There are certain things in life you can always count on, literally. One is that Scott toilet paper will have 1000 sheets on the roll and will last a lot longer than its ever-shrinking competitors.
Scott recently released a “Now Improved!” version of the product saying in an ad that it is an “improved long-lasting value.” “Now with a new soft-textured pattern — and long-lasting convenience.”
What they didn’t boast about was this:
*MOUSE PRINT: Each of the 1000 sheets is now 3.7 inches instead of the old 4.0 inches long, thus making each roll 300 inches shorter. [Click picture to see old and new packaging and square footage statement.]
In an email, the makers of Scott explained further:
“The new embossed sheet on SCOTT® 1000 bathroom tissue was extensively tested with consumers before it was introduced to the market. Consumer research indicated that the embossed sheet enhanced softness, thickness, and overall product quality. Although consumers preferred this new sheet, we are sorry that you were disappointed. Please be assured that we will share your comments with those involved.
Consumers told us that they preferred our new embossed sheet. To add this feature, we need to choose to either reduce the number of sheets in the roll or decrease the size of each sheet to maintain the overall roll diameter. Consumers favored the smaller sheet to the count reduction. “
Toilet paper, like many products is periodically downsized. You get a little bit less, and typically the package stays the same as does the selling price. It is a clever way to pass on a price increase, since you are paying more per ounce, pound, foot, or whatever.
Thousand sheet toilet paper started out by having sheets that were typically 4.5 inches wide by 4.5 inches long. The length was shortened a bit to 4.4 inches and then to 4.0 inches. With Scott going to 3.7 inches, the other brands are sure to follow. The net result is that 8/10ths of an inch has been shaved from each sheet over the years. That means each roll is 800 inches shorter.
Some improvement.
I will not purchase the Scott brand again!
Charmin has just pulled something similar. I noticed two slightly different heights on packages of Ultra 12 double-roll. The rolls have been reduced in width, from 4.5 inches to 4.27 inches.
i think you are all rediculous. who stinking cares how many sheets of toilet paper are on scott toilet paper or how long the sheets are?!?! seriously people. get a life or a hobbie or something.
Math? .3 inches times 1000 equals 300 inches not 800 inches. To me the new stuff works just as well and who really counts the number of sheet they use each time. It’s still a better buy from the other brands and we don’t have any clogged toilets like we experienced with some of the others.
Frankly, I really do not care about the size, as long as it does not
80 grit sand paper in texture. I am sensitive, ya know!
sorry, should have read as long as it does not resemble 80 grit
Has anyone actually measured the diameter of the old paper tube vs. the new tube? Also, regarding the discussion of thinner but longer sheet vs. puffier but shorter sheet: can anyone measure the weight of the paper (less cardboard tube) of the old and the new versions? If the new puffy version has significantly less total weight then that would belie the “its a smaller sheet but the puffed quality makes up for it” argument and expose the puffiness as a red herring.
If I understand, the original point was that you are getting less than you
thought you were getting with the new size. The same is true with paper towels.
The deception involved is that the label says the same number of sheets, but
the fine print reveals that the size of each sheet being smaller, you are
getting less. I wonder if Government Inflation figures are based on the shrinking
sizes of product packages. Do the people doing the research for the government
actually check the fine print or do they assume that a roll of TP is just a roll
of TP?
The real conspiracy is: why don’t we have those butt sprayers like they do in Eurpoe? That would reduce how much toilet paper is needed. It’s conservative, and a nice jet cleans better ;0)
not to mention the cardboard rube is larger in diameter now than in the past
nit picky but true
Ironically, while American toilet paper is getting S-M-A-L-L-E-R, the average American rump is getting W-I-D-E-R.
;-P
worse yet, i fell for scott’s extra soft toilet tissue. for same price
as the 1000 roll i am getting 600 sheets. beware!
Less product, same price? Nothing new! Ice cream used to come in half gallon
cartons, coffee in lb cans. Consummers take this type of bait & switch price
increase easier that a straight price increase. I’m waiting for 10 eggs
to a carton merchandising (cartons will be streched to be the same size as
the ones holding a dozen).
As other’s mentioned, this is nothing new. I used to work for a fellow who’s prior job was at the place that manufactures Brawny paper towel. They also made several brands of tissue.
He told me that they regularly play this kind of game in the paper products industry. A box of kleenex will slowly lose sheets and eventually as it becomes too obvious the box is less full the boxes will shrink too. Then they will release a “Family Size” or “Jumbo Size” or whatever box that is really about the original sheet count but at a higher price. Then the process starts all over.
