Posted on 08/29/2010 3:49:43 AM PDT by Daisyjane69
While watching his kids play around with less-than-sanitary but delightfully inexpensive empty toilet paper rolls, Art discovered the height of the newer rolls had shrunk. This is definitely the work of the dreaded Grocery Shrink Ray.
He writes:
“We buy the 12 pack of the regular Scott Tissue 1,000 sheet toilet paper. The kids like to line up the empty tubes on the windowsill and we noticed that the width of the new rolls has shrunk from 4 1/2 inches to 4 1/8 inches. That's 8.3% less product for the same price.
”Times are tough for toilet paper shoppers now that they need to tote graphing calculators around to see which brands give them the most value per softness per square inch.
(Excerpt) Read more at consumerist.com ...
This website has LISTS of things being downsized while charging us exactly the same.
I recommend this website is saved for the "head shopper" in the family.
All of us who lived through the malaise of the 70s recognize this as the dreaded Jimmy Carter Effect, caused by having a dolt in office who has screwed up the economy. Next, you will notice that canned beans and corn will have more liquid and less vegetables in them.
BO is the second coming all right...of Jimmy Carter.
That explains it. I thought it was my diet.
My wife bought a discount pack of TP. The rolls shifted around on the roller in the bathroom they were so small. Let’s just say that the results were undesirable. I am so dissappointmed that Scott has done this.
Pyrex did the same thing a while back. They stopped making their glassware out of borosilicate glass (lab glass). Now you have something that CAN’T stand the heat of a strong direct flame, with the occassional mishap resulting.
My very old mother commented about the shrinking toilet roll a while ago, when she realized that present day rolls slide around on the spindle that was manufactured for the traditional sized roll.
The manufacturers have taken off almost ten percent of the paper in such a sneaky way.
Thanks for the website.
Sort of off topic but this thread reminded me of the Hollywood moron (can’t remember name) who a few years ago recommended that in order to save Planet Earth from utter destruction we all had to use a maximum of ONE SQUARE of TP after taking a dump.
Next it’ll be the John Wayne toilet paper,,,(Don’t take no sh-t off of anybody.) so be alert.
How did you find out about the change in Pyrex glass??? That’s pretty big news, considering that was one of the main reasons to buy Pyrex.
Sure glad I have some of their stuff purchased several years ago.
I don’t buy them too often, but I recently noticed how much smaller they make Pringles than years ago. I think they’re both more narrow in width AND thinner.
be sure to read the comments within the article. You’ll learn a few things.
That was Sheryl Crow...
Last night I got out two packages of hamburger for dinner. They were sitting on the counter, defrosting, when my son came by and said, “Why are these packages so small?”
Sure enough, instead of 1.5 pounds, they were only 1.2. I had noticed on the news that the price of beef had shot up recently.
I guess we’re all rationing now.
Last week my daughter and I had a conversation about things that were “missing” in the store this summer. Fabric bluing, cheap lawn chairs, Gillette Sensor razor handles, craft supplies, fabric selection, a specific formula of Purina Dog Chow, a favorite tea, etc.
What I *think* is happening is that companies and stores are culling out the least popular items.
And this scares me. You know the economy is bad when selection goes down. Right now, it’s barely noticeable, but I think that this will change within the next year.
In my view, this is a sign that things are much worse than we really know. Companies are doing everything that they can to survive. The quality of produce is starting to go down as stores are still trying to sell things that they normally would’ve thrown away.
First, a drop in selection. Then a drop in quality.
What comes after that?
Are we going to get through the next two and a half years in one piece?
That's fine by me; it's an excellent product, and well worth the extra money.
I have also noticed that some other makers are now selling 14oz packages rather than a full pound, and that fillers --- even corn syrup --- are showing up in the ingredients.
My son loves “Blazin’ Wings” from Wal-mart. The pack used to be around $8.00 for 5 lbs. Recently, it became $8 for 4lbs. That is a 20% increase. Wal-mart clearly believes (or knows)that their average shopper is too stupid to notice.
What you just described is the scenario that gave the world those photos of the old Soviet grocery stores. One kind of bread, one size milk container, two different meats (if available at all), and all the rest.
Scary, indeed.
*I’ve noticed that I’ve been able to pick up those discontinued items occasionally at Big Lots type stores, etc. Good luck!
Like Sheeryl Crow, only use one sheet.
When FReepers say inflation isn’t here...
this is the kind of stuff that tells me they are flat out wrong.
We’re not in the deflationary cycle anymore. Right now it is “hidden inflation.”
There is one item they missed though. I don’t buy juice in the cartons. I buy concentrates. Used to be able to mix the concentrates with 4 cups of water, now it is three. Sneaky eh?
I learned about it from research I got for a media job.
“hidden inflation.” You’re dead right.
I have a big grocery trip to take next week. (I stock up twice a year on non-perishables. It’s usually about $800.) I can’t wait to see the damage done to my checking account.
*cringe*cringe*
I've seen cash registers go and more space between them, the aisles re-arranged and made wider, and the latest was a complete re-shuffling of the store.
I used to know where everything is and could shop very quickly.
Now, I find myself dawdling at some stupid thing while in search of whatever I'm looking for that they've re-arranged.
You damn skippy it's a conspiracy !!
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