Little has changed in the Valentine’s Day candy business since we called out companies two years ago for grossly overpackaging their large heart-shaped boxes given the few pieces of chocolate inside.
Perusing the candy aisles last week, MrConsumer found the same large Russell Stover candy heart — 10 inches high — still with only 9 pieces of chocolate inside for $7.99.
*MOUSE PRINT:
You would think, however, that a better brand charging $20 a box wouldn’t play these games. Think again.
*MOUSE PRINT:
This big box of Lindt chocolate isn’t even half a pound and only has 12 pieces. At least some brands are putting the number of chocolates inside right on the front of the box.
Others make you do the math by checking the nutrition facts statement and multiplying the serving size by the number of servings in the package. This Ghirardelli box, which is only 5.5 ounces, has 15 pieces of chocolate. They must be very small. And this large Godiva box has only four ounces of tiny chocolates for $18.99.
*MOUSE PRINT:
It seems like manufacturers strive to maximize the box size while minimizing the contents. So don’t let their large packages deceive or embarrass you. Check what’s actually inside before you buy.
And if you find that chocolate hearts are just not your thing this year, the Walgreens online weekly ad has some other gift suggestions for your valentine. Warning: risqué content…not for prudes!
She Who Must Be Obeyed prefers value to display.
Russell Stover Assorted Bloopers From Rural King
A Blooper is a piece that in some way is not up to standard of perfection for the shape.
Each of our “Bloopers” comes without a map and without any arrangements. You get 48 oz. of mouthwatering chocolates at a huge discount!
Each box is different.
Pay your money – take your chance on flavor – eat – grin.
Although the Godiva Chocolate brand is a high end brand of chocolate and all those precious pieces of chocolate need to be protected that is way tooo much plastic packaging waste but you certainly do not want to come home with a tiny tiny box of chocolate on Valentines day.
Even the official website for Godiva Chocolate has for sale boxes of chocolate even in that heart shape that Mr. Consumer and I would fully approve of.
The Lindt box to me does not look that bad though.
This is pretty par for the course for Valentine’s day. I’m fortunate that my wife doesn’t ever expect over the top displays. She rarely ever gets flowers or chocolate because they’re so egregiously overpriced. I’d much rather spend $50 on dinner.
A bag of Hershey kisses along with a romantic Valentine’s card will have long lasting impact with my better half when compared to these overpriced heart shaped boxes of candies.
Hi:
Question for Mr. Consumer:
I’m as appalled as anyone at the way candy companies, as you say, enlarge the size of their boxes to create the false impression that they contain more than they actually do. (The opposite of — or rather the complement to — shrinkflation, I suppose.) But to play the devil’s advocate for a second, for anyone who takes the time to look (which is probably almost no one), don’t the boxes give the gross weight of their contents, so that you could comparison shop if you wanted to? I guess the candy companies could lie about that too, but it seems unlikely.
David… There is actually a law about “slack fill.” That recognizes that the package size can influence a consumer’s purchase decision, and that creating a large package with non-functional space can mislead shoppers. The fact that the net weight is stated on the package is not a defense to deliberately using a large opaque package to create a false impression of the amount of contents in it.
OK. Point taken. (shrinkflation, slackfilation.)