I remember when a bag of chips was full. And I mean full. I mean that when you opened the bag, chips went flying in every direction because it was packed almost to the top.
Sure, some “settling” occurred. But it wasn’t that much settling.
Now you pay, what? Four? Five? bucks for a large bag of chips. Open the bag and it’s only about half full. Maybe two-thirds full but that’s it.
This is how companies recoup dollars. They give you less but charge the same price. It isn’t fair to the consumer, but the consumer keeps right on buying those products.
Another prime example is those little party-size pizzas. I love those things. I buy them in spurts because sometimes I get a very powerful craving for them every three or four months or so.
I have a special plate I use for these pizzas. I cut the pizza in quarters and put them on the plate. I used to have a slice or two left over.
Several months ago when I purchased the pizzas, the outer edges of the pizza literally hung off the sides of my plate.
I purchased a couple of them recently. I was surprised and a little puzzled to see the slices fit nicely on the plate, no overhang whatsoever. That’s because it was actually smaller than the plate.
I had to stand for a moment and scratch my head. It took me a couple seconds to realize the same pizza I had purchased months before at the same price was now actually smaller.
It irritated me at first, but the more I thought about it, the more ticked off I got.
It isn’t just that packaging is getting smaller – while still maintaining the large-package price – but quantities are also less.
Everything from chips and pizza to tuna, crackers, canned vegetables, peanut butter and everything in between, has less bang for the buck. Air scoops can be found in peanut butter providing less quantity at the same price.
What are consumers to do? We are at the mercy of multi-billion dollar corporate food manufacturers looking to save a buck or two. There is only one reason for rising food production costs: greed, plain and simple.
A boycott would yield nothing. Unless it were a systematic and planned boycott.
For instance, one month, boycott potato chips. All potato chips. The next month, tuna. Follow that with peanut butter. You get the idea.
I seriously doubt it would make a dent. The corporations who produce and package the food probably wouldn’t feel a thing. That coupled with the fact that you can’t get people to stand together in protest of anything anymore and any kind of boycott won’t do a bit of good.
But take this into consideration: each time you purchase a food item knowing the quantity doesn’t measure up, not only is the food manufacturer cheating you, you’re cheating yourself. As long as you allow yourself to be cheated, the practice will continue.
As for me, I stopped buying chips years ago when I first noticed the shortage in the bag. But I won’t be buying any more of those party pizzas. I don’t care how bad my craving gets. I’m not getting my money’s worth.
And that offends me.
Pen has self-published 20 titles in print and ebook formats. Her latest endeavor, Nero’s Fiddle, can be found here: http://bit.ly/1rsEQFX Follow her on Twitter @penspen or follow her blog www.mytuppence.weebly.com Contact her at mytuppenceblog at yahoo.com to inquire about proofreading, editing and formatting services.
Sure, some “settling” occurred. But it wasn’t that much settling.
Now you pay, what? Four? Five? bucks for a large bag of chips. Open the bag and it’s only about half full. Maybe two-thirds full but that’s it.
This is how companies recoup dollars. They give you less but charge the same price. It isn’t fair to the consumer, but the consumer keeps right on buying those products.
Another prime example is those little party-size pizzas. I love those things. I buy them in spurts because sometimes I get a very powerful craving for them every three or four months or so.
I have a special plate I use for these pizzas. I cut the pizza in quarters and put them on the plate. I used to have a slice or two left over.
Several months ago when I purchased the pizzas, the outer edges of the pizza literally hung off the sides of my plate.
I purchased a couple of them recently. I was surprised and a little puzzled to see the slices fit nicely on the plate, no overhang whatsoever. That’s because it was actually smaller than the plate.
I had to stand for a moment and scratch my head. It took me a couple seconds to realize the same pizza I had purchased months before at the same price was now actually smaller.
It irritated me at first, but the more I thought about it, the more ticked off I got.
It isn’t just that packaging is getting smaller – while still maintaining the large-package price – but quantities are also less.
Everything from chips and pizza to tuna, crackers, canned vegetables, peanut butter and everything in between, has less bang for the buck. Air scoops can be found in peanut butter providing less quantity at the same price.
What are consumers to do? We are at the mercy of multi-billion dollar corporate food manufacturers looking to save a buck or two. There is only one reason for rising food production costs: greed, plain and simple.
A boycott would yield nothing. Unless it were a systematic and planned boycott.
For instance, one month, boycott potato chips. All potato chips. The next month, tuna. Follow that with peanut butter. You get the idea.
I seriously doubt it would make a dent. The corporations who produce and package the food probably wouldn’t feel a thing. That coupled with the fact that you can’t get people to stand together in protest of anything anymore and any kind of boycott won’t do a bit of good.
But take this into consideration: each time you purchase a food item knowing the quantity doesn’t measure up, not only is the food manufacturer cheating you, you’re cheating yourself. As long as you allow yourself to be cheated, the practice will continue.
As for me, I stopped buying chips years ago when I first noticed the shortage in the bag. But I won’t be buying any more of those party pizzas. I don’t care how bad my craving gets. I’m not getting my money’s worth.
And that offends me.
Pen has self-published 20 titles in print and ebook formats. Her latest endeavor, Nero’s Fiddle, can be found here: http://bit.ly/1rsEQFX Follow her on Twitter @penspen or follow her blog www.mytuppence.weebly.com Contact her at mytuppenceblog at yahoo.com to inquire about proofreading, editing and formatting services.