Is there a sparkling water shortage or is Big Sparkling permanently reducing cans per package

The Something Awful Forums > Main > General Bullshit > Is there a sparkling water shortage or is Big Sparkling permanently reducing cans per package

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buglord: Jul 31, 2010; Cheating at a raffle? I sentence you to 1 year in jail! No! Two years! Three! Four! Five years! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!; Buglord

Seriously I�ve gone to two different store and instead of 12 cans per box, everywhere regardless of brand has only 8 cans per box now? This is such BS and those corporate rats probably know they can get away with it due to �inflation�

Also what�s your favorite flavor, mine is tangerine.

# ? Mar 24, 2022 18:56

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# ? Apr 30, 2024 02:12

MrQwerty: Apr 15, 2003

buglord posted:

Seriously I�ve gone to two different store and instead of 12 cans per box, everywhere regardless of brand has only 8 cans per box now? This is such BS and those corporate rats probably know they can get away with it due to �inflation�

price goes up, quantity goes down

# ? Mar 24, 2022 18:57

Seth Pecksniff: May 27, 2004; Can't post for 6 hours!

Nope it's not just you:

https://qz.com/2129426/inflation-and-supply-chain-snags-are-shrinking-your-products/

How companies are hiding inflation without charging you more

quote:

Do consumers notice when their everyday products get smaller? Often they don�t and companies are taking advantage by reducing the amount of product they sell while keeping prices the same. Shrinking product sizes to pad profits is not a new tactic but it grows in popularity during periods of shortages and inflation. Some consumers are noticing and documenting their shrinking groceries on the shrinkflation subreddit.

Even with today�s release of US inflation figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showing prices increased 7.9% in the last 12 months, consumers may not realize they�re paying more for some of their regular purchases because companies are reducing sizes while keeping prices the same.

What is the meaning of shrinkflation

Downsizing a product while keeping its price the same is sometimes called �shrinkflation��a combination of the words shrink and inflation. Companies face higher prices for their supplies and may try to pass that onto the consumer. Downsizing a product reduces costs for manufacturers.

Shoppers tend to be price-sensitive but they may not notice subtle changes in packaging, or read the fine print on the size or weight of a product. The result is that consumers are less likely to notice getting less if the price is the same.

�Downsizing comes in waves, and it tends to happen during times of increased inflation,� said Edgar Dworsky, a consumer rights lawyer that keeps track of downsized products on consumerworld.org. �Bottom lines are being pinched and there�s three basic options: raise the price directly, take a little bit out of the product, or reformulate the product with cheaper ingredients.�

Companies usually want to keep their customers happy without direct increases in a product�s price. They also want to keep their prices competitive with companies selling similar products. Not all size changes are born from profit seeking. New regulations that limit calories or the amount of sugar in a product can cause a product�s size to change. Companies use a PPP model, or Price Pack Purchase model, to determine how to target products in specific channels for the right prices.

Examples of shrinkflation

Frito-Lay confirmed Doritos shrunk their bags due to pandemic pressures. �Inflation is hitting everyone�we took just a little bit out of the bag so we can give you the same price and you can keep enjoying your chips,� said a representative. Representatives at Proctor & Gamble which makes Crest toothpaste, and at Mondelez�which makes Nabisco Wheat Thins, confirmed reductions in their products� volumes but did not disclose the reasons why. While Crest 3D White does now sell a 5 oz tube, its 4.1 oz tube shrunk to 3.8 oz. Bounty, according to a representative at Proctor & Gamble, got better as it got smaller since the paper towels are more absorbent than they used to be.

Photo of 32 oz. Gatorade now in a 28 oz. bottle.CLARISA DIAZ/QUARTZ
The old Gatorade bottle is on the left, the new is on the right.
Gatorade�the sports drink brand of PepsiCo�recently replaced its 32 oz size with a 28 oz bottle for the same price. That�s the equivalent of a 14% price increase.

�Basically we redesigned the bottle, it�s more aerodynamic and it�s easier to grab,� said a company representative. �The redesign generates a new cost and the bottles are a little bit more expensive�this is only a matter of design.�

Gatorade did not respond to questions about whether its customers preferred the aerodynamic bottle or the difference in manufacturing costs.

�I am very confident that the difference in cost between a 28 oz plastic bottle compared to a 32 oz plastic bottle for the type of plastic used in water bottles is probably less than 2 cents.� Larry Chiagouris, a professor of marketing at Pace University told Quartz.

