Shrinkflation - Discussion and Consumer Law

With regard to shrinkflation (company's reducing the quantity without reducing the price, or doing some combination or reduced quantity and increased price).

I have noticed that even 'premium' brands - where the target consumers are already very rich and probably don't care about the price - are shrinking their products. One case the evidence was left behind on a website. A few weeks back on Woolworth's website, you could search for Connoisseur 4 Pack Ice Creams and there were both 400ml and 475ml options of the same flavours (but the 475ml options were all 'out of stock').

Family also buys Lebanese breads, which come in a big bag. Used to be pack of 6. Just recently we noticed they are now packs of 5. Very sly trick indeed. I bet most people won't notice that. Far fewer than the percent of people that notice the printed weight of an item change.

Why does the consumer law even allow rubbish like this? 'Shrinkflation' is by definition misleading and deceptive. They are trying to pass something off as something it is not. They intend people to consider it the same as it was before the quantity reduction.

I know it may be somewhat restrictive and 'onerous' regulation to make a company commit to a certain quantity and never change ( because what happens if the current machine breaks and cannot be replaced with the same model, or they just want to change machine for price or whatever ).

Companies should stop trying to trick people, and just change the price if they want to recover increased costs. There is a cost to changing their manufacturing process. Just change the price, and be fully transparent!

Comments

  • +15

    Does it say 6 pieces of bread on the pack but only include 5? Then you have a point.

    But pretty sure it would say 5 on the pack in which case the onus is on you to know what you're buying.

    Nothing to do with consumer law. We either pay same for less or pay more for the current same in current inflation market.

      • +28

        It's not deceptive if it's clearly indicated. Which you confirm it is.

          • +3

            @random12: Not misleading , if someone had never purchased the product prior they would not know or think they would be getting the other amount.

          • +2

            @random12: So your opinion is that clearly indicating it is still deceptive. So how would it not be deceptive in your eyes?

            • -5

              @Morien: There is a difference between the letter of the law and the spirit of the law.

              If people continue to buy it believing to get the same as before (which is what mostly happens) and the company intends for the consumer to believe they are still getting the same amount, then yes, it is deceptive. Regardless of changing what the label says.

              • +7

                @random12: How exactly are companies meant to tell the consumer they're not getting the same amount except by updating the labelling?

                Supermarkets list the $/kg (or 100g), the size is on the packaging, short of putting a big red sticker on every packet saying "WARNING:THIS PRODUCT IS POSSIBLY SMALLER THAN YOU EXPECT IT TO BE" what are they meant to do?

                • -6

                  @freefall101: I know that is the possibly problem with regulating it.

                  Maybe require them to put a high visability sticker (one that is designed by ACCC and has a uniform look) on the product for the 30 days following a change. It adds an extra hassle to changing quantity for the sake of being deceptive.

                  • +3

                    @random12: Not sure that'll help much. Connoisseur changed the sizing of their produces from 455ml to 400ml over 2 years ago, unless you picked them up in that month you never would have noticed.

                    You've also yet to show how it's deceptive, products change size all the time based on availability of products, freight and storage and consumer demand. The cost of complying with this regulation would push the price up on everything, all so you don't have read what is clearly on the product.

                    The existing requirement to put the price per kg/100g solved this problem long ago. The manufacturers shouldn't have to hold your hand.

                    • -4

                      @freefall101: "You've also yet to show how it's deceptive" - oh, that's why 99.9% of the time, the quantity is reduced rather than increased. This isn't random. There is a bias to reduce.

              • +6

                @random12:

                and the spirit of the law.

                It’s ah.. it’s the vibe of it, your Honour.

      • +4

        People can charge what they want, it's hardly profiteering to sell five breads instead of six. Maybe their research found that five was better amount because the sixth was tending to go stale for most customers.

        Anyway you should start selling your own six pack of lab bread and show them how it's done, run them out of business.

        • +2

          Ah the good old 'free marketer' - anyone can do anything they like!

