Did Anyone Notice This...fyi?

Decorating By Torimomma Updated 24 Sep 2011 , 6:22am by tesso

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Torimomma Posted 20 Sep 2011 , 4:17pm
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I make Betty Crocker cake mix and I happened to take a look at the new boxes I got. The ingredient instructions on the back of the box changed so I took a look at the front of the box and the amount has been changed from 18.25 ounces to 15.25 ounces!

I hate when companies do that icon_sad.gif

32 replies
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BoozeBabe Posted 20 Sep 2011 , 4:28pm
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It started several years ago with paint, then ice cream, then toilet paper, and now cake mixes.........whats next? I too hate it. Do they really think they are fooling us?

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sweetflowers Posted 20 Sep 2011 , 4:36pm
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Yes, they did it at least a month ago, I'd complain to their customer service. I did, got the standard automated reply and nothing else. My friend complained and they had the nerve to tell her they adjusted their size to match the competitors...ummm DH and PB are NOT 15.25 oz, at least not yet icon_surprised.gif

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ConfectionsCC Posted 20 Sep 2011 , 4:38pm
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I too noticed icon_sad.gif I LOVE my WASC (except I use DH) but if they go any smaller ...all scratch it is! Which I am planning to do anyways...just can't find a recipe as popular as the WASC!

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diane Posted 20 Sep 2011 , 5:19pm
post #5 of 33

That stinks! Last I checked, DH hasn't changed. Many of these companies are doing this and the average person doesn't even know it. Who looks at the amounts when shopping?? icon_confused.gif

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TejasRebel Posted 20 Sep 2011 , 5:53pm
post #6 of 33

Keebler has done it recently also. I use their Shortbread cookies as the basis for a crust on one of my cheesecakes. It used to be I could buy a packet and take out what I'd need and have two cookies leftover. I noticed the package was different recently, and when I counted cookies, there were actually four fewer cookies in the package. I now have to buy two packages to do one crust.

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Kitagrl Posted 20 Sep 2011 , 6:18pm
post #7 of 33

Graham crackers are skinnier than they used to be, and seems like everything is smaller.....I think instead of raising prices, companies are reducing the size of the package and keeping prices generally the same...for now.

So far DH does seem to be the same. I don't see how they can shrink too much, what good is a cake mix that doesn't even make a whole cake???

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LKing12 Posted 20 Sep 2011 , 6:55pm
post #8 of 33

If you have to buy two to get the amount you need, then it still costs more. Charge more and leave the packaging alone!
I will be emailing...

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Price Posted 20 Sep 2011 , 7:57pm
post #9 of 33

The size of the ice cream boxes has been reduced for quite some time. They made them thinner (trying to make them look the same) so now instead of 1/2 gal. It's 1.5 qts. Unfortunatly the prices on ice cream have not remained the same. I was just in the store yesterday and the price on Edie's brand was $6.99! icon_eek.gificon_eek.gificon_eek.gif The price on the DH cake mix was $1.78. I usually buy it from Walmart, but even their price for DH has gone up to about $1.34.

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Kitagrl Posted 20 Sep 2011 , 7:59pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Price

The size of the ice cream boxes has been reduced for quite some time. They made them thinner (trying to make them look the same) so now instead of 1/2 gal. It's 1.5 qts. Unfortunatly the prices on ice cream have not remained the same. I was just in the store yesterday and the price on Edie's brand was $6.99! icon_eek.gificon_eek.gificon_eek.gif The price on the DH cake mix was $1.78. I usually buy it from Walmart, but even their price for DH has gone up to about $1.34.




Oh ice cream is a total ripoff now.... I ONLY buy it when its on sale, preferably for $1.99 or less. Of course 10 years ago, you could buy a true half gallon for $1.99 or less!

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coloradoflower Posted 20 Sep 2011 , 8:08pm
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$6.99 for less then 1/2 gallon of ice cream is why I make my own icon_biggrin.gif Plus I know exactly what is in my ice cream/ sorbet. Things like this really makes me have more faith into what we do at home. Homemade bread, cheese, jams and jellies, sauces. It has been a long time since I have gone to the store to buy Milk or eggs thanks to having a dairy goat and chickens. Things are not what they use to be. Heck I remember when gasoline was a 1.99 and that was only 10 years ago. I'll stop here since I can go on and on ...........lol

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toottifruitti Posted 20 Sep 2011 , 10:11pm
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This is happening all the time here in Australia. The manufacturers are packaging less and charging more. They think the consumers are stupid. As for BC cakes here I haven't noticed as I prefer DH cake mixes but they are very hard to find here. icon_biggrin.gif

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MnSnow Posted 21 Sep 2011 , 2:52am
post #13 of 33

Bought some Powdered sugar from Walmart--couldn't figure out why my icing was softer--then I measured it from a fresh bag--there are only 6 1/2 cups in their 2# bags!!

