downsizing -- food

[Darren Dirt]

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/technology/Incredible+shrinking+food+packages/4843859/story.html

I've noticed certain product bottles/boxes are smaller for the ~same consumer cost. This article goes into a lot more detail than I've even considered.

[Tom]

Yup. They keep decreasing the content in order to not raise perceived prices. But in reality, its still a price increase.

[Mr. Analog]

It's a pretty despicable practice, if I recall there was an episode of Marketplace that covered this pretty well...

[Lazybones]

I noticed the 4xx ml bottles started to appear an replace the 5xx ml ones in some stores.

[Darren Dirt]

It's a pretty despicable practice, if I recall there was an episode of Marketplace that covered this pretty well...

ongoing analysis, apparently: http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/blog/shrinkingproducts/

and OMG THE HORROR(?) http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/blog/2010/11/rumor-patrol-have-timbits-shrunk-in-size.html

[Thorin]

Ask Melbosa about the "Classic Size" cans of Coke he was drinking at Mr. A.'s get-together last week.

[Mr. Analog]

Ask Melbosa about the "Classic Size" cans of Coke he was drinking at Mr. A.'s get-together last week.

That's a little different, you know you're getting less when you buy the classic size, what we're talking about here is products that don't make it obvious that you are paying more by getting less.

[Tom]

I haven't actually seen 4xxml bottles or cans. I do remember when they went to 591ml from 600ml. Supposedly the reason was to better match the size of the US bottles. Supposed to be as close to 20oz as possible. But then shortly after they brought out the 710ml bottles. So I dunno. And lets not forget those squat pepsi cans.

[Thorin]

The 591mL was to match 20 US fluid ounces.  The 355mL can was to match 12 US fluid ounces.  The 710mL was to give you a double-can.  The 473mL bottles for juice was to match 16 US fluid ounces.  Strangely, the 341mL beer bottle was to match 12 Imperial fluid ounces, while beer in cans was sold at 355mL, or 12 US fluid ounces.

I think when you see a size across the board (591mL is very common for many different types of bottled drinks) it has more to do with matching some ounce-sized drink container from the States.  When you see a size for only one product (Miracle Whip going from 1L to 950mL to now 890mL), that's clearly one company trying to sell you less for the same amount of money.

Hey, has anyone bothered to compare the price of bread or milk over the last twenty years?  I remember 69 cent bread (the cheap stuff) and 99 cent bread (the Wonderbread)...  That's tripled to quadrupled nowadays.

The idea of reducing the amount of product instead of raising the price is a sly one, kudos to whoever first thought that up.  It sucks as a consumer to have to pay attention to what you buy, but hey, Buyer Beware.

Quebec has it right by forcing stores to show the price per 100mL or per 100g, for easy comparison.  Although perhaps it'd be better to go per L or kg, as then the difference in prices would be more obvious.

[Tom]

One reason Superstore is ok. It generally has price per 100g/mL or kg/L.

[Lazybones]

Costco also lists the unit price.

[Lazybones]

I present the 414ml bottle. Some stores stock these in place of 591ml (did these increase from 500?) bottles but at the previous 500ml price range

[Tom]

I present the 414ml bottle. Some stores stock these in place of 591ml (did these increase from 500?) bottles but at the previous 500ml price range

591 was a slight decrease from 600. Supposedly to better match the US 20oz bottle.

I don't recall there being a 500ml bottle.

Though I think its too large a change from 591/600 for people to not notice.

[Thorin]

414mL, that's 14 US fluid ounces.  Again, it's matching a US size.  But why they're downsizing it that much, I dunno...  Going from 20 US fluid ounces to 14 seems pretty crazy.

[Tom]

Probably just trying out another option? There's always the 355ml cans and 710ml bottles.