          • +1

            @random12: Don't buy it then.

            Or review the unit price and re-evaluate.

      • +3

        The packet should say : No. of pieces inside : 6 5

  • +15

    'premium' brands - where the target consumers are already very rich and probably don't care about the price

    Connoisseur 4 Pack Ice Creams

    You and I have very different definitions of the term 'very rich'

    • +6

      If you eat Connoisseur or Ben and Jerrys when they are not on half price (or even when they are on half price) - you are rich.

      A person that drinks $20,000 bottles of wine is very, very, very rich.

      • +11

        you are rich.
        A person that drinks $20,000 bottles of wine is very, very, very rich.

        You must be working via the logarithmic 'rich' scale.

      • +5

        If you eat Connoisseur or Ben and Jerrys when they are not on half price (or even when they are on half price) - you are rich.

        Buys $5 tub of ice cream on sale and claims they are 'rich'

        • +2

          If you can afford to pay $12/L for icecream everyday, you must be doing pretty well.

          Ben and Jerrys is even higher. Aren't they like $12 for 450ml?

          • +1

            @random12:

            Ben and Jerrys is even higher. Aren't they like $12 for 450ml?

            Its on sale at woolies for $6.50….

          • @random12: Who buys it every day? Even rich people probably don't. They're a treat, not an always food.

          • +1

            @random12: Who consumes a liter of ice cream daily?

            • @SydStrand: Where did I say that?

              I said 'pay $12/L for icecream everyday' (pay the unit price of $12/L everyday - being days without specials).

              Where does it say I am actually buying said quantity everyday?

              Also it doesn't matter how much you consumer daily. Whether something is expensive or not is based on cost per unit, not on how many units you eat.

              • @random12: It does matter. Because whether it's an occasional treat or a daily purchase changes the value proposition significantly. If you go through a tub of ice cream in a month, that difference is amortised over multiple servings.

                Is an extra $1 or so per serving an onerous proposition for a better quality product? For someone who's particular about ice cream, probably not. It's the difference between spending a bit extra for nicer hand soap that lasts ages vs splurging on expensive toilet paper when you chew through 6 rolls a week.

      • 90% of OzBargainers fall into the very rich category. Inflation simply doesn't bother them since they have so much money.

        OzBargainer (noun): an Australian who spends over $50,000 on Lego annually

    • +14

      😂 My first thought

      Ah fyi OP is this guy

      • +1

        You just monitor everytime I post, so then you can make smartass reference to my previous posts?

        • +1

          spackbace = Australian NSA account.

        • +4

          2 clicks and a small scroll

          Takes less effort than writing this comment…

        • Hey mate, we are in the minority but I honestly agree with you 100% about table service in that post!
          I hate it when they interrupt the conversation several times to clear the table / try to sell us more food and drinks or just to ask if we like the food!

          And at Grill'd, it seems like they wait until you've taken a huge bite of the burger to come up and ask if you're enjoying it!
          I even tried to beat the system there. I noticed that they flip some stupid little piece of wood after they've interrupted us, so I started flipping it myself as soon as all the food is on the table. It actually worked about 1/3 of the time.

          But when I rant about it to people irl, it's the same sort of responses you got in your thread last year. Most people actually want this.

  • +9

    We recently noticed the reduction in size of the Connoisseur 4 pack ice-creams too. Not impressed. Another recent reduction is the Birds Eye Golden Crunch range of chips going from 1kg down to 900gm. I'd rather just pay more personally. Instead they are both slashing product sizes and ramping up the prices simultaneously. Makes me angry, but no-one cares about what consumers think in this country.

    • +3

      Did you stop buying?

      If no, why would they care?

  • +4

    Looks like OP does not go shopping very often as it's been going on for the last 10 years. Chips are not 175g instead of the very old 250g.

    • +1

      10 years? Try 20+ years.

  • +3

    Used to be pack of 6. Just recently we noticed they are now packs of 5. Very sly trick indeed. I bet most people won't notice that.

