Here is the latest roster of products that manufacturers have reduced in size in order to pass on a sneaky price increase.
Dawn
P&G has continually downsized Dawn Dishwashing Liquid through the years. The latest change: they knocked another ounce off their smallest bottle… it is now down to just seven ounces.
*MOUSE PRINT:
Lay’s Potato Chips
One of the most downsized products over the years has been potato chips. The big bag gets smaller and smaller until the point where they reintroduce the large size again, but of course at a much higher price. This time around, maybe because parties are getting smaller on account of COVID-19, Lay’s is chipping away at the party size bag shrinking it from 15.25 ounces to 13 ounces.
*MOUSE PRINT:
Thanks to our ace downsizing spotter, Richard G. for this submission.
Walmart Great Value Paper Towels
LeAnne W. came across a huge downsizing at Walmart recently. Their own brand of paper towels, Great Value, was downsized from 168 sheets on a roll to just 120. And the price remained the same at $14.97. Some value.
*MOUSE PRINT:
Dollar Tree Flour Tortillas
MrConsumer’s go-to place for flour tortillas is Dollar Tree. They sell one-pound packages with a dozen tortillas for a buck. Last winter, the tortillas seemed smaller, but the package still said 16 ounces. Then they introduced 12 ounce packages but still with 12 inside. I am happy to report that the 12 ounce bags were short-lived. They are back up to full-size and a full pound.
*MOUSE PRINT:
Keebler Club Crackers
It looked like Keebler Club crackers had been downsized from 13.7 ounces to 12.5, thus eliminating a dozen crackers from each box.
*MOUSE PRINT:
But thanks to reader Jim’s research, it turns out not to be the case. The “snack stack” box was the only “original” variety carried at MrConsumer’s local store. Visiting another store, the comparable “original” Club Cracker box was in stock, and in fact was still 13.7 ounces. The only thing eliminated from the product was the Keebler name and the Keebler elves. Perhaps even cartoon characters are not safe if a company downsizes its workforce.
If you find a product that has recently been downsized, please try to take a sharp picture of the old and new side-by-side and send it to us.
Coffee has been one over the years. I’m wondering if another round is coming. Over the last couple of weeks the grocery we use has been letting their coffee display dwindle to nothing but off brands no one buys and very few of them.
To be fair, the two boxes of Keebler crackers you show are two separate packagings. If you go to the store and actually find them in stock I think you will discover that the two boxes sit side by side on the shelf.
According to their website the first box you show is still 13.7oz.
https://www.clubcrackers.com/en_US/products.html
Edgar replies: Jim… All my store had was “Snack Stacks” packages labeled as “original” and now with the Kellogg’s name (and no longer Keebler). I’ll do some more checking around… so thanks for the additional information.
Walmart sells their private label EQUATE foaming bath (bubble bath). It was downsized recently from 64 oz to 32 oz and is selling for the same price! That comes out to double the price. It is cheaper to buy shampoo as bubble path. Ridiculous!
If you want to see where downsizing life begins,try shopping at 99 cents Only stores,here in So California.It’s like visiting a Bonsai plant nursery for packaged products.
Seeing those bags of Lays reminded me of how much profit they actually make by combining what are essentially the two least expensive food substances on the planet. Unfortunately chips happen to be one of my vices, and Wavy Lays lightly salted is my current fav.
Was in a Shaws on Sunday and saw this item (7.5 oz) on “sale” – 2 bags for $7.00, or $3.50/bag. Regular price $3.79. Whoopie fn doo. Passed it by with a chuckle. Was in Stop & Shop this morning, and the same 7.5oz bag was on “sale” 2 for $5.00, or $2.50/bag. I think their regular price is $3.50, but they often have it on sale since they have to compete with a nearby Walmart which sells it 24/7 for $2.50.
But the fact these stores can go from $3.79 down to $2.50 and still make a profit shows you how much leeway there is in the margins on snack foods. Then there’s Walmart’s house brand of the same chip that sells for $1.84/bag, and it tastes almost identical to Lays.
I believe Kellogg sold some of the Keebler line (including cookies) last year while keeping the crackers and salty snacks portion of the line. I suspect that as part of the sale they had a certain length of time in which to transition the products they kept from Keebler-brand to Kellogg-brand.
Just a heads-up in case others haven’t notice. For years we have been trained to think buying the larger product will save us money. And now that we are all trained, they are flipping the script. I happen to be in Wal-mart the other day and decided to do the math on some items. What I found was that the per ounce cost on some of the larger containers was more that the cost per ounce on the small containers. Sneaky.