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Not if they do it like this: Step 1: Shrink existing packages but keep the same price Step 2: Introduce a new package with a catchy name like "mega-sized" tha

Not if they do it like this: Step 1: Shrink existing packages but keep the same price Step 2: Introduce a new package with a catchy name like "mega-sized" that is equivalent to the older normal size but now for a higher price Step 3: Discontinue the smaller package Step 4: Rinse and repeat

adventurer 5y ago
I have seen Walmart and the supermarket offer the bigger family size box which cost more per oz than the smaller box. Maybe this is the short time where they offer both sizes and faze the other out but it sure makes me think people don't pay attention. People can't seem to do simple math based on how sales prices are consistently implemented. Coke and Pepsi sales alone is a good example. Calculating the cost of a 24 pack as cheaper than a 12 is a mystery to the average consumer.
- DSMan195276 5y ago
  I disagree that people are incapable, I think a large portion just don't care all that much. Frankly I certainly fall into that category for lots of things - I'm more concerned with getting a reasonable amount (and not wasting tons of time in the store) than the exact cheapest price, especially when the difference usually isn't that drastic in the end. Going with your example, I buy a 12 pack because I don't drink pop that often and really don't have room to store a 24 pack, so saving a dollar or two just doesn't justify it for me. Where-as for other products that I do get a lot of I take the time to make sure I'm getting a good deal. I will readily say that the above is a luxury that not everybody has, but then buying the best per oz price is a luxury not everybody has either. Certainly there are oddball cases like you pointed out, but typically the larger items have a better per oz pricing and not everybody can afford the higher upfront price even if the per item price is less.
- firecall 5y ago
  Here in Australia they put the price per unit on the shelf sticker! Like for Pepsi it will show $1.67/per litre, for instance. Then you can easily shop all the 24 or 30 multipacks. Also, like other countries the actual weight inside the same packaging are shrinking. Chocolate Bars are a good example. They've tried pushing the smaller than 350ml can size, but it hasnt stuck. In the UK they have a 330ml can size. Source: I work in Marketing and currently am working for retail FMCG and F&B clients, so research things on shelves more than your average human :-)
  - distances 5y ago
    330ml is a standard size in Europe, both for cans and bottles. Next step is 500ml. So wasn't due to shrinkage.
  - me_me_me 5y ago
    > In the UK they have a 330ml can size. Well there are the new taller cans that look 'bigger'. even though it probably costs more to make those in terms of aluminium ammounts.
  - dhosek 5y ago
    They do in the US, at least at the major grocery stores. Not always for sale items though.
- only_as_i_fall 5y ago
  Sometimes I wonder how much wealth transfer there is based on people who were never taught how to avoid this kind of trickery being duped. The person that buys the overpriced "value" pack is basically giving money to PepsiCo or whatever, but in effect that subsidizes the conscientious consumer.
  - mywittyname 5y ago
    Cost per unit is present on the price tags in every grocery that I've been to. Certainly Walmart does it.
    - only_as_i_fall 5y ago
      Right, but clearly people just ignore those, otherwise shrinkflation wouldn't be worth doing.
systemvoltage 5y ago
They can also keep the box size the same, but put less stuff in the box. Back in the day, ~50+ years ago, we used to have stores like this [1] and you'd buy most items based on how much it weighs. I wish we would buy things not as a "package", but loose. Some countries in Asia still have stores that sell stuff by the kilogram. There are also grocery stores in US like Sprouts that have dispensers for dry fruits, nuts, grains, cereal, etc. which is sold by weight. Everytime I see one, I ditch the brand name packages and opt for it. [1] https://dustyoldthing.com/15-photos-old-general-stores/ https://dustyoldthing.com/15-photos-old-general-stores/
- distances 5y ago
  You can find these in many European countries. Not super common and probably more expensive than the boxed variant (catering now for the ecological audience), but they are there.
- bushbaba 5y ago
  Canada has the bulk barn
MarkLowenstein 5y ago
This is the answer. Shrinkflation happens all the time, with bigger sizes being reintroduced at the top, and apparently it's executed well enough for people not to notice, since this is the first comment I've seen that acknowledges it. There is a great analog in sound: the Shepard tone, a.k.a. the "sonic barber pole": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9VMfdG873E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9VMfdG873E To your ear, the pitch constantly descends, yet it can go on infinitely without ever actually getting "low".