    Based Lebanese bread company then: they've perfected the art of detecting NPCs.

    Imagine not being able to tell the difference between 5 and 6.

    • +1

      NPC - number of products counted? - why use abbreviations for terms that are not commonly understood.

      I don't look in the bag and separate and count them. I dont think most people would either. You would read the whole bag (or maybe front of the bag that shows the number) the first few times you buy, and the rest of the time its on auto pilot. It looks like the same bag as before.

      • +4
      • -1

        and the rest of the time its on auto pilot.

        Sure, but that's the exact kind of drone-tier, consoomer NPC behaviour I was talking about. If the company can change the number of items in the bag (which would also noticeably lower the weight), and even go as far as changing the 6 to a 5 on the product wrapping and yet a customer still didn't realise until they got home and went to make the 6th sandwich and found themselves a bread roll short, then how on earth is that the company's fault?

        • -3

          They are not rolls, they are wraps. Also they are not exactly identical to one another, and they can very easily overlap. You have to separate them completely to count them, which is not what anyone would do at the supermarket (man handling others food).

          "Noticeably lower weight' - WRONG. Can you easily tell the difference between the weight of 5 coins and of 6 coins? I bet you can't.

          • @random12:

            You have to separate them completely to count them

            Or, y'know, look at the number that the producer has helpfully placed on the front of the package.

            Wraps are even worse. I buy wraps all the time and I'm always double-checking the number because every brand seems to pick some random number of wraps to put in. Are you seriously saying that you go shopping in some sort of ludicrous 'NPC trance' where you're not even cognizant of the items that you're buying? That's terrifying.

            • +1

              @whatwasherproblem: You are purposely trolling aren't you?

              No one completely reads the whole packaging of every item they buy, everytime they shop.

              They look at it, see it is the same brand/colour/flavour as last time (and same approximate size - by volume) and then they take it.

              Ok, I will come and follow you shopping. You better read every single letter on the packaging of everything you buy, every time. Including the nutrition panel.

              • +2

                @random12:

                You are purposely trolling aren't you?

                I prefer 'funposting', and: yes, perhaps.

                No one completely reads the whole packaging of every item they buy, everytime they shop.

                I never said to read the whole package. Good news: they usually list the number of wraps included in big, bold text in centre-bottom on the front, and they do this for the convenience of you, the consoomer. It takes like a fraction of a second to glance at it when you're adding it to your trolley so you can make sure that the number is what you expect.

                Ok, I will come and follow you shopping.

                Kind of creepy, bro, but hey, I won't knock it without trying it first. Sounds like fun, actually. Come find me and I'll happily read out the package writing for various items for you while we go shopping at Colesworths. We can make a day out of it.

                Including the nutrition panel.

                I'll even teach you about the joyous benefits of macro counting.

              • +1

                @random12: Well I always carefully look at the labels. Obviously you are very very rich if you can afford not to.

              • +1

                @random12: He's a troll. Ignore.

      • +1

        NPC confirmed

    • +1

      Maybe OP can't read Arabic…

  • +3

    Why does the consumer law even allow rubbish like this?

    They would laugh at you. Companies are free to charge what they want and adjust the products as they like.

    You also are free to buy the product or not.

  • +2

    Unit Pricing holds over time.

    Edit: As in the standard holds, not the price/unit. this is where you will see the inflation

  • +4

    Thank OP for the biggest entitled poster talking nonsense laugh I have had all day.. nay, all week. READ THE PACKET!!!!!!!! Jeebus….

  • What next, fast food companies not filling up hot chip packets the full way?

    • +6

      For the (few?) uninitiated, OP has a thorough history of posts that are

      1. X is bullshit!
      2. People responding, patiently explaining X
        3: Ignores the logic, "Time to repeat the first thing I said, no new information today please"

      Repeat steps 2 and 3 until thread dies.

