Retail – Page 65 – Mouse Print*

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Here We Downsize Again – Winter ’22 (Part 1)

March 28, 2022March 7, 2022 by Edgar (aka MrConsumer)

With inflation rearing its ugly head, we are seeing not only a wave of direct price increases on groceries, but also sneaky ones when manufacturers inconspicuously reduce the size of their products. This downsizing or shrinkflation as it currently is called is so prevalent at the moment, we have to spend this week and next showing you the dozen examples we’ve collected.

Charmin

Over the past 60 years we’ve seen Charmin toilet paper go from 650 single-ply sheets on a roll to the equivalent of 90% less assuming you could even find single rolls any longer. The latest change shows ultra soft “Mega” rolls going from 264 double-ply sheets per roll to 244. And “Super Mega” rolls went from 396 sheets to 366.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Older, larger sizes of Charmin that we have tracked can be seen here. Thanks to our ace downsizing detector, Richard G., for this submission.

Snyder’s Pretzels

Snyder’s Honey Mustard & Onion pretzels now have a “new look” and “big flavor” but come in a new smaller size. Thanks to Richard G. for spotting this change.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Keebler Cookies

Coming to supermarket shelves soon are new smaller packages of Keebler cookies. Chips Deluxe with M&Ms are going from 11.3 oz. to 9.75 and even more dramatic changes are occurring in their “family size” package. And Keebler E.L. Fudge packages lost 1.3 ounces and 20 calories per cookie. Note: In some stores, the new, smaller family size Chips Deluxe with M&Ms is one dollar less.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Gatorade

Gatorade has come in 32 ounces bottles forever, it seems. Now the product has gone on a diet and their new bottles have developed a waistline. That indent around the middle of the bottle is a telltale sign that the new bottles hold less — four ounces less, in fact. But, they are the exact same height.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Pantene Conditioner

Pantene conditioner recently changed its packaging going from a bottle to a tube. And somehow two full ounces of the product disappeared in the process. Thanks to Richard G. for spotting this change.

*MOUSE PRINT:

Pantene conditioner

Earth’s Best Snack Bars

It looks like a good math lesson comes courtesy of this Sesame Street snack bar. Kids, can you say “seven” instead of “eight” bars are now in every box? Thanks to Richard G. again.

*MOUSE PRINT:

If you find a product that has been downsized recently, please send a before and after picture with the net weight or net count showing to Edgar (at symbol) MousePrint.org . Thanks!

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Thanks for Nothing — Winter 2022

February 28, 2022 by Edgar (aka MrConsumer)

We continue our series of little annoyances about ads, products, and offers that are irritating, real head-scratchers, or just downright misleading. This time around, we concentrate on some not-so-funny class action lawsuits that all make the same point — you can’t always believe the big print on the front of the product.

Example #1 — Blue Diamond Smoked Almonds

For nut lovers, smoked almonds are a real treat… like these Blue Diamond smokehouse almonds.

A more careful inspection of the product label reveals a surprise, however.

*MOUSE PRINT:

That’s right, it appears that the nuts are merely smoke-flavored rather than actually smoked. And of course, the matter is the subject of an ongoing class action lawsuit. Likewise, a similar lawsuit was just filed against Family Dollar for labeling its store brand almonds as “smoked” when they are really just smoke- flavored. Thanks for nothing, Blue Diamond and Family Dollar.

Example #2 — Poland Spring Water

It has been going on for close to four years now that consumers have alleged in a class action lawsuit that Poland Spring water is not really “100% natural spring water” as the product promises.

*MOUSE PRINT:

According to the Food and Drug Administration, if bottled water is to be sold as “spring water,” it must be “derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface of the earth,” and there must be a “natural force causing the water to flow to the surface through a natural orifice.”

The consumers and their lawyers in this case say Poland Spring water doesn’t meet the federal definition because it is really ground and surface water from a bunch of artificial springs in Maine.

The latest development in the case is that the period of time for which the company could be held liable if ruled against is only three years. When you can’t believe the front product label that this is “spring water” (if that turns out to be so), thanks for nothing, NestlÃ© (now known as Blue Triton Brands).

Example #3– Macy’s Sheets Thread Count

The plaintiffs in this case are two dissatisfied customers who claim that the bed sheets they purchased at Macy’s in California and Missouri, respectively, were labeled with inflated thread counts.

*MOUSE PRINT:

One of them claims that her 900 thread-count sheets were actually 249 thread-count and the other claims that her 1000 thread-count sheets were “far less.”

The California part of this long-running case has been allowed to proceed as the judge certified the class of consumers. If what this consumer claims is so, then the thread counts on various sheets are wildly inflated. Since that is the primary way that most shoppers judge the quality of sheets along with material used, thanks for nothing, Macy’s.

If you find a product that has been grossly mispresented on the label, or another type of ad that is just outrageous or funny, please submit it to: edgar (at symbol) MousePrint.org . Thanks.

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Enterprise Charged Him $3,300 for Damage Done AFTER He Returned His Rental Car

February 14, 2022 by Edgar (aka MrConsumer)

It sounds like the definition of chutzpah. A fellow in Canada rented a truck from Enterprise for a few hours. He returned it after the location had closed, parking it in their lot, and put the keys in their lockbox for after-hour returns. A week later, he got a bill for $3,300 for damage that was done after he returned the truck.

How in the world could they charge the renter for subsequent damage?

*MOUSE PRINT:

That’s right, tucked in the rental contract is an unexpected provision that the renter is responsible for any damage done to the vehicle until the vehicle is actually checked back in by an Enterprise employee.

But there is good news. After CBC started asking questions about this questionable practice, Enterprise relented and cancelled the consumer’s bill. But there is bad news: this provision is common to agreements of the major car rental companies. So do try to avoid returning any rental cars after hours.