Wherein I become the first to notice

[Sapphire Silk]

I stopped by a Frozen Hard Dairy today to get myself a treat (mint chip milkshake).

I'm a regular customer in the summertime, but not so often in the winter. So I haven't been in there in awhile.

I'm the only customer. I know the employee, nice guy.

I look at the sample cups they have on the counter and immediately notice they are smaller. So I ask the employee, "Did these cups get smaller or what?"

He admits, "Yeah, they're smaller." I look at the price list. Yup; prices are unchanged.

So it's pretty clear: corporate, rather than raise prices, made the sizes smaller thus raising prices without seeming to raise prices. If you don't notice the cup size change, you're none the wiser.

Except you can't help but notice. The sizes are smaller by at least a full 4-6 ounces.

Employee says to me, "Yeah, this happened a while ago. You know it's funny. I'll have customers complain about a 10 minute wait almost every day, especially in our other location that is always busy. But you're the first person to notice the sizes changed."

And that I don't get. A wait really isn't a big deal when its busy. But changing the sizes is a hit to the wallet; I'm stunned to hear I'm the first person to notice.

[Mr Hero]

I tend to notice cup sizes right away.

[PepperElf]

I'm not sure about that establishment, but "reduced sizes" is a common complaint at PFB.


A lot of establishments have decided to reduce sizes to keep the cost the same, vs raising prices .... pretty much to account for the increased costs of operation/supplies/etc.

[Mystic]

The shrink ray has been hitting a lot of things. To be honest, I prefer it this way rather than a price hike for two reasons: I don't spend more than I originally expected to and because the company is saving money on both product and containers, the price hike would have added both those factors in if the size remained the same making it even more expensive.

Then there is also the health kick everyone is on these days with smaller portions and what-not. I don't mind that either since I'm watching what I eat.

[fireheart]

I tend to notice cup sizes right away.

I'm sure you do.

[sms001]

To be honest, I prefer it this way rather than a price hike

You're not alone. Most consumers prefer this. (Sorry, don't have the statistic to hand, but it was in Business Week two or three years ago. A pretty wide margin iirc.)

for two reasons: I don't spend more than I originally expected to

I see this as true for food items, but for things that you always use all of (laundry detergent for instance) we're paying more either way.

the company is saving money on both product and containers,

Although changing packaging has costs of its own.

also the health kick ... with smaller portions and what-not.

Yeah, haven't detected any harm from going from a 2 oz. candy bar to a 1.87 oz. yet.

[Sapphire Silk]

I tend to notice cup sizes right away.

I'm sure you do!

Although changing packaging has costs of its own.

It does, but was probably outweighed by the price of milk, their primary ingredient, going way way up.

I don't blame them for what they did, it makes sense. I'm just surprised that no one else ever commented on it to the employee there before.

[PepperElf]

Although changing packaging has costs of its own.

do they actually change the packaging or just the label? cos some products i've seen look like they could hold more...

[Jay 2K Winger]

Heh. That happened at one point at the wholesale club food court. RK was still working there at the time. The soda cups for the soda fountain had gotten slightly, but noticeably smaller, while the price stayed the same.

One of the morning crew noticed it and started to "get angry" (i.e., he was playing, not angry at RK, but over-acting as though he were) at RK about it. RK, who loved a good laugh, was giggling at his antics. The crewmember capped the whole thing off by pointing at RK and declaring, in full ham mode, "RK? YOU'RE A RIP-OFF!"

It got everyone who heard his delivery (a handful of people) to burst out laughing. It became a running gag among us at the front end.

I had regular customers who noticed similar things with some products we sold. They fortunately didn't get angry at us, since we don't make the things.

[Food Lady]

That's not something I'd ever notice, as I rarely eat out. I do notice price hikes, since for some reason I can remember what I payed for, say, a whopper junior 6 months ago. I wouldn't even care about the soda cups if there's a fountain and free refills.

[MadMike]

I think I'd rather they just be honest and jack up the price, rather than try to hide it by reducing the product. Something like that can really be annoying when you have a recipe that calls for something like "one six-ounce can of tomato paste." So what do you do when they reduce the size of the can from six ounces to five?

[Jay 2K Winger]

I think I'd rather they just be honest and jack up the price, rather than try to hide it by reducing the product. Something like that can really be annoying when you have a recipe that calls for something like "one six-ounce can of tomato paste." So what do you do when they reduce the size of the can from six ounces to five?

You buy more tomato paste.

This is exactly why hotdogs come in packages of 10 and buns in packages of 8. They want you to by more of at least one, if not both, to balance it out.

[PepperElf]

or just buy 4 packets of hotdogs & 5 of buns.
tho to be honest i usually only get the dogs and use slices of bread instead.

[Ironclad Alibi]

I tend to notice cup sizes right away.

B, C, D or DD?

[Kitten in the box]

They are reducing some sizes where I work too. For example: $3.99 for 8 oz pudding cup. Now $3.99 for a 4 oz pudding cup. Same price less volume. I always say if I pay $3.99 for something, I EXPECT to get what I paid for. No more, no less.

My co-worker who can be a jerk simply says "that's theft on your part if you decide to take what you pay for. (meaning taking 2 4 oz puding cups to equal the 8 oz they use to sell)