I’m not certain but I heard that they have managed to get changes to the law that lets them leave off sheet count. That may not be true but the box of Kleenex I am looking at right now doesn’t have them. Then again it was in a bulk pack so maybe it’s only required on the outside wrapping.
I know that everyones keeps looking at the 300 inches AND cant really visualize it, but that .3 inches is taking 25ft of TP off the roll.. I honstly think they should make it six inches long instead of four and cut the count to around 600 sheets. Honestly, who uses one sheet of TP? I think that one sheet of 6 inch of TP would go farther and be more efficent use rather than shrinking the TP size.
Personally I like Charmin. Mega roll has 704 sheets…I’m not going to notice that much of a difference. They even have one with lotion. They just think consumers are goin to just grab & not think! Like the Migraine & Arthritis Tylenol…no special ingrediant in them…just longer lasting…heck I can take Tylenol more often! I don’t need to buy one for each problem. Less Calories Milky Ways…less candy!!!! Then the bottles of kitchen Bacterial spray & bathroom…is there different ingredients for different bacteria? No! And they say 25% more…how could you tell? They don’t tell you how much of the active ingredient is in it on the back of the bottle! We are suppose to take their word for it! Ugh!
We are clearly being misled, why not? Should Scotts care
about the consumer loyalty it has enjoyed for so long? I
think so and I am no longer a customer. It was very clear
that they began reducing the roll size some time ago. Remember
when the new roll would hardly turn in the dispenser because
it was larger than everyone elses product? Now it spins
freely. Here’s a tip: take a look at the generic brands that
offer 1000 sheets per roll. Each square is not 4.5″ x 4.5″
like the old Scotts was but the length is 4.0″ on some rather
than the 3.7″ of Scotts and they are priced competitively even
when they are not on sale. Thanks for reading this!
I’ve got a solution: Get a bidet!
Why would someone cheat you out of toilet paper thats pretty low. Well when i go
to the store im not going to buy Scott toilet paper anymore.
Sheet length? Sheet thickness? Sheet count? Roll weight?
Who cares? All that matters to me is that I get the same number of effective, um, “uses” before I have to reach under the sink for the next roll.
If someone made really high quality toilet paper that would REALLY work well with one sheet, but only gave me 100 sheets on a roll, why is that any worse than a similarly priced roll of 1000 sheets that require 10 sheets per use?
So, here’s my proposal to the paper industry: Don’t tell us how many sheets are in the package and don’t tell us how much surface area is in the package (this ignores the 3rd dimention anyway) – just run some tests, get an average usage rate, and tell us how many generic USES are in the package. This provides an apples-to-apples comparitor for us. And, no, since I may use more than the average and the next guy may use less, the actual number won’t count, but it will let us compare this package to the next.
First of all: Scott toilet paper DID NOT stay the same price.
It went up 10 cents a roll, and it decreased in length. I
could swear that it is thinner too. Did anyone check that
aspect? My first thought was “gosh I didn’t think it was
possible to make this any thinner, but they did.” I have to
make sure that I pull more off the roll, because if I don’t,
my fingers go right thru it. So, no matter how you look at it,
Scott toilet paper doesn’t last near as long as it did. And
for an extra 10 cents a roll, that’s a double whammy. I do
agree, it feels softer, but I think that is just because it
is flimsier. I have to pay a lot closer attention to how
much paper I pull off the roll now, than I ever had to before.
I never bought Scott. Now I never will.
I remember when SCOTT and other Toilet Paper’s were like 11cents a roll, now now only
are they making the rolls SMALLER but it cost almost $1.00 to use it, don’t forget to
also add the tax! Then you have the super duper double stuff that clogs up the toilet
Especially if you have kids. So either way you cant win.
I either buy the store brands now or MARCAL. They are both reasonably priced!
“…consumers preferred this new sheet…”
Scott is spouting a series of white lies to make people believe that they are listening to their customers. In fact, it appears that Scott diliberately set up a faulty test in order to get consumers to appear to say what Scott would love to hear them say. Scott would love to hear that consumers would prefer to receive less value for the same price.
Here is how Scott did it. They improved the individual sheet, by embossing it. Then they got a small group to try it out. They liked it. It may not have been a significant difference, but they felt it was better than the non-embossed sheets. Then Scott told consumers they would have to either shorten the sheets, or have less sheets. Those were the only two choices. Consumers chose shorter sheets.
Notice that Scott never asked the consumers whether embossing made enough of a difference that they would prefer to shorten the sheets. Sneaky.
I got all this info from reading between the lines in the two paragraphs displayed in the post. Re-read it if you need to.
