3 ms·

The problem is that the package size (or weight) is such a small piece of information that easily falls out of the average person's attention span, allowing the

The problem is that the package size (or weight) is such a small piece of information that easily falls out of the average person's attention span, allowing the purchase to be continued on a misunderstanding that benefits the company that spent all the effort on the trick.

simonh 4y ago
You can’t wish away inflation, it affects companies just as much as it affects us. All their inputs into their goods are more expensive too. I suppose truly deceptive versions of this are possible, but for the most part even if you don’t pay attention to the exact weight or volume, you can see what you are getting. A chocolate bar, bag of fruit, etc. It’s right in front of you, and in many cases you pick it up when you buy it. I don’t even know if a chocolate bar from this or that company are the same size normally anyway. Boxes of cereal come in all sizes at the best of times, so if you really care about the weight you're getting you have to check it carefully anyway. There are already laws mandating that weights be displayed in packaging. As a consumer I just accept the fact things are more expensive, for the company selling me stuff just as much as for myself. It’s up to us as adults to make sure we’re making purchasing decisions that are appropriate for our situation.
- Spooky23 4y ago
  Where it sucks is with things like tuna. Tuna cans were 8oz 30 years ago, and shrunk 1/8 of an ounce at a time to 5 oz today.
  - simonh 4y ago
    I understand, but a law like this wouldn’t actually make tuna cheaper. It would just increase the minimum amount you can buy and price you have to pay. When prices are up and people are trying to economise, is requiring them to buy more of expensive products if they want any at all really benefiting them?
    - Spooky23 4y ago
      Smaller packaging never decreases your costs, just sort of hides whatever price point boundaries marketers think exists. Having to buy 10 oz of tuna because the price point of 8 oz would go from $0.99 to $1.29 isn’t a savings. (Just a hypothetical price) There is some “innovation” in packaging that addresses consumer choice - for example with tuna a smaller portion in a pouch is available for you to take for lunch.
      - CodeWriter23 4y ago
        It’s a cash flow issue, not a cost per unit issue. The “buy in bulk” mentality doesn’t work for cash-strapped individuals, and could potentially force them, for example, to choose two instead of all three of: bread, tuna, mayo because minimum size laws have priced that individual out of the market. How does one make a sandwich for lunch then?
        Spooky23 4y ago
        You make a good point. I suppose that’s one of the ways poor people stay poor - getting pigeonholed into making the best worst choice for many products drains what resources they have.
        CodeWriter23 4y ago
        My apology for being somewhat unclear, I’m not experiencing KPs but rather GUI locks up tight such that either mouse won’t move or Force Quit is ineffective, leaving mashing the power button as the only option. Happens on my current-gen Intel Mac Mini, M1 Mac Mini and my 2015 MBP.

simonh 4y ago

You can’t wish away inflation, it affects companies just as much as it affects us. All their inputs into their goods are more expensive too. I suppose truly deceptive versions of this are possible, but for the most part even if you don’t pay attention to the exact weight or volume, you can see what you are getting. A chocolate bar, bag of fruit, etc. It’s right in front of you, and in many cases you pick it up when you buy it. I don’t even know if a chocolate bar from this or that company are the same size normally anyway. Boxes of cereal come in all sizes at the best of times, so if you really care about the weight you're getting you have to check it carefully anyway. There are already laws mandating that weights be displayed in packaging. As a consumer I just accept the fact things are more expensive, for the company selling me stuff just as much as for myself. It’s up to us as adults to make sure we’re making purchasing decisions that are appropriate for our situation.

Spooky23 4y ago
Where it sucks is with things like tuna. Tuna cans were 8oz 30 years ago, and shrunk 1/8 of an ounce at a time to 5 oz today.
- simonh 4y ago
  I understand, but a law like this wouldn’t actually make tuna cheaper. It would just increase the minimum amount you can buy and price you have to pay. When prices are up and people are trying to economise, is requiring them to buy more of expensive products if they want any at all really benefiting them?
  - Spooky23 4y ago
    Smaller packaging never decreases your costs, just sort of hides whatever price point boundaries marketers think exists. Having to buy 10 oz of tuna because the price point of 8 oz would go from $0.99 to $1.29 isn’t a savings. (Just a hypothetical price) There is some “innovation” in packaging that addresses consumer choice - for example with tuna a smaller portion in a pouch is available for you to take for lunch.
    - CodeWriter23 4y ago
      It’s a cash flow issue, not a cost per unit issue. The “buy in bulk” mentality doesn’t work for cash-strapped individuals, and could potentially force them, for example, to choose two instead of all three of: bread, tuna, mayo because minimum size laws have priced that individual out of the market. How does one make a sandwich for lunch then?
      - Spooky23 4y ago
        You make a good point. I suppose that’s one of the ways poor people stay poor - getting pigeonholed into making the best worst choice for many products drains what resources they have.
        CodeWriter23 4y ago
        My apology for being somewhat unclear, I’m not experiencing KPs but rather GUI locks up tight such that either mouse won’t move or Force Quit is ineffective, leaving mashing the power button as the only option. Happens on my current-gen Intel Mac Mini, M1 Mac Mini and my 2015 MBP.