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mattl

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Made some pasta for dinner the past few nights. I had picked up some Kroger Fettuccine a while back when they had a sale. I like my pasta fresh cooked so I weigh out 3 oz or if I'm hungry 4 oz and boil it. Had dinner for 2 days and a bit of sauce left so I grabbed the box for a third meal and found it quite light - looked it was only 12 oz! Box looked the same but 25% smaller in content! Last time I buy Kroger brand.
 
Have you noticed...

 

<span style="font-family: helvetica;">More and more pasta recipes have moved from 16oz. of pasta to 12oz.  Seems more often than not lately, recipes I see on line have made the switch.  I just made a scampi recipe the other day that was set up for 12oz. and I didn't notice right away.  I should have looked.  The scampi was still good with 16oz. of past.  I just added a little more of this and a little more of that.  LOL.</span>
 
This has been happening for at least the last 10 years with some manufactures.  I first noticed it with Safeway Penne pasta about 10 years ago.  I pay careful attention  to the number of ounces in every package of pasta or anything else that I buy.  

 

They’ve been using this trick since Andy Rooney was still on 60 Minutes.  I know because he did a whole segment about this very thing, using ground coffee as an example.  And they still raise the prices anyway.  I’d rather they just cut the crap, leave the packaging at the same amounts and charge the extra amount necessary to maintain the same profit margin.  

 

This smoke and mirrors approach is BS, the consumer is gonna pay the increase regardless.  I’d prefer not purchasing a product that contains less than I’d expected.

 

Eddie
 
Exactly -

Had they "shrank" the box I would have noticed, but no, just more subterfuge. As I've stated before in these situations just raise the price and be honest. If a company does that they get a bit more respect in my book.
 
Not the Italian brands

All still one full pound. Anna, Di Cecco, De Lallo, Del Verde, etc. Anna tastes similar to Barilla to me. I like the others better. More full body texture. Maybe have more semolina to flour ratio.
 
Psychology

A lot of this comes down to psychology.

While you say you'd pay the extra, most people wouldn't ask questions.

And if there is the one brand that is all of the sudden more expensive and the other isn't, most people would instinctively buy the cheaper one.

While explaining inflation and such to a consumer seems more reasonable and more moral, it plain just doesn't work.

The more of a commodity an item is the more this effect is true.

Most people don't truly enjoy grocery shopping.
It's something you have to do, not money you want to spend.

They'll buy what they always buy unless it is suddenly much more expensive.

And a box of pasta suddenly being 33% more would be such an increase.
 
In this case it was a boring Kroger brand, nothing special. It is intended to be cheap, reducing the contents has turned me off the brand for good. So much so anything that is Kroger branded from this point on is suspect. I will pay attention to weight/volume.
 
Re: Reply#6

Ding, ding, ding Lawrence!

 

 I agree with you about value shoppers vs price shoppers.  After 50 plus years of shopping for groceries I’ll go for value every time over price.  Most times a lower priced item is a false bargain when you end up with less for your money.

 

I’m always willing to spend more if I’m getting a better deal either in the quality and/or the quantity.   A smart shopper uses their head to get the most bang for the buck.

 

Eddie
 

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