states.

This well-practiced deception has been going on for some time now. Manufacturers keep the package looking EXACTLY the same, but make it slightly smaller. Almost nobody notices. So suddenly you're buying 14 ounces of something that used to be 16 ounces and you're paying the same price (or more) as you were for the 16 ounce size.

Dole regularly does it on 1/2 gallon sizes of juice in paper cartons. When you pick up the carton it seems like there was a mistake and that the carton didn't fully fill. However when you READ CAREFULLY..it says 59 ounces instead of the standard 64.

If you complain about this, the company will simply tell you that the product size is listed on the package. They'll tell you the problem is yours because you didn't read the package. If you then take your complaint to the state attorney general's office, they will tell you the same thing.

It's a dandy trick. Perfectly nasty & perfectly legal. The joke (as always) is on the consumer.

[villagerjack]

Originally Posted by batman911

You should see the LARGE pizza at Pizza Hut. They now cut it into 8 slices instead of 12 because the slices were noticeable small. I believe it is the same size as what a medium was at one time.

I always tell the pizza man to cut my pizza into 6 slices because I can't eat 8.

[Happinow]

Bought new box of frosted mini wheats.....the box was thinner. Sure enough, smaller size, same high price. They are trying to slide the decrease by without us knowing. We are smarter than that!! I think this will start to happen a lot from now on.

[buggyone]

Back in Washington DC, a guy I knew was a psychologist and got hired by one of the trade associations. It was his job to determine in various products what the "just noticible difference" was in the products. In other words, at what point in the downsizing of the product would people start to notice the difference and would no longer buy it at the same price. He made a lot of money doing this!

[Serenoa]

I remember when a Big Mac was actually......BIG.

Now it's about three bites.

[CatskillBill]

Originally Posted by Serenoa

I remember when a Big Mac was actually......BIG.

Now it's about three bites.

How about this slight of hand below on French's Spicy Mustard:

French's Mustard, Spicy Brown | Wegmans

50% MORE. Really had math majors dream up this label. Pretty slick. Shoppers may think it's 50% free ! Not so, but the label did catch my eye.

Of course 12 oz. to 18 oz. is 50% more, but the price for 12 oz. bottle is 28 cents/oz. and, 18oz bottle is 30 cents/oz who's the dummy. Read the shelf labels for the true cost per lb. , oz. etc

[CFrance]

This downsizing started a long time ago with soft drinks. Also, at one point a 12 oz. pkg. of Nestle's chocolate chips became 11 ounces. It was driving people crazy because the cookie recipe still called for 12 oz. They finally brought it back up to 12 oz. Don't know what it is today because I no longer bake chocolate chip cookies.