The Grocery Shrink Ray

One of my favorite websites, The Consumerist, has a section of the site dedicated solely to what they call the Grocery Shrink Ray. Basically manufacturers are shrinking product amounts while keeping the packaging and pricing the same.

I first ran into this several months ago when I needed to get some yogurt for a recipe and realized I’d need two containers whereas I used to only need one. A little while before that I noticed when putting away packages of bulk-store bought toilet paper that the newer packages I’d just bought were a good half inch shorter than the older packages still in the back of the cupboard. Not that that’s a huge deal – it’s only 1/4″ shaved off each roll, but not only was there less in the package the cost had also jumped up. I wonder how many extra rolls that ends up being? I just wish now I’d thought to get a picture!

When questioned, some manufacturers have had the nerve to say they’re making things smaller because their consumers want it that way! This is some fascinating logic considering it now forces the consumers to buy more to get the same amount they used to get. On the flip side, at least others have a sense of humor about it.

Have any of your brands been hit with the shrink ray?

[image: flickr]