adventurer 5y ago

I have seen Walmart and the supermarket offer the bigger family size box which cost more per oz than the smaller box. Maybe this is the short time where they offer both sizes and faze the other out but it sure makes me think people don't pay attention. People can't seem to do simple math based on how sales prices are consistently implemented. Coke and Pepsi sales alone is a good example. Calculating the cost of a 24 pack as cheaper than a 12 is a mystery to the average consumer.

DSMan195276 5y ago
I disagree that people are incapable, I think a large portion just don't care all that much. Frankly I certainly fall into that category for lots of things - I'm more concerned with getting a reasonable amount (and not wasting tons of time in the store) than the exact cheapest price, especially when the difference usually isn't that drastic in the end. Going with your example, I buy a 12 pack because I don't drink pop that often and really don't have room to store a 24 pack, so saving a dollar or two just doesn't justify it for me. Where-as for other products that I do get a lot of I take the time to make sure I'm getting a good deal. I will readily say that the above is a luxury that not everybody has, but then buying the best per oz price is a luxury not everybody has either. Certainly there are oddball cases like you pointed out, but typically the larger items have a better per oz pricing and not everybody can afford the higher upfront price even if the per item price is less.
firecall 5y ago
Here in Australia they put the price per unit on the shelf sticker! Like for Pepsi it will show $1.67/per litre, for instance. Then you can easily shop all the 24 or 30 multipacks. Also, like other countries the actual weight inside the same packaging are shrinking. Chocolate Bars are a good example. They've tried pushing the smaller than 350ml can size, but it hasnt stuck. In the UK they have a 330ml can size. Source: I work in Marketing and currently am working for retail FMCG and F&B clients, so research things on shelves more than your average human :-)
- distances 5y ago
  330ml is a standard size in Europe, both for cans and bottles. Next step is 500ml. So wasn't due to shrinkage.
- me_me_me 5y ago
  > In the UK they have a 330ml can size. Well there are the new taller cans that look 'bigger'. even though it probably costs more to make those in terms of aluminium ammounts.
- dhosek 5y ago
  They do in the US, at least at the major grocery stores. Not always for sale items though.
only_as_i_fall 5y ago
Sometimes I wonder how much wealth transfer there is based on people who were never taught how to avoid this kind of trickery being duped. The person that buys the overpriced "value" pack is basically giving money to PepsiCo or whatever, but in effect that subsidizes the conscientious consumer.
- mywittyname 5y ago
  Cost per unit is present on the price tags in every grocery that I've been to. Certainly Walmart does it.
  - only_as_i_fall 5y ago
    Right, but clearly people just ignore those, otherwise shrinkflation wouldn't be worth doing.

systemvoltage 5y ago

They can also keep the box size the same, but put less stuff in the box. Back in the day, ~50+ years ago, we used to have stores like this [1] and you'd buy most items based on how much it weighs. I wish we would buy things not as a "package", but loose. Some countries in Asia still have stores that sell stuff by the kilogram. There are also grocery stores in US like Sprouts that have dispensers for dry fruits, nuts, grains, cereal, etc. which is sold by weight. Everytime I see one, I ditch the brand name packages and opt for it. [1] https://dustyoldthing.com/15-photos-old-general-stores/ https://dustyoldthing.com/15-photos-old-general-stores/

distances 5y ago
You can find these in many European countries. Not super common and probably more expensive than the boxed variant (catering now for the ecological audience), but they are there.
bushbaba 5y ago
Canada has the bulk barn

MarkLowenstein 5y ago

This is the answer. Shrinkflation happens all the time, with bigger sizes being reintroduced at the top, and apparently it's executed well enough for people not to notice, since this is the first comment I've seen that acknowledges it. There is a great analog in sound: the Shepard tone, a.k.a. the "sonic barber pole": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9VMfdG873E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9VMfdG873E To your ear, the pitch constantly descends, yet it can go on infinitely without ever actually getting "low".