18 "Shrinkflation" Cases That Are So Annoying People Had To Share Them Online
It's unfair how things have shrunk over the years and continue to shrink even today.
Some snack packages have gotten smaller, but the price tags somehow stayed put. That is the kind of everyday annoyance people notice fast, especially when a favorite product suddenly feels a little lighter, thinner, or just plain disappointing.
In this roundup, the focus is on shrinkflation, the sneaky practice of reducing product size or quantity without making the change obvious. From chips and ice cream to paper towels and cookies, these examples show how companies try to keep costs down while hoping shoppers will not notice right away.
The internet did notice, though, and the reactions are exactly as frustrated as you would expect. Read on.
1. If this isn't daylight robbery, we don't know what is.
Guava_Lune2. Seriously? This is insane and unfair.
PS. Always check the volume of the items you buy.
Mitche420That tiny change is doing a lot of work.
3. The more you look, the less you see.
nzeck
4. Pringles on a diet.
It's not surprising that the new Mr. Pringles looks more like a villain in the new design (134g) compared to the old one (165g).
Look at him secretly laughing at us for buying his bite-sized potato shreds.
eternalcollapse
5. Do we call this shrinkflation or theft? They lied about the weight!
m4rc0n3
Some of these are so obvious they practically announce themselves.
6. This qualifies as one of the smartest shrinkflation gimmicks.
NotJimIrsay
7. There was once a time when these stretched the length of the package.
slowlysoslowly
8. Sometimes, you need to be extra observant to spot the reduction.
Notice the difference? Not an extra 50%, just 50.
EverydayDan
9. A long time ago, you'd get 6 for the same price. Today, you get 5.
alabastardariel
That is the kind of downgrade people remember immediately.
And if the real crime is “who gets the space,” see the AITA fight over dividing fridge space with a partner.
10. This went from full to less than half a handful.
SilverSideDown
11. Breyers Chocolate Chip is now mostly plain vanilla with little chocolate.
To be fair, the container does say chocolate "chip," not "chips," so we should be grateful for even more than one chip.
94_ny_rangers
12. The new Oreo cream is smaller, thinner, and practically useless.
Luke_Orlando
13. Then, the company created a "double stuffed" alternative.
O_Or-
14. Can you believe that this is new and unused?
GiShG69
Even the packaging tricks are getting called out now.
15. When you look closer, you'll notice they also photoshopped one out of the picture.
Antalol
16. Advertised as 50g but weighs 41g.
Neither-Guess-5802
17. Notice the subtle reduction in the paper towel (old roll core added for comparison).
Tom-o-matic
18. This is the height of it!
BuzzOnBuzzOff
In Summary...
There are many products whose quantity or quality has been compromised over the years due to increasing inflation. From toilet paper to potato chips, nothing is safe.
Companies resort to shrinkflation for different reasons. For instance, a company in a competitive industry may opt for shrinkflation if it feels that increasing prices could lead customers to switch to another brand.
Usually, the need for shrinkflation arises when production costs go up. One of the best ways to notice shrinkflation is by looking out for package redesigns or the introduction of a new slogan.
Companies often redesign their product containers to make shrinkflation less obvious.
While no laws are being broken when manufacturers trim the size of our favorite chocolate bars, deep down in our hearts, we feel they are committing a capital offense.
Like many painful things in life, rather than crying, we choose laughter.
Before you blame “shrinkflation” alone, read about the roommate’s partner who kept eating OP’s snacks without asking.