Scott is much too soft and thin for me. I use Marcal, but from summer I found that an impostor has been selling thin and shiny paper in Marcal wrappers. They should investigate and arrest somebody.
I found out long ago that I need to tear used hand-towels into 8 portions and fold each 2″ x 3″ piece into 2 digits of thin tissue to wipe properly. Repeat as necessary. If I dont, my fingers will punch through into feces every time (ugh).
They are downsizing everything. shorten eyebrow pencils. You can barely hold onto it. Kleenix tissues also short sheet.
I just KNEW there had to have been a change in the amount in each roll because our large family is going through it faster. I had not previously previously noted the size of each sheet so I couldn’t compare that; however, I did notice that there were still 1000 sheets, so I thought maybe the new texture was somehow related to the amount we were using (?) I Googled Scott TP to see what I could come up with and found you – and the answer! I.e., less TP on each roll. Duh! Good grief, if I wanted softer I’d get one of the designer brands. I want economy! I’m disgusted.
I have a hard time wondering why a lot of seemingly smart adults are having such a deep discussion about toilet paper. I’m sure there are other much more important topics to talk about. I use Scotts, but whether I use it again or not is really not that important for a discussion.
I have bought scott for the last five years, I am switching I get tired of deceptive packaging.
These co downsize on soup cookies ketchup you name it. anything to charge you more. and you get less.
I wonder what will happen when they cant downsize anymore?
Manufacturers have been doing this for years. Check out that 3 lb can or 1 lb can of coffee you buy. It is now 14 oz or 39 oz. If the price doesn’t go up the quantity comes down. There is no free lunch.
You’re all missing the point. 1000 sheets at 4″ = 4000 linear inches
or approximately 333′.
1000 sheets at 3.7″ = 3700 linear inches or approximately 308′.
That’s a difference of 25ft.
If there’s 4 rolls in a package that’s 100′ less per package. For ease of
calculating, let’s say you use 1 ft per wipe.
That’s 100 less wipes per package.
I have been a scott tp purchaser for years.BOOOO on your new & improved.
I don’t like the texture,feels thicker like I’m using a paper towel.
It stickes to the roll making it hard to take off(roll off)
I shop at BJ’S Wholesale,Therefore I was “stuck” with 24 rolls.
Please please please go back to the original
When I compare prices on TP I use sq feet which is on the packaging. We prefer Scott because of the break apart factor so it doesn’t clog up plumbing. They also have the best sales and when they have a great sale, I usually buy enough for a year. What is noticably missing on the new package is the Good Housekeeping seal so it might be interesting to ask them or GH why the seal is gone. That could be more important than a change in the size of the sheet.
I also use sq feet when I compare prices for toilet paper, taking into
considertion whether the paper is two-ply or single. I have to say that had not realized the removal of the Good Housekeeping seal–makes one wonder.
Can I still buy the old type of toilet paper?/ The new edition clogs my toilet all the time I don’t like it al all.
IVE BEEN BUYING SCOT TOILET PAPER FOR 30 YEARS, THIS LAST 12 ROLLS WE BOUGHT WAS 1 PLY BUT EVERY SHEET HAD HOLES IN IT, IS THAT YOUR BEST PRODUCT, WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS PRODUCT. NOT A CUSTOMER ANY MORE JO ANN KELLER
I was just thinking that scott tp was smaller… and speaking of smaller- icecream half-gallons are now for the most part a thing of the past- they are 2L which is approx 1.89qts.
Hood basically did not answer my question about it. I first noticed it with Friendly’s icecream not being 1/2gal anymore. then some major brands did the same thing. occasionally you can find a store brand that still is 2qts.
Julie
I found this site by doing a name search for “Soft Weave” Toilet tissue. I was buying that brand, and all of a sudden I could no longer find it in any stores in my area. I never paid close attention to who the manfacture was, and when it disapeared I did not even know who I could contact to find out why or if there was any way I could still get it. I too as a consumer knew it was a better value for my money than Scott was. Yes, it had 1200 sheets per roll vs Scott’s rolls of 1000 sheets. Like most American families we struggle to make ends meet, and what I buy has to be the most for my money. It is happening more and more to the consumers, that they are getting cheated by product manufactures. The size and quantity keeps decreasing but the prices either stay the same or increase, and all for less product. The manufactures must think all of us consumers are either too busy or stupid and do not notice what is hapenning. I for one am sick and tired of being treated this way, after all their pockets are full with the high profits they are making from us. Other than letting off steam by adding my comments to this site, isn’t there some way we can unite and let them know that enough is enough ?