One of the most puzzling reductions is �Family Size� boxes of products. The average size of a US family has been increasing (pdf) according to data from the US Census Bureau. Yet, a box of original Wheat Thins used to be sold in Family Size 16 oz boxes and is now packaged as 14 oz at the same price. That�s a 14% price increase. The reduced fat version of Family Size followed, going from 14.5 oz to 12.5 oz�a 16% price increase.

Just as companies can shrink sizes and advertise them as new and improved, they can also make sizes bigger and sell them as bonus or value sizes, which may just be the size they were previously.

When downsizing crosses the line into slack fill

Quietly downsizing products is legal in the US until the empty space in a company�s packaging no longer serves a purpose. In a bag of chips, the air serves shipping and handling purposes so that the chips don�t break. A bottle of aspirin needs space for machinery to insert and fill the bottle. Downsizing isn�t necessarily easy, and needs to be worth the effort. Jamie Stone a packaging design expert at PA Consulting, told Quartz that shoppers have become more aware of the harm of wasted packaging. �You need to get rid of the oxygen or redesign the packaging. � But creating new packaging requires purchasing the machines to make it. �How many millions do you need to spend on the capital, the design, the supply chain, to make a package slightly smaller? If the commodity price is reversed and everything goes back, you may have wasted your money.�

Of course, companies can generally set and change prices and packaging however they wish. There is no obligation for most companies to keep their products the same size or quantity just as there is generally no obligation for shoppers to buy the product.

Communication with consumers is key. �The most important thing is if you�ve made a change in your product, you need to tell people you�ve done that,� said Chiagouris. �It depends on how they describe the product and if they�re not describing it fairly and accurately for what it is today, then that�s deceptive.�

Selling less of a product in the same packaging, or not communicating changes can lead to business disasters. In 2021, McCormick ended up paying $2.5 million to resolve claims made by customers when they sold less black pepper in the same-sized tin cans. Mondelez famously faced legal action in 2017 over putting more space between the peaks of Toblerone candy bars, and ended up reverting back to their previous shape.

Considering more than price

Even if a company is clear about marketing a new, smaller product, does that make downsizing a product ethical? �They�re not forced to do this. It�s still knowingly choosing an option that will be less obvious to the public,� said Dworsky. �There�s even more incentive now with consumers being so sensitive to price increases.�

# ? Mar 24, 2022 18:58

PIZZA.BAT: Nov 12, 2016

just get a soda stream

# ? Mar 24, 2022 19:01

Treecko: Apr 23, 2008; The Official Demon Girl
Boss of 2022!

I still get 12 packs here, they do sales sometimes for 3 12 packs of Polar for 10-12 bucks.

I like the cranberry lime

# ? Mar 24, 2022 19:03

JoeyTrez: Mar 2, 2014

buglord posted:

Seriously I�ve gone to two different store and instead of 12 cans per box, everywhere regardless of brand has only 8 cans per box now? This is such BS and those corporate rats probably know they can get away with it due to �inflation�

Also what�s your favorite flavor, mine is tangerine.

Even the Vons off-brand has less cans smh.

Cherry lime.

# ? Mar 24, 2022 19:04

EorayMel: May 30, 2015; WE GET IT. YOU LOVE GUN JESUS. Toujours des fusils Bullpup Fran�ais.

Welcome to joe biden's america op

# ? Mar 24, 2022 19:10

Big Beef City: Aug 15, 2013

I don't consume food or beverages OP

# ? Mar 24, 2022 19:12

bradzilla: Oct 15, 2004

I've been drinking sparkling water for years and they've always been 8 packs :shrug:

# ? Mar 24, 2022 19:15

Who What Now: Sep 10, 2006; by Azathoth

Seltzer is gross. It should come in packs of zero and be found only in the garbage

# ? Mar 24, 2022 19:28

Treecko: Apr 23, 2008; The Official Demon Girl
Boss of 2022!

Alternatively, seltzer water is great.

Also good for recovering alcoholics because it meets that same can opening and fizzy drink experience.

I like lemon and lime too.

# ? Mar 24, 2022 19:46

Treecko: Apr 23, 2008; The Official Demon Girl
Boss of 2022!

This stuff rules

# ? Mar 24, 2022 19:49

Seth Pecksniff: May 27, 2004; Can't post for 6 hours!

