Irritated with Pillsbury - Page 4

Has Pillsbury actually tried to sell the changes using these claims? When product shrinkage occurs the manufacturer rarely calls attention to the change.

For the primary target market of this product, a less dense cake is probably just fine.

On what facts do you base this remark? Did you look at the photo of the cake full of uneven wormholes? It's not "less dense", it's defective, in my opinion.

I based my remark on my opinion, just as you did.

No, the box shows no indication that it has changed. But if you put something different on the market and do not inform your customers of the change, you are in essence saying that it is the "same" great product you have always used. When you ask them about it, they say that there should be no difference, yet there is. You only notice it after you used their product and it has failed. Then your customer feels cheated out of their money. As far as Pillsbury itself, they told me that they are still "working on" the product issues and are trying to get feedback. That's why they ask for all of the variables. They need to know how their product is reacting in all scenarios. I'm sure that is why they are asking for the feedback and it should be honest feedback. I have no problem with other Pillsbury products and I will continue to use them. I just will not use the box cake mix as my "go to" product when I finish with the cases that I have. It is also my job as a consumer to let a company know what my feelings are (not rudely of course) about their products. I personally call my clients if I have not received an unsolicited feedback from them to see if what they received from me is what was expected. It is how I know if I am doing a good job or not. However, my situation is different and I don't expect Pillsbury to do that. Nobody would. Contacting them is how they know. Most people will not even take the time to let them know. They just walk away with their money. I've done it many times with other places. Please do not take my comments wrong. I'm just trying to get people to understand the importance of contacting the company so they have a clue as to what is happening. That way they can either change back or give us another option while leaving the other on the shelf for their "target market". If you think about it though, why would that market want an inferior product? Pillsbury just needs to know........

This doesn't help everyone, but Aldi's cake mixes are still 18 oz. They work fine, as is or doctored

The difference being, I am only speaking for myself. You are speaking for an entire "target market".

Again, I'm stating my opinion that most people who buy these cake mixes probably won't care that the cakes are less dense. I'm not trying to speak for anyone else, and of course I could be wrong, but my opinion is what it is.

As a consumer I didn't think that the picture you linked to looked defective. Different, yes, but if you want a guarantee of consistency you should be buying mixes targeted at professionals.

Which is why I started by noting that if the new product is a failure when used as intended then yes Pillsbury is at fault.




If I miss something by ellipsing your message (I am not interested in how they pass off the change but the implications of the change) my apologies. The answer to whether or not people who doctor should be able to enjoy their favorite mix---the answer is no. Why? Because the doctorers choose to use a product in a manner other than intended. As such they have no claim on the producers for choosing to alter their product for its intended use.

For whatever reason (escalating costs, new production methods, new ingredients, desire to expand profits) these companies believe they can create the same volume of a final product from a smaller sized mix. They simply cannot account for every possible way individuals have chosen to doctor their mixes. They need to account for the forces that influence the product as it is intended to be used.

In addition they gain nothing from the doctoring process. The addition of other ingredients does little for them. They would rather see individuals use another mix--rather than see them add additional flour, sugar etc. People are going to use mixes, they want people using mixes--as many as possible.

Finally they have little interest in people "altering" their product by adding ingredients as it implies their mix is insufficient.

Why not then simply leave it the same? Because something lead them to believe this change was better for their bottom line.

When you use a product other than intended you are at the mercy of changes when producers decide to alter the product for whatever reason. Any number of factors can lead to changes in a product, it frankly is up to doctorers to adapt if they wish to continue to doctor mixes.

Well, gatorcake, on the last point I guess we agree to disagree......

I guess we'll agree to disagree, because in my opinion, the average consumer is entitled to a consistent product.

There is a difference between being less dense and looking like swiss cheese. I have not seen the new boxes but I bet the image of the cake on the front of the box looks nothing like the image Kellym posted. Jason you seriously underestimate the average consumer. The average consumer will care if the product they are being advertised looks nothing like the finished product.

When most people imagine cake, they do not image a cake full of large holes. Having had conversations the past few days with "average" consumers about cakes we have been eating they most certainly aware of what even decent cake (whether mix or scratch) should look like. Even average consumers could tell that mix produces poor results simply based on what they have eaten in the past -- whether mix or scratch. Good cake in not riddled with large holes. The cake looks more like bread than cake with all the varying sized holes.

They haven't cared so far, because the picture on the box looks nothing like either the 18.25oz cake or the 15.25oz cake.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Pillsbury-Moist-Supreme-Premium-Classic-Yellow-Cake-Mix-15.25-oz/21096195

To clarify my point, the primary attributes of cake mixes sold to consumers at grocery stores are low cost and ease of use. Contrast this with mixes sold to professional customers, where consistency is more critical and is a higher priority than keeping costs down.

All cake mixes are easy, therefore "ease of use", in my opinion, can be struck from "primary attributes", as it is the common denominator. In my opinion, the "primary attributes" are taste (quality) and low cost.The average consumer probably doesn't make cakes often enough to know the differences between mix brands, or even notice that there has been a size/formula change. I suspect they buy based on cost and attractiveness of the packaging, because that's how I used to buy, back in the day.

Inspiredbymom, I'm glad the Pillsbury rep was conciliatory on the phone, and I'm certainly not one to tell people that they can't make a difference, but I think this is a done deal. The Betty Crocker switch more than a year ago was the shot over the bow. From General Mills' perspective, the switch must have been successful, because they didn't revert to the old size/formula, instead they switched Pillsbury as well. It's very disappointing.

Kelleym, what is more disappointing is that I called one of the number that was given to me by the CS rep. One, they told me to find a distributor to buy the bulk product from.....duh, if I had one here, I would talk to them. The closest one I know of is 3 hours away! All I wanted was a sample to see if I liked it. I'm not ready to order 50 #'s of something that is nasty. They also said that this new place took over Pillsbury cake line for the bulk and tweaked it to their liking. Again, why mess with a good thing? Now I really don't know what to do. I have read on here that you can get samples but I can't get any info on where to get them. Any suggestions?