10 items that shrank in 2010

[madfranks]

From Consumer Reports: (http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/2011/february/home-garden/downsized-/downsized-products/index.htm)

10 items that shrank

Eagle-eyed readers provided these examples of weight loss. Customer-service reps provided the reasons.

Ivory dish detergent
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/resources/images/magazine-archive/2011/february/home-garden/downsized-/downsized-products/18to21sizingcrfeb11-ivory.jpg
Old: 30 oz.
New: 24 oz.
Difference: -20%

Reason Reason The 30-ounce product was discontinued in smaller stores, due to increased costs for raw materials.

Tropicana orange juice
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/resources/images/magazine-archive/2011/february/home-garden/downsized-/downsized-products/18to21sizingcrfeb11-oj.jpg
Old: 64 oz.
New: 59 oz.
Difference: -7.8%

Reason Last winter's freeze in Florida. The choice was to raise prices drastically or drop package size. Based on consumer research, people preferred to keep the same price and get a little less juice to keep within their budgets.

Kraft American cheese
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/resources/images/magazine-archive/2011/february/home-garden/downsized-/downsized-products/cheese.jpg
Old: 24 slices
New: 22 slices
Difference: -8.3%

Reason The larger 16-ounce package was discontinued because it wasn't selling.

Kirkland Signature (Costco) paper towels
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/resources/images/magazine-archive/2011/february/home-garden/downsized-/downsized-products/18to21sizingcrfeb11-papertowels.jpg
Old: 96.2 sq. ft.
New: 85 sq. ft.
Difference: -11.6%

Reason "It's a good question. I'll look into it and e-mail a response." (We never got one.)

Häagen-Dazs ice cream
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/resources/images/magazine-archive/2011/february/home-garden/downsized-/downsized-products/18to21sizingcrfeb11-icecream.jpg
Old: 16 oz.
New: 14 oz.
Difference: -12.5%

Reason Due to the cost of ingredients and facility costs, it was either change the size of the container or raise the price.

Scott toilet tissue
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/resources/images/magazine-archive/2011/february/home-garden/downsized-/downsized-products/18to21sizingcrfeb11-tp.jpg
Old roll: 115.2 sq. ft.
New roll: 104.8 sq. ft.
Difference: -9%

Reason A strength improvement increased the amount of fiber by 10 percent. The company also chose to realign the roll to match what other companies are doing. It's also an alternative to a price increase.

Lanacane first aid spray
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/resources/images/magazine-archive/2011/february/home-garden/downsized-/downsized-products/18to21sizingcrfeb11-spray1.jpg
Old: 113 grams
New: 99 grams
Difference: -12.4%

Reason It was reformulated to provide more cooling and a finer, faster-drying spray. The propellant ratio was increased, and since propellant weighs less per unit volume, the net weight in the same-size can was reduced. Can size was retained to ensure the product would fit in the same space as the one it replaced.

Chicken of the Sea salmon
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/resources/images/magazine-archive/2011/february/home-garden/downsized-/downsized-products/18to21sizingcrfeb11-salmon.jpg
Old: 3 oz.
New: 2.6 oz.
Difference: -13.3%

Reason The company hadn't provided one at press time, but StarKist, which downsized its tuna pouch, blamed the rising costs of ingredients and packaging.

Classico pesto
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/resources/images/magazine-archive/2011/february/home-garden/downsized-/downsized-products/18to21sizingcrfeb11-classico.jpg
Old: 10 oz.
New: 8.1 oz.
Difference: -19%

Reason Rising gas prices

Hebrew National franks
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/resources/images/magazine-archive/2011/february/home-garden/downsized-/downsized-products/18to21sizingcrfeb11-franks1.jpg
Old: 12 oz.
New: 11 oz.
Difference: -8.3%

Reason The marketing department decided to change the packaging, and with that came a change in size.

[Horn]

Wait until they see the price of a gallon can of paint & a single roller...

[Ponce]

There are a lot more but I know that you guys already know them......the only thing to increase in size are the cereal boxes........but that will be over next month.

[still afloat]

1 shrinking thing that shocked me was cruzan rum , yes love the stuff in raspberry and black cherry .
Guess what they did to this bottle . Changed the shape but still the same volume , so where did they shrink it you ask ?
original bottle = 27.5 % alcohol
new bottle = 21 % alcohol

They watered it down .
yes stocking up on the old bottles still on the shelf before everybody catches on the new cool shaped bottle is not the best.
old bottles on sale for $9.99 each new bottles are $12.99 at the same place .

[Ponce]

Afloat?.........same as in the dollar store, they keep the new smaller ones next to the old containers which are bigger........I always clean them out of the old ones......I know that I am going to used them sooner or later.........A LOT LATER.

[Cebu_4_2]

Mid 2010 I noticed that all canned tuna went from 6oz to 5oz. I use the stuff in oil and noticed a LOT more oil than tuna too. So far the best bang for the buck is Bumblebee tuna wallyworld @ 68¢ has chunks not flakes and still good ratio of fish to oil.

[Horn]

afloat's post & this thread made me thirsty.

[Bullion_Bob]

Statement: "The marketing department decided to change the packaging, and with that came a change in size. "

Translation: "If we didn't change the color scheme on the packaging, more people would notice it's smaller"

[ximmy]

Statement: "The marketing department decided to change the packaging, and with that came a change in size. "

Translation: "If we didn't change the color scheme on the packaging, more people would notice it's smaller"




ass-holes... it's appreciated if they truthfully say costs are rising... instead of "A team of Market analysts have determined... blah-blah"

[ximmy]

Wait until they see the price of a gallon can of paint & a single roller...