      The KFC chip box is the gold-standard, but "it's time for me to demonstrate how little I know about accounting / let's discuss leave balances" has a nostalgic place in my heart.

      • -8

        Im running out of neg votes.

        • +15

          How can that be? Every single comment you make attracts a ton of them.

        • Considering your post history, that's rich.

        • I'm new here. What's a neg vote and how do I quote?

          puts hard hat on

          I kind of agree with the OP. I'm also guilty of just grabbing the packet (especially if it's on sale) and just assuming it's the same as last time I bought it.

          But when I got caught short, it never occurred to me to complain about it though! Just made a note to pay attention next time.

          It's been a while, but there used to be an add "a glass and a half of full cream dairy milk in every 200g block" on Cadbury's milk chocolate.

          They don't have 200g blocks anymore but they don't run that ad anymore either.

  • +3

    Wait till you buy bags of chips. Did you know that a lot of the product just has air in it? You'd think the whole thing should be full of chips. I reckon that's your next target once you successfully sue the Lebanese bread company.

    • At $5.50 a bag now I won't be doing that for a while.

    • +1

      Don't tempt the OP, he'd sue KFC for their poorly-filled boxes next.

  • even the soy milk has gone upto $1.15 now @ aldi which was $1.09 before,
    then coming up it would go further up too. Bloody hate the government and RBA's mess up of the inflation

  • +1

    It was medicare, now this.

    Restaurant’s have smaller servings for the same price, some higher price and smaller servings, OP you should go after them.

    With supermarkets the weight is clearly shown, restaurants on the other hand…

    Good luck! /s

  • +1

    Despite being made in Australia, Snickers have shrunk also, as noted by richardL in this post

  • +4

    I used to buy a 4-pound (2kg) loaf of bread for 9 pence back in 1923.

    These days a 700g loaf of bread costs $6.

    It’s outrageous.

    • You should buy home brand. But wait, that's more than $1 a loaf too now. NFI if the weight has changed - I never check.

  • +10

    What’s the deal with Ovaltine? It comes in a round container, you put it in a round glass, why don’t they call it Roundtine?

    • I understood that reference

    • My pantry shelves are square. I waste so much space putting round containers on square shelves. Fridge is the same - I don't have a round fridge either but I have lots of square storage containers :)

  • +1

    Ever noticed that the 2L bottle of COLD POWER washing detergent is now labelled 2Le (with an "e" meaning Estimated), whilst the 1.8 Litre bottle does not have this?
    Yet the contents/shape of bottle/volume remains the same -as does the price???

  • +1

    "misleading and deceptive"

    lmao

  • +2

    I simply just do not get it. Why is Inflation and Shrinkflation so difficult for some of you to understand and let alone accept.

    Products & services are always increasing, from the base raw ingredient to electricity & wages; you all know this.

    Therefore, manufacturers and retailers have only two options. Price up or product down, it is so very simple.

    Or would you prefer then to go bankrupt, or stop paying above award wages etc(where applicable)?

    Do you forget the most very basic of all the Rights you have in this Country… your Choice.

    If you do not like it, do it better yourself, do not buy it, or change brands and or products.

    You have the power to choose, as so do the Manufactures, Wholesalers & Retailers.

    You have your right to choose as much as they have their right on how to market.

    Inflation is higher than last year, but not as high as it has been or will be.

    Inflation & Shrinkflation is as guaranteed as Death and Taxes.

    Give the 'flation issue - whinging a rest, please for pity sake.

    I do not see the whingers when their wages increased.

    How many Negs for stating what many are thinking?

    • It is very simple to understand.

      The only way to be truly, fully transparent is to put the price up.

      To go to the effort changing your manufacturing process for the sole purpose of reducing the amount and being deceptive is FRAUD.

      "I do not see the whingers when their wages increased." - how many people have had an above inflation raise in the last year (that haven't changed jobs)?

      • "….for the sole purpose of reducing the amount and being deceptive is FRAUD." Seriously? Have you lost your common sense?