Standard 2# bags are 8 cups, which is what 1 recipe requires.

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BizCoCos Posted 21 Sep 2011 , 3:12am
post #14 of 33

this infuriates me, just charge more for the same thing, and I willn decide if I wish to purchase, I guess this is why they do it, guess they figure most shoppers are too stressed to notice.

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shanter Posted 21 Sep 2011 , 3:30am
post #15 of 33

I e-mailed Betty Crocker about the reduced size of their cake mixes and got a reply that said blah blah [we don't care what you think] blah blah blah.

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robinmarie Posted 21 Sep 2011 , 3:37am
post #16 of 33

shanter, i needed that laugh, thanks!!!

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carmijok Posted 21 Sep 2011 , 3:45am
post #17 of 33
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kitagrl

Quote:
Originally Posted by Price

The size of the ice cream boxes has been reduced for quite some time. They made them thinner (trying to make them look the same) so now instead of 1/2 gal. It's 1.5 qts. Unfortunatly the prices on ice cream have not remained the same. I was just in the store yesterday and the price on Edie's brand was $6.99! icon_eek.gificon_eek.gificon_eek.gif The price on the DH cake mix was $1.78. I usually buy it from Walmart, but even their price for DH has gone up to about $1.34.



Oh ice cream is a total ripoff now.... I ONLY buy it when its on sale, preferably for $1.99 or less. Of course 10 years ago, you could buy a true half gallon for $1.99 or less!




This is why I like Blue Bell Ice Cream. Besides the fact it tastes awesome, they are still a half gallon. And yeah, they are more expensive...but not really when you think about how much of the other you have to buy to equal a half gallon. And, it goes on sale all the time.

I feel like boycotting Betty Crocker. I know they're not the only ones doing this, but this whole process hacks me off!

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Gerle Posted 21 Sep 2011 , 4:58am
post #18 of 33

I don't use cake mixes often if I can help it, so I haven't notice the change in size. I quit buying ice cream, however, because I don't like the smaller sizes. If we have ice cream, it's homemade ice cream. We make several different flavors, so it's no problem. But what really ticks me off is when you DO contact a company about their unnecessary and ridiculous changes, they give you a canned response that tells you nothing except that they don't care that you're not happy with the changes. I'm beginning to think that customer service is non existant with most companies any more!

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ReneeFLL Posted 21 Sep 2011 , 5:20am
post #19 of 33
Quote:
Originally Posted by carmijok

This is why I like Blue Bell Ice Cream. Besides the fact it tastes awesome, they are still a half gallon. And yeah, they are more expensive...but not really when you think about how much of the other you have to buy to equal a half gallon. And, it goes on sale all the time.....




Blue bell has always been my favorite. I grew up with that stuff. After leaving Texas I forgot just how good ice cream could be. Finally it made its way to South Florida several years ago. I have been in ice cream since. icon_biggrin.gif

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carmijok Posted 23 Sep 2011 , 11:59pm
post #20 of 33

This is completely off topic, but this is the only way I can find out. Has anyone else had trouble getting the home page? I can access my forums and pictures and others pictures but I can not get the home page! It says something is 'misconfigured'. I get the emails that show a response, so I'd like to know if it's system wide or just me.
Thanks!

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cabecakes Posted 24 Sep 2011 , 12:16am
post #21 of 33

I didn't realize the sugar was less, maybe this is why I've had difficulty with my icings lately. I thought it was the 0 trans fats in the shortening (don't even get me started on this one, because they even took it out of Walmarts generic shortening ERRRRRR). I guess I'm just going to have to be more prudent when shopping. I only use DH for my doctored mixes, and I noticed the price had gone up but the ounces remained the same. We should all make a pact to contact BC on the same day at the same time and jam up their switchboard...maybe that would get their attention...since they "blah blah blah I don't seem to care blah blah blah".

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Cosima Posted 24 Sep 2011 , 12:19am
post #22 of 33

i used to work for a food broker. Thats the new way of doing a price increase. Well its been going on for awhile but yeah mfgs think its the easiest way to get away with it without customers noticing. Yes and i too hate when they do that! Especially for us bakers!!