Dude... I got a $50.00 gift card for Lowe's and I was able to buy a gallon of paint and a single roller... LOL... not really very funny...
ximy

[Libertarian_Guard]

It is rather fitting that product are shrinking alongside with take home pay, equality for all!

[platinumdude]

How dare they shrink my hebrew hotdog.

[Horn]

Wait until they see the price of a gallon can of paint & a single roller...


Dude... I got a $50.00 gift card for Lowe's and I was able to buy a gallon of paint and a single roller... LOL... not really very funny...
ximy


I went to reach for the paint rollers & my hand got all shriveled up when I saw they were $4 a piece (2) for $8

I had to take a small personal loan to afford the gallon of paint... :-X

[Neuro]

Wait until they see the price of a gallon can of paint & a single roller...


Dude... I got a $50.00 gift card for Lowe's and I was able to buy a gallon of paint and a single roller... LOL... not really very funny...
ximy


I went to reach for the paint rollers & my hand got all shriveled up when I saw they were $4 a piece (2) for $8

I had to take a small personal loan to afford the gallon of paint... :-X
As long as you don't have to liquidate your 3 cupro-nickel dimes in your drawer it's all good!

[Horn]

Wait until they see the price of a gallon can of paint & a single roller...


Dude... I got a $50.00 gift card for Lowe's and I was able to buy a gallon of paint and a single roller... LOL... not really very funny...
ximy


I went to reach for the paint rollers & my hand got all shriveled up when I saw they were $4 a piece (2) for $8

I had to take a small personal loan to afford the gallon of paint... :-X
As long as you don't have to liquidate your 3 cupro-nickel dimes in your drawer it's all good!


Those are still available, for any takers, Ha!

[Sparky]

Just bought a couple of 8-packs of Irish Spring soap to add to my "collection". Stacked them alongside some others, and noticed they stacked to a different height. Standard size is 4.0 ounces. It appears on my previous purchase I had bought the "Personal Size" 3.2 ounce bars. It only says "Personal Size" in modest font on the side of the package, not the front. So I looked carefully at the other bars, and they say "Bath Size" on the side.

So I went to find an image of the "Bath Size", posted below. I noticed that this "Bath Size" is actually 4.5 ounces. (Can you see on the side of the box where it says "Bath Size"?) I then found other "Personal Size" bars at 2.5 ounces instead of 3.2 ounces.

I'm going to have to pay more attention next time. Buyer beware.

[Ponce]

You forgot item number 11.........your pay check.

[Serpo]

cash minus 8.3%

[Gangsta99]

Been bitching about products shrinking at the grocery store for the past 2 years. Had a huge discussion with about a dozen people at my work earlier this week about this and other GSUS topics. I am working to open up the eyes of my fellow coworkers at my new job. They are all fairly smart and open minded so hopefully I can point them in the right direction.

[MNeagle]

Costco organic eggs 24 pack $5.69
now they're 18 pack $3.99

[Spectrism]

What shrank was our buying power. If we are looking at product volume reductions of 12-15% with similar pricing holding, then we lost that much off our salaries. Anyone get a 15% raise besides Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan?

[chad]

my daughter won a reading award at school, and for a prize, she got a kids meal at subway. we went, i was feeling dadly, so i let her get chips (we never eat chips) instead of fruit. i think there were maybe 5 chips in the bag.

[Sparky]

Costco organic eggs 24 pack $5.69
now they're 18 pack $3.99

That's cheaper per unit.

[MNeagle]

Costco organic eggs 24 pack $5.69
now they're 18 pack $3.99

That's cheaper per unit.


Yes it is, but I imagine that price will go up quickly once people adjust to the smaller size.

[MNeagle]

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/resources/images/magazine-archive/2011/february/home-garden/downsized-/downsized-products/18to21sizingcrfeb11-franks1.jpg

Old: 12 oz.
New: 11 oz.
Difference: -8.3%

Reason The marketing department decided to change the packaging, and with that came a change in size.

Bought these at Costco today. Comes in a 4-pack. But didn't realize until we got home, and opened a package, that there are 7 hot dogs in it. 7!! Who sells packages of 7?

[drafter]

I was putting some stuff away in the cupboard and noticed the same exact brand of baking powder went from 10oz to 8oz. I can't even make out a size difference between the cans. Sneaky underhanded stuff if you ask me.

[Shorty Harris]

Coffee, yeah I know. what use to be a "1lb" can of coffee yrs ago over time has shrunk down to what has been 13ox, then a couple of months ago I was getting it at 11.3oz, now after buying it yesterday I notice Maxwell how is down to 11.0oz for the decaf that I bought. I also noticed that the Chase and Sanborn brand has by passed the 11oz and went straight to 10.5 oz...Soon its going to be like that scene from "The History of the World". during the French Revoliution

"Nothing for sale"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4uvLXCUhVg

[Cobalt]

Safeway brand bags of sugar are now 4lbs., I came home and dug out the old bag from the recycle bin and sure enough it was 5lbs.

[Shorty Harris]

Safeway brand bags of sugar are now 4lbs., I came home and dug out the old bag from the recycle bin and sure enough it was 5lbs.


Yeah, Ive noticed the Size drop in sugar as well. Getting harder to find 5lb bags now. And what you do find is mostly "Beet" sugar, and NOT cane.

If it doesn't expressly say "pure cane" Or "Cane Sugar" its the cheaper Beet Sugar.

[po boy]

11. paychecks