Weasel Tactics?

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Weasel Tactics?

Submitted by: Ray @ Tip Hero 10/31/2009 7:51 PM

I hate the little games marketers play to make you think you're getting more for your money. I got these Speed Sticks the other day. On the shelf it looked like I was getting a healthy size of deodorant for my money, but when I got home and turned it around I noticed that a third of it was just packaging. Also notice how they use the sticker in front to make you think more of the package is filled with deodorant than it actually contains.

The Consumerist has been following a somewhat related trend they call the grocery shrink ray, where marketers reduce the product size but not the price in an effort to make you think you're still getting the same amount of product for your dollar.

An interesting side note. I heard Margaret Thatcher's first job out of university was figuring out how much air you could put in ice cream without it losing its shape and characteristics. This was in response to rationing which persisted long after the war.

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Comments:

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That is very weasely indeed. I would def submit it to the Consumerist's Shrink Ray for all to see. Now named Speed Stick for the speed at which you will go through the shrunken tube.

Posted by Karen on October 31, 2009 9:37 PM

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This little trick is becoming more and more widespread. Cans of tuna are smaller than they used to be by an ounce. Sugar used to be sold in 5 lb sacks. Now the standard size is 4 lbs. Most recently I noticed that the size of dry cat food bags had shrank noticeably...from 17 lbs to a scanty 13. Plus the prices on these same items has continued to increase. It's ridiculous and unfair.

Posted by anonymous on November 01, 2009 1:34 PM

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I noticed this trend a while back.

Posted by Viki on November 01, 2009 7:38 PM

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Same with gallons of Ice Cream. My dad told me this - some manufacturers cut the size of their gallon ice cream buckets but make it look like the same old gallon. make sure you look at the price/gallon when you compare prices!

Posted by Katie on November 02, 2009 11:20 AM

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And what makes this even worse is the environmental costs. The cost of the excess packaging is included in the cost of the product. So we are paying more for excess packaging that will end up in landfills. Packaging makes up a third of our trash!

Something else to chew on: On average $1 out of every $11 Americans spend for food goes for packaging.

Posted by Urban Sherp on November 02, 2009 12:05 PM

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Katie, indeed, consumerist caught Edy's ice ream in the act: Link

Urban Sherp, pretty sobering statistics.

Posted by Ray @ Tip Hero on November 02, 2009 6:17 PM

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Another tactic marketers use are teaser percentages on the front label of a product that read, "40% More". But when you read closer it says, "40% More compared with (for example) 32 oz. size" or something of that nature. You think they're giving you 40% more than they normally do but they are only really saying that you're buying the bigger size. Sheesh!

Posted by anonymous on November 02, 2009 9:50 PM

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I always purchased my file folders at Wal-mart and paid somewhere in the neighborhood of $3-4.00. The last time I went I picked up the box in that price range and thought it felt light, but took it home and compared with my old box and found it had 1/2 the folders of my old box at the same price! ugggh! I felt really cheated!

Posted by anonymous on November 03, 2009 9:52 PM

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to anonymous who bought the folders at Wal-Mart. It's gotten so bad that I pretty much now price everything out by the volume, weight, or count. Marketers of products are so price point obsessed that they would rather play these little games than be upfront about price increases.

Posted by Ray @ Tip Hero on November 03, 2009 11:55 PM

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To the one who made the sugar comment... Aldi still sells 5 lb. bags of sugar, for less then the walmart brand! I just love Aldi!

Posted by Nae on November 04, 2009 8:25 AM

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I wish we had an Aldi store here in Colorado!
Does anyone know if store brand sugar is significantly different than name brand sugar?
I've started using a lot of store brand products this past year, but haven't tried out sugar or flour yet. Getting ready to do holiday baking soon.
Thanks~

Posted by Trish on November 04, 2009 11:12 AM

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I have been using store brand sugar and flour for a long time now and notice no difference to a name brand product.

Posted by Norene on November 05, 2009 1:34 PM

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Even store brand prices are becoming ridiculous!!

Posted by ADRealty on November 05, 2009 3:05 PM

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I recently purchased Physician's Formula concealer. It came in a little plastic cube about 1" square and 1" high. But when I opened it up, the top 1/2" was empty and the inside had been painted the same color as the concealer to make it seem the entire cube was full. I like PF makeup, but that was the last time I bought that!

Posted by anonymous on November 05, 2009 5:31 PM

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This isn't really shrinkage but the other day I was in Win Dixie and there was a buy one get one free offer for $3.99. I checked under the buy one get one free sign and the regular price was 2 for $3.99, watch out !!!!

Posted by Paul on November 05, 2009 5:39 PM

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@ anonymous who bought PF makeup, that's terrible, marketers are going to lose some of their best and most loyal customers if they keep playing these games. It's not worth the risk.

@ Paul, it may not be shrinkage but it is weaseley. My friend Charlie at PaylessForfood has a whole series of great posts on the games grocery markets play to get you to pay more. You should check it out at: http://www.paylessforfood.com/category/supermarket-pricing-tricks/

Posted by Ray @ Tip Hero on November 05, 2009 6:32 PM

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You could try a price book. Calculate the prices out by the ounce, brand and store. That way at least you can compare and get the LEAST weasely price.

Posted by olivia on November 05, 2009 9:26 PM

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My three rules:

1. Never shop in a hurry.
2. Never grocery shop when you're hungry.
3. Pay attention!!! Always read labels & small print.

Posted by anonymous on November 07, 2009 12:42 PM

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I am surprised that people think the prices will never go up. If the price never increases then I am surprised the size is smaller...

Posted by anonymous on November 07, 2009 8:42 PM

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All brands of ice cream here are now 1.5 quarts instead of a half gallon (2 quarts). You get a pint less than before at either the same price or higher.
I now compare ingredients on all toiletries such as toothpaste, soap, shampoo, lotions etc. to get the best price. Be sure to check both the "active ingredients" and the "inactive ingredients". I recently got a free sample of an expensive wrinkle cream. The first 2 ingredients are water and glycerine. Inexpensive ingredients in an expensive product. I won't be buying the product.

The more varieties a product has, the more shelf space they can hog in the store to try to edge the competition out.

I always bought toilet paper by the number of sheets per roll, per package, and price. And I'm worthy of two-ply. Now I have to buy it based on price and square feet. I will use a calculator if necessary in the store.

Charging more is one thing. Trying to hide the increase from us is another thing entirely. The word "dishonest" comes to mind.

Posted by Dee in RI on November 16, 2009 3:38 AM

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