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enoid Posted 24 Sep 2011 , 12:50am
post #23 of 33

This has been going on much longer that you think. The first time I noticed this practice was 20 years ago when Luvs diapers reduced the package by 4 diapers but the price was the same for the package. I called the company but the moron in customer service there just kept repeating there was not a price increase. I tried to explain to her that the per diaper price was raised, so there was a price increase. She just kept insisting that they did not raise the price. I agree they all think the customers are stupid.

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Barb00 Posted 24 Sep 2011 , 12:52am
post #24 of 33

It is everything! 5 lbs of sugar and flour are not 5 lbs any longer. 3 lbs of coffee is not any longer.

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karateka Posted 24 Sep 2011 , 1:02am
post #25 of 33
Quote:
Originally Posted by shanter

I e-mailed Betty Crocker about the reduced size of their cake mixes and got a reply that said blah blah [we don't care what you think] blah blah blah.





Sounds a lot like the replies I get when I write my congressmen.

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ShandraB Posted 24 Sep 2011 , 1:47am
post #26 of 33

I'm surprised to hear you say that about the sugar and flour. Products that are sold by weight have to contain that weight or it is fraud. A 2lb bag of sugar has to have 2 lbs, by weight, in it.

Is the weight on the package listed differently?

As far as powdered sugar goes, I know that many off brands are made from sugar beets instead of sugar cane and that can cause a problem with some things...

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jules5000 Posted 24 Sep 2011 , 2:04am
post #27 of 33

Well, That has been happening for some time now, actually at least 3 decades. The item gets smaller and the price stays the same for awhile, then when you get used to the new size, they raise the price thinking you won't notice it. No, we consumers are not dumb, they just think that we are. I have called companies and complained when I had a recipe that called for 11.5 oz. can, I bought their 11.5 oz can and there was not 11.5 oz in it. How can I tell that. I used a digial scale and it tells me even down to 1/8 of an ounce. Of course I did get a favorable response, but sometimes we just have to let companies know that we are checking up on them and the ones that are really customer service friendly will respond in such a way that you are glad you called and are treated to an almost free item the next time you are in the store that you have the coupon they sent you. The ones that have excuses for their shortages, I won't buy their products any more.

If more of us would call companies like that and then not buy their products when we do not get a favorable response then they would be forced to change their practices or go out of business. If I did not get a favorable response to my complaint then I would let them know that I would not be buying anymore of their products and that Iwould be letting others know about my call and their response to it. Then I usually would add a question in there like, do you really want negative publicity for your company? Do you know how many people probably don't call you, but just tell others not to buy your products? Can your company afford that? I give them something to think about when I do not get favorable responses. They can not say in the end that they weren't told.

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Mala Posted 24 Sep 2011 , 2:10am
post #28 of 33

That's why I like my shoe size coz it's always size 6,lol! Ok, on the side note, I agree w/ the ice cream thing. Bryers are like bleh trying to fool us w/ it's container and it's quantity labeling! I don't like to shop at walmart, but hey at least they're wallet friendly, most of the time (^_^)

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cupncake1 Posted 24 Sep 2011 , 3:08am
post #29 of 33

Greedy bastards, Yes we should all call them on Monday morning and complain! I'm so sick of this, it seems like these huge companies are always dreaming up ways to raise prices!

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labmom Posted 24 Sep 2011 , 3:58am
post #30 of 33

i went to several stores and picked up as many of the old mixes that i use most of the time in the big size. They had shoved them to the back.
If you go to the bc website it shows all these cake mixes discontinued..at which i paniced. then i look below and see all these cake mxes available ..the only difference it was 2 oz smaller. I did n't notice if the instructions or ingredients were more or less.. I know here in ohio I just found coke has 1.25 ltr instead of the 2 liters... at the same price of 99cents.
Everything is going smaller pkgs at the same price or more. My husband said that makes no sence to him to when they need to retool all there machines and dies so much work... everyone should boycot it or at least email or snail mail them like what happened to netflix last week. when they anounced a huge price increase they had over a million customers cancel there service. Me for one. They blew up the twitter line to the CEO. and the next day he came out and apologized saying that he had made a huge mistake but they were changing the name for dvd customers but the price the same... and streaming would now be the netflix name. well that is still a rip off because you need to go to both services at two prices still paying more for what you had orig. but the company stood up and took notice... maybe that is what it is going to take with these companies and congress!

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