Treecko posted:

Alternatively, seltzer water is great.

Also good for recovering alcoholics because it meets that same can opening and fizzy drink experience.

I like lemon and lime too.

yeah my (formerly alcoholic) dad drinks a shitload of seltzers because of this reason

# ? Mar 24, 2022 19:52

bossy lady: Jul 9, 1983

wegmans has a ginger flavor that tastes just like gingerale except no sugar

# ? Mar 24, 2022 19:53

STABASS: Apr 18, 2009; Fun Shoe

I just drink tap water. carbonation upsets my stomach and my 8th grade health teacher told me it gives you kidney stones. no idea if that's true but it's still information I've chosen to live my life by

# ? Mar 24, 2022 19:54

kntfkr: Feb 11, 2019; GOOSE FUCKER

wegmans stocks generic ito-en green tea but it's the same and i am glad and that is the beverage i will be buying from now on cuz it rules

# ? Mar 24, 2022 19:55

Big Beef City: Aug 15, 2013

Who What Now posted:

Seltzer is gross. It should come in packs of zero and be found only in the garbage

wait a minute I like seltzer and you don't agree with my opinion...MODS

# ? Mar 24, 2022 20:15

Big Beef City: Aug 15, 2013

Treecko posted:

Alternatively, seltzer water is great.

Also good for recovering alcoholics because it meets that same can opening and fizzy drink experience.

I like lemon and lime too.

Word.
Fizzy wasn't even my drink of choice but you can still shotgun the heck out of them and still think "Man I'm really downing something here, good times for all rn" plus calorie free and you let out a huge giganto belch and freak out a pet that might be nearby

# ? Mar 24, 2022 20:16

Mozi: Apr 4, 2004; Forms change so fast
Time is moving past
Memory is smoke
Gonna get wider when I die; Nap Ghost

i take a swig of water and stick the soda stream tube directly into my mouth and empty the entire canister

# ? Mar 24, 2022 21:00

Who What Now: Sep 10, 2006; by Azathoth

Same but my rear end

# ? Mar 24, 2022 21:17

Zeluth: May 12, 2001; by Fluffdaddy

Nestle in my packaging?

# ? Mar 24, 2022 21:51

bossy lady: Jul 9, 1983

kntfkr posted:

wegmans stocks generic ito-en green tea but it's the same and i am glad and that is the beverage i will be buying from now on cuz it rules

hell yeah, wegmans :hfive:

# ? Mar 24, 2022 22:51

Oolb: Nov 18, 2019

Seth Pecksniff posted:

Nope it's not just you:

https://qz.com/2129426/inflation-and-supply-chain-snags-are-shrinking-your-products/

How companies are hiding inflation without charging you more

I thought I noticed this. I'm going to stop buying anything but the bare minimum because gently caress THEM.

# ? Mar 24, 2022 23:03

Nooner: Mar 26, 2011; AN A+ OPSTER (:

Idk about a shortage but my wife found these cucumber mint ones at target and they are my favorite they are real drat good you should try thrm OP

# ? Mar 24, 2022 23:23

Zeluth: May 12, 2001; by Fluffdaddy

What is wrpng with your toilet system?

Grab cucumbers turn into pickles. Munxh What are we talking about?

# ? Mar 24, 2022 23:28

Hell Yeah: Dec 25, 2012

when water just isn't fancy enough. sporkling water

# ? Mar 24, 2022 23:57

Hell Yeah: Dec 25, 2012

i pour a sparkling water in my rear end it makes me feel like a volcano :whatup:

# ? Mar 24, 2022 23:57

gleebster: Dec 16, 2006; Only a howler; Pillbug

We finally have hot dog roll-seltzer equality and the OP complains.

# ? Mar 25, 2022 00:00

Bloodfart McCoy: Jul 20, 2007; That's a high quality avatar right there.

Hell Yeah posted:

i pour a sparkling water in my rear end it makes me feel like a volcano

And daddy is THIRSTY!

# ? Mar 25, 2022 00:08

Szyznyk: Mar 4, 2008

We get Hint waters because we fancy.

# ? Mar 25, 2022 00:14

Skyscraper Raccoon: Jun 12, 2018; Started from the bottom, now we here

buglord posted:

Seriously I�ve gone to two different store and instead of 12 cans per box, everywhere regardless of brand has only 8 cans per box now? This is such BS and those corporate rats probably know they can get away with it due to �inflation�

Also what�s your favorite flavor, mine is tangerine.