        You are simply mistaken, there is no fraud nor deception.

        Going out on a limb here but (most) people I believe and especially those on a budget would rather have 90% of something instead of your option - 100% of nothing, when it is out of their budget.

        Again, their choice to keep a product available and stay in business, regardless of the open and transparent changes while it is your choice to buy any brand product or size product you like.

        A smaller car today can cost the same as a larger car of 10yrs ago…. is this size your so called misguided deception & fraud as well?

        Rhetorical question. Who hurt you to feel so strongly on this?

        • +1

          I'm sure companies are thinking of the customers best interest when determining how to increase prices /s.

          Shrinkflation is done because it's sneaky and people are less likely to notice it, not out of some sense of corporate altruism.

      • It is not a fraud unless they state certain qty on the packaging but the fact is less than the stated qty.
        If you receive a used item but in fact order and pay for a brand new item like what happened to me, you can then call it a fraud.

      • The only way to be truly, fully transparent is to put the price up.

        But when they put the price up, you complain about it. Lol

    • I didn't read it but it looks cool

    • +1

      I agree with you, but silently reducing grams and/or pieces in a product is dodgy to keep the same price.

      I'm not in business, but I'm sure the corporations know shrinking is better than increasing prices to keep customer perceptions intact.

      IMO, the average person don't really notice shrinking but they do notice a price increase or a decline in food / product quality.

    • You can get a Uni degree in marketing, I don't think there's one for domestic shopping though (can do supply chain in BBus).

      At least his whinging gave you something to do for a while. Shoulda just scrolled by if you didn't want to read it.

  • +1

    I found the best way to avoid shrinkflation is to stay away from cold water.

  • +1

    Domino's pizzas are the worst, the large now is like a small pizza at a local pizza shop

  • +2

    Unit pricing has already solved this issue.

    If flatbread brand A has 5 pieces, and flatbread brand B has 8 pieces, the consumer can choose whichever one is cheaper per gram, or not.

    I now remember unit pricing, you should too, and not be loyal to any particular brand of product

  • +3

    A lot of people I know start avoiding these brands once they've shrunk small enough and start going for alternative full sized ones instead. For example, most people in my circle no longer buy pringles because it just looks cheap and tacky compared to other brands and they no longer taste the same anyway.

    • +1

      Yep I get the 160g homebrand stacked chips sometimes. Pringles are only 134g.

    • +3

      100% I don't buy pringles anymore but it was 50% off at Woolies and I purchased it after 4+ years not having it. And omg.. the tubes are so small! I couldn't put my hand in it anymore!

      I purchased the sour cream and onion one and the taste was so different from what I remember, really salty too.

      I now buy the Aldi version and it's cheaper, larger and taste way better

  • +3

    Exactly the same problem for me.
    When I visit my local brothel I used to last 2 minutes 30 seconds but now I barely last a full 2 minutes.

    • You need to pick the ugliest one there and turn the lights on.. You'll definitely last your allocated 1 hour.

  • +1

    Pizzas going smaller and less toppings - looking at you Costco .

    Oreo biscuits are smaller too

  • Troll post however…

    Companies should stop trying to trick people

    I agree, but at the same time, there are things you can do to reduce the chance of being tricked. Perhaps this is a learning opportunity for you to be more aware of the goods that you are purchasing and calculate whether the price per unit is something you are still happy with, or seek alternatives. There might be a smaller business that sells better and/or cheaper Lebanese bread nearby.

  • +1

    What if I still want to buy the product because I enjoy consuming it but would not be able to afford a price increase and appreciate the option to still purchase a lower quantity/weight?

    If I want more because I can afford it, I can just buy more.

    You must be rich to just be able to absorb price increases to get the same product weight, which means you can just buy more. Stop trying to make it harder for those that are struggling to get by.

  • Laughs in Haagen Dazs at RRP

  • Caveat emptor

    • +2

      Definition:
      "Do not enter a cave unless its empty"

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