You know what frosts my flakes?
Shrinkflation.
I truly think corporations believe consumers are idiots.
They think they can quietly reduce the amount of product in a package and nobody will notice.
After all, the container looks the same, the label looks the same, but the price certainly isn’t getting smaller.
I noticed it yesterday while getting ready for a trip and checking my shaving kit.
That’s when I spotted something strange. My new stick of Dove Men+Care deodorant contained 2.6 ounces.
Wait a minute. I remember when those sticks contained 3.5 ounces only a few years ago. Then they dropped to 3 ounces. Now I’m looking at 2.6 ounces.
Same basic container. Same familiar label. Almost an ounce less deodorant.
Yet, somehow nobody sent me a congratulatory note announcing that I would be “saving money” by receiving 26% less product.
Then, I started looking at those big multipacks sold by warehouse stores like Costco and Sam’s Club.
That’s where comparing prices gets really interesting.
Suppose a 3-ounce stick costs $11.99 at a regular store, while a four-pack of 2.6-ounce sticks costs $19.48 at a warehouse store.
The warehouse pack is still the better deal. You’re getting 10.4 ounces for $19.48.
But here’s what bothers me.
At first glance, you’re comparing one stick against four identical-looking sticks. What you’re really comparing is 3 ounces against 2.6 ounces per stick.
Why should I need a calculator in the deodorant aisle to figure out what I’m actually paying for?
Companies know most people don’t shop by calculating the price per ounce. We look at the package, recognize the brand and compare prices.
That’s what makes shrinkflation so sneaky.
Instead of raising the price enough for everyone to notice, companies can quietly shave a little off the product. Then they hope we’re too busy to notice that yesterday’s 3-ounce stick has become today’s 2.6-ounce stick.
And it’s not just deodorant. It’s cereal boxes, snack bags, paper products, ice cream containers and everything else that seems to be getting smaller while the price keeps getting bigger.
I’m Grandpa Grumpy, and I’ve finally figured out how corporations plan to fight inflation.