Buy 6 cases of 8 12oz cans and rearrange them in 4 4 by 12 rectangles voila

Strawberry

# ? Mar 25, 2022 01:08

endlessmonotony: Nov 4, 2009; by Fritz the Horse

You need natural gas to make sparkling water cost-efficiently.

The cost of natural gas has gone up due to the war in Ukraine.

In short, this is Putin's fault.

# ? Mar 25, 2022 02:53

ErrorInvalidUser: Aug 23, 2021; by Jeffrey of YOSPOS

*is completely and 100%ly genuinely naive to classwarefare*

# ? Mar 26, 2022 03:47

its all nice on rice: Nov 12, 2006; Sweet, Salty Goodness.; Buglord

STABASS posted:

I just drink tap water. carbonation upsets my stomach and my 8th grade health teacher told me it gives you kidney stones. no idea if that's true but it's still information I've chosen to live my life by

It think it's mineral water that gives you stones. Seltzer is just water with carbonation added.

# ? Mar 26, 2022 04:56

Private Cumshoe: Feb 15, 2019; AAAAAAAGAGHAAHGGAH

seltzer water is great because it is water but a little more fun but none of the calories but still a surprising amount of teeth destroying power

also to the poster who said it's gross how do you feel about normal water

# ? Mar 26, 2022 05:21

ArbitraryC: Jan 28, 2009; Pick a number, any number; Pillbug

I haven't noticed brands switch from 12 to 8 but I have noticed new brands that crop up seem to favor 8. I feel like this was starting even before the inflation spike so my impression was that it was a marketing thing, a lot of "artisanal" products come in 4 rather than 6 packs for many beverages so when I saw new types of sparkling water coming out in 8 packs it seemed like they were trying to capitalize on that sort of premium "you get less but each one is better" feel.

They had a really good sale on Aha like a year ago so I got a couple boxes and it basically tastes no different than my standard (Safeway store brand, which is regularly 2ish a 12 pack on sale), but the packaging and stuff did look nicer.

I think an issue with going in this direction and why we'll probably see a lot of these lines fail is half the point of sparkling water is that you can pound as much as you want guilt free. The market for a glass bottle cane sugar creme soda that's more expensive than a 12 pack of cans is clear because you intuitively know you shouldn't be having a lot of it so paying extra for a really good one makes sense, which is not the case at all for seltzers.

ArbitraryC fucked around with this message at 15:22 on Mar 26, 2022

# ? Mar 26, 2022 15:17

Mooey Cow: Jan 27, 2018; by Jeffrey of YOSPOS; Pillbug

endlessmonotony posted:

You need natural gas to make sparkling water cost-efficiently.

The cost of natural gas has gone up due to the war in Ukraine.

In short, this is Putin's fault.

I've got a lot of "natural gas" if someone wanna pipe it into their water

# ? Mar 26, 2022 16:05

Nooner: Mar 26, 2011; AN A+ OPSTER (:

Mooey Cow posted:

I've got a lot of "natural gas" if someone wanna pipe it into their water

# ? Mar 26, 2022 17:55

Mister Facetious: Apr 21, 2007; I think I died and woke up in L.A.,
I don't know how I wound up in this place...

buglord posted:

Seriously I�ve gone to two different store and instead of 12 cans per box, everywhere regardless of brand has only 8 cans per box now? This is such BS and those corporate rats probably know they can get away with it due to �inflation�

Also what�s your favorite flavor, mine is tangerine.

They're definitely reducing can number for the same price OP, as a ~ SodaStream� ~ owner I guess you could say I'm responsible; I don't need them anymore, thus lowering their revenue. :smug:

I use Mi0 Cranberry Raspberry; two or three squirts and you're set for almost a quart.

Before that I would get plain san pellegrino, or green apple/peach/l'orange perrier

Mister Facetious fucked around with this message at 00:36 on Apr 10, 2022

# ? Apr 10, 2022 00:33

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# ? Apr 30, 2024 02:12

Lil Swamp Booger Baby: Aug 1, 1981

Sparkling pyddu

# ? Apr 10, 2022 00:36

The Something Awful Forums > Main > General Bullshit > Is there a sparkling water shortage or is Big Sparkling permanently reducing cans per package

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