What happened to toilet paper?

[arbilab]

I just noticed that TP has lost another quarter inch width for the third time in 5 years. On the standard roller it looks like kiddy--or Barbie--size. Meanwhile that I know of, butts have not gotten smaller. Needless to say, neither has the price. It's not big enough for a good nose blow any more.

 

[NYCWriter]

It's a conspiracy ...

... to get you to buy Kleenex.

 

[mattl]

I had a thread about this a few weeks ago-This has to stop...

I called and let Charmin know I would not accept this, just raise the damn price and move on. I'm in the market for a new TP provider and am limited as I will under no circumstances support the Koch brothers and buy Nothern or ANY of their products. I hear Kirkland is good, don't have a Costco near by so that is an issue. I have always liked Charmin ultra and would like a similar product.

 

[danemodsandy]

I Emailed....

....And my email was very, very direct.

"I am dismayed by the latest decrease in the roll width of Charmin. In fact, I am more than dismayed, I am disgusted, for a reason that is unpleasant to relate. The fact is that the new roll width is not sufficient to protect the larger hands of a man while the product is being used, though women may find it adequate. Trust me, you do NOT want to know how I came by this information. I cannot purchase Charmin again until the former roll width is restored; the product does not presently do the job I expect toilet paper to do."

Yep, it's a nasty thought. But it's one I expect a toilet paper company to have in mind when they are creating or changing their product.

 

[dj-gabriele]

And did they answer what?

Or did they answer at all?

 

[danemodsandy]

No Answer Yet....

....But the email was recent, and I have an idea they're a little bit busy with their email at the moment.

 

[sudsmaster]

It's as if the whole world is going down the drain!

 

[whirlcool]

Sandy:

And do you know what they will tell you? You can wash your hands using their Safegard Anti-Bacterial soap to resolve any problems you may have with their toilet paper product.

Gotta get that up sell in there.

 

[mattl]

When i complained they sent me a $2 coupon for, you guessed it - Charmin.....

 

I used it and odds are that will be the last time I buy that brand.

 

[NYCWriter]

It's corporate stupidity ...

... incompetent executives afraid to break from the pack and do something innovative -- like simply raising prices.

Honestly, choosing a toilet paper for most people is a very personal decision, and it's not like people will ever stop buying their favorite brand if the price is boosted by a few cents.

 

[arbilab]

Apologies, the actual step reductions are 3/16" rather than my exaggerated estimate of 1/4". I stood the two rolls side by side.

The 5-year change is still 9/16", the size of the predominant bolt head on a Ford engine.

 

[NYCWriter]

Of course ...

... the predominant bolt on a Ford engine. Something we can ALL relate to!

 

[arbilab]

Sorry, I thought ALL 68yo gay men used to work on Fords. [scrunch smiley]

 

[arbilab]

(Just because I did.) I mean, it's a joke. You could mostly take a Ford apart with a 9/16" socket. Being laundry machine mechanics, gender preference aside, we DO take things apart, don't we?

 

[NYCWriter]

Um ...

... no.

 

[tolivac]

There's a lot of 9/16" bolts in our transmitters!!

 

[danemodsandy]

Charmin's Response:

"Thanks for contacting Charmin, Sandy.

I’m so sorry you’re disappointed, and I’m sharing your feedback with the rest of our Charmin Team. You’re correct that we slightly decreased the width of our rolls. Although the sheet is narrower, this change allowed us to invest in some additional features and upgrades:

• We added some fibers back into each sheet – so you have more fibers per square inch in the center “performance zone” where you need them most to get the job done.
• The reduced width improves the flushability because being slightly narrower allows the tissue to clear the bowl and drain lines more easily.
• The wet strength technology ensures the same wet strength as before but allows the tissue to decay faster after flushing.

It’s important to know that delivering value is one of our highest priorities, and we work hard to provide the quality and innovation our consumers have come to expect. Because we appreciate your loyalty to Charmin, I’m sending you a money-saving coupon via postal mail. Please allow 2 to 3 weeks for delivery.

Thanks again for getting in touch!

Karissa
Charmin Team"

Of all the canned responses I've ever gotten, this is one of the densest. One, I said I wasn't interested in using the product again until the former width was reinstated, so why would I be interested in a "money-saving coupon?"

Two, do they really think that all this bushwah about "fibers," "performance zones" and "flushability" really answers the point, which was: YOUR TISSUE HAS GOTTEN SO NARROW A GUY WITH BIG HANDS GETS NUMBER TWO ON THEM WHILE USING IT.

And oh, yeah - people are very hot about this - P & G has had to delete a lot of negative comments off the brand's Facebook page. Several times.

But hey - a cents-off coupon will make everything okay! Not.

 

[washman]

Talk about

a bunch of crap!

 

[launderess]

We Keep Going Down This Path

But there is no turning back and no consumer product seems to be immune. Unless regulated by law such as milk, eggs and such we all had better get used to paying more for less.

If you happen to have any older products in your cabinets/pantry say just over year, compare them to what is in the shops today. By and large you'll find the packages are smaller and or contents mucked about with so you are getting less. A gram here, a gram there and sooner or later it all adds up.

Where you can still obtain a lot for money are things you shouldn't be eating/using much of anyway. Purdue and the other FrakenPoultry can be seen as a "bargain" but who wants to eat chicken full of water and god only knows what else?