Sharon from Wisconsin
It would be nice if the Scott paper manufacturer were using the excess profits to restore the forests they have trampled. I might be willing to pay a bit more for a shorter roll of lesser quality if I thought the environment was the winner…I am sure Scott tissue advertising would be all over that if it were the case. As it is, the consumer and the environment are being ripped off! Shame on big company!
I have used Scott Toilet Tissue for as many years as I can remember.
I used it first because I liked it and next because of its long
lasting rolls. It was perfect. Wish you had not changed it. Why mess
with a perfect product. I have tried the “new” and do not like it. If I could find a store that still had the old I would buy all they had. I do not want to change, but the “new” is just not as good.
I have been a proud Scott Tissue customer. I have been known to change my friends and family’s mind on other products and to use your product. I am so saddended about your change. My husband thinks it may not be good for the septic tank. Thanks for listening!
I noticed the technique of “less for the same price” when working for Kroger in the late ’40s. Vegetables that were in #2 cans started showing up in ‘303’ (smaller) cans – at the same price. It’s either higher prices or less for the same money – or both – that’s the name of the game.
I didn’t notice the change in sheet size but… why am I seeing only one objection to this new 1-ply deal? They came out with a new improved softer purple-packaged tissue (so I switch from the old blue-packaged version) and then that new softer version devolves into a substandard version of the original cheaper version. Are we not suppose to notice that? Oh, well….Time to say goodbye to an era. The music fades…
I BOUGHT A PACKAGE OF 20 ROLLS OF SCOTT TOILET PAPER AND THIS IS THE SECOND ROLL I HAVE USED THAT IS NOT SCORED, IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING THAT I CANT RIP IT OFF .
Since Scott changed so have we. We have tried everything out
there and none compare to the original Scott. I was willing to
pay more for it, but not anymore.
Hey, you must all be wrong. I just wrote Scott to complain about the new tissue. I was informed on 3-25-08 that Scott had not changed the tissue since JANUARY 2006. Man, they must have had a heck of a supply built up. I just placed rolls of the tissue on the shelf. I noticed the core of the new rolls is larger. hmmm I picked up both rolls at the same time. The old roll is firm when you place one finger in the core and the other on the outside of a new roll and press. The new roll mashes in when doing the same thing. The improved tissue also tears in use.
I did offer to send Scott a roll of each so they could tell that I knew what I was talking about. I have not received a reply. I too am looking for another brand. I hate the deceptive way Scott went about raising their prices.
Just like every product now. I remember seeing a report like this on 60 minutes or something a long time ago showing all the different products that have shrunk in size. Everything from beverages to cupcakes to toilet paper. Total scam.
Their defense was that “we tell you how much is inside right on the label”. Yes, but if you normally have a specific amount in that container, suddenly reducing the amount without warning is flat out deceitful (and printing it on the bottom corner of the label that people normally don’t even look at is NOT a warning). If they have nothing to hide, why not just say “NOW – smaller size!” right on the label?
I don’t care how much anyone tries to justify it (let the buyer beware etc.), it’s ripping people off. It’s just their way of saving money without raising prices – which people are more likely to protest about because it’s more noticeable. They’d rather be sneaky about it so they don’t lose your business. They count on people taking for granted that the amount they have been putting in that package for years will stay the same.
I seem to recall buying half gallons of ice cream from Breyer’s (to name one brand). Now,when you buy it, it’s “1.75 quarts”. Check out some other products you normally buy – bet you’ll see this in many products.
I have been a Scott’s 1000 roll customer for probably 20+ years. But I’m not so committed to Scott’s that if I found comparable tissue (1000 sheets)on sale of a “store brand” that I wouldn’t buy it. At this point I’m debating whether to buy those 500 sheet rolls I’ve seen at the 99¢ Only store (.39¢ each). They are the full size sheets, 4.5×4.0. Or perhaps find some business supply company that supplies the tissue to big businesses and buy a box of 100 🙂 Scott’s is definitely not alone in this, Bounty has gone from 90 to 84 to 80 in the last year and Dixie value pack plates went from 125 to 115 to 110 to 100 in a 3 year time span.
scott toilet tissue is not only SMALLER, but it is DEFINITELY THINNER!…i have bought my last roll(s) of the product since i thought i purchased the new softer thicker tissue (at a higher price),but whoa!….it’s almost tissue paper thin….shame on scott!…..
Im doing a paper for college on Scott toliet paper, because my friend from school says that this is her favorite brand. I also love Scott tissue, it has been in my house since birth, I’m now going on 28. I hope to get another A in class researching this product!
I’ve noticed the change in the Scott tissue. I’m very disappointed, and will probably look for an alternative product. Scott was the best value on the market, but no more!