Ingenious to be sure; but surely, what more could Corporate America possibly come up with that could top this nifty little rip-off on we unwary consumers?
Well I have apparently again underestimated the innovative thinking of American companies; Check out the following latest scam my consumer detective wife just uncovered:
Yes, now not only is the cardboard tube SHORTER in length, they have also now slightly INCREASED the DIAMETER of the tube! With a larger and shorter spool, they can sell us even that much LESS product for the same price!
No doubt that these little “tricks” fall under the radar when Washington is calculating the Consumer Price Index or Rate of Inflation. After all, the actual prices for consumer goods show no noticeable increase, we all simply get less product for the same dollar.
We may try to be savvy consumers, but really, at some point, who has the time to sort through a shopping cart full of products to determine the extent to which we are increasingly being scammed?
18 comments:
and there is no way to even measure that until after we've bought it if we happen to have the older supply. Where are consumer watchdogs on something that is so basic to the needs we all have.
I also think the packages of many many rolls have less TP on each roll, that is the ones from Walmart. I never felt as cheated at Costco as I do with Walmart. Everything is a sham and just one big in your face, "and we hope you don't like it." You see, there is no where else to shop out here.
And how will knowing we are being scammed really change things, anyway? Consumer Reports usually has these sorts of things on their "Selling It" page.
Tell that detective wife of yours she's one smart cookie.
I always buy Scott's 1000 sheets. It's not as soft, but I used to feel I was changing rolls all the time, but they can still make the sheets smaller and unless someone is measuring, you don't know.
I agree with Rubye, because of its ungodly numerous locations in my area shopping at Walmart is a very unfortunate fact for me.
While selling crap for years I have seen a huge drop in the relative quality of said crap. Bought a pair of work shoes a few months back, something that anyone would expect could standup to the demands of flat floors inside a hospital.
In the space of two months the shoes literally fell apart as if I had been walking a wilderness trail. Took them back and complained and got the expected crazy looks.
Could go on about other incidents but will just say I am having to go out of my way to avoid those stores. Curiously enough Kmart is apparently still selling decent products.
i don't know about your statistics but toilet paper is measured in our cpi basket and adjustments are made for size and number of sheets.
Rain We are assailed from so many fronts, it is almost impossible to stay vigilant. The best we can hope to do is maintain our own sense of ethics in the face of so many who willingly relinquish theirs in the name of profit.
Rubye I laugh at the constant diatribe about "free markets"; the choices we have are quickly diminishing.
SecretAgent It's dishonest; and I want it known that I am watching, that I notice.
Kitten She sure picks up on this stuff. Businesses depend on oblivious consumers like me... I just don't have the time nor inclination to monitor this stuff.
Rain Have you ever throught of counting a roll to see if you REALLY get 1000 sheets? I know I wouldn't, nor would most people.
Bum Fortunately Wal-Mart has been unwelcome in our community; but then this is a university town; Wal-Mart found a home in the blue collar mill town east of here... their natural demographic. The word "cheap" in our language applies both to price and quality equally.
Billy Really!! Just heard the CPI announced on the radio recently; it was adjusted for "food" and "fuel" removed from the equation... the two most costly and volatile consumer costs. WTF!
There is just something not right about your wife. I would never cheat on her if I were you: not out of loyalty, but because she would notice the incongruent fiber on the bottom of you pant leg, and somehow from there figure out that you must have been at a country cottage 20 miles away at 3:00 am on a Tuesday morning 16 years ago when you should not have been, and then it would be over.
John Yeah my wife is the 'detail person' between us; I'm more of the 'big picture' type. She sure finds the things hidden in the small print though!! If I wasn't a Skeptic, I would suspect she is blessed with Remote Viewing, though.
It's a gott-dang CONSPIRACY!
Srsly. WTF?!
I always assume I'm being scammed. There's no way to get out of a supermarket without being scammed. And the evidence is everywhere!
Such is life in America.
Is it greed? I have emptied this with some other products as well Robert.
Dawn Yup, they eventually get you in the end.
Yes, and so what does that convey to us, the way we should treat others? Should we scam as well because it's being done to us? I hate to think in those terms.
Paul Greed, yeah I think one could call it that.
And the recently-seen commercial about resizing beverage containers to be more, I forget the word but the implication is customer-friendly when the reality is smaller containers, same price. I wonder how they spin the benefit of the dwindling toilet paper quantity. I noticed the first time the roll didn't reach the end of its holder.
Marylinn I was working for a northwest bank when we decided to save money by NOT returning customer's canceled check to them. We spun it as "check safekeeping" - spinning it like we were providing some beneficial service to the customer by not sending their checks back to them. We were really lining our pockets.
Wow!
Too much free time?
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