Slightly Sarcastic

In the past year the gas prices climbed so high that it affected every aspect of life.  From the cost of kids field trips (increased so they could put gas in the buses) to the cost of groceries (the truck drivers could barely afford to fill their tanks and had to offset the cost by charging product companies more to haul goods which in turn caused them to charge more for their products) But everyone know all this, right?   I have no problem paying these extra costs, I know the truckers aren’t trying to pull a fast one.  What REALLY gets on my nerves are the cost increases that companies slide in under your radar, and there is more than one company doing this right now.

The other day I strolled into my kitchen to make a delicious cup of coffee (I’m an addict and suck down at least 3 pots a day) when I suddenly screeched to a halt – I couldn’t comprehend what I was seeing – there had to be a mistake – but no, there it was – two folgers coffee packages, side by side (I had saved one and put sugar in it, the other was the coffee I was currently using) their differences glaringly obvious.  One was smaller than the other.  I thought to myself, have they added a new size to the folgers coffee line-up?   The answer is NO.  I grabbed my last few grocery reciepts (my husband is anal and saves them all) and compared the prices of coffee.  Guess what?  The prices went up!  Now let’s go over this again.  The packages got smaller (not enough that you would notice unless they were side by side) and the prices went up.  I feel scammed.  Did they tell me they were doing this and I forgot?  Would a company be dumb enough to think they could do this without people realizing it.  DO PEOPLE REALIZE THIS IS GOING ON?

The first time I saw this happen was with Edy’s icecream.  First, I thought my kids had turned into overeatting pigs, sucking down a carton of icecream in one sitting.  But then I happended to catch an article in time magazine  time article – I guess people do know this is happening.

I was ALMOST understaning when the prices were rising because of the gas prices, but then the gas prices plunged and I still haven’t seen the prices are groceries go anywhere but up.  The bottom line is I Hate when I am being tricked, and that is exactly what these idiots are doing.  They have been told by those in the know (go back to the time article above for reference) that we the consumer are to dumb to realize when a product gets smaller, only when a price gets larger.  I really hope the public will take a stand and not buy products that use this form of price manipulation.  It makes me furious!  Just be honest and raise the DAMN Prices!!  Maybe Edy’s and Folgers don’t miss my business but if enough people refused to buy products (if they even realize they are being cheated) they use these techniques, the morons in charge won’t do it anymore.

I thought I would feel better if I talked about this, but now I’m angrier.  I think I will visit a couple grocery stores and chat with the managers for their take on this phenomenon.  I’ll post a follow-up.