SHORT COMMUNICATION 121
Consumers Are Being Cheated
By
Roger Behra
Most consumers are not observant enough when they buy items in the grocery store and especially items they frequently purchase. Yes, they notice a price increase, but there is more to it than just a price increase. As a result they just stop there and miss what is really going on. The bottom line is the consumer is being cheated. They have been tricked.
Here are some examples. A roll of toilet paper used to be 5 inches long. Then it has been reduced to 4.5 inches while the price of 4 has been increased. Most people just realize the price increase. A Snickers candy bar used to weigh 3.25 oz. Now it weighs 2.50 and the cost increased. A box of frosted flakes gave 21 oz. The box size remained the same. The price stayed the same, but the contents were reduced to 17 oz. Consumers get 4 oz. less for the same price. A gallon of gasoline used to give each car a certain MPG. Then the refineries included so many additives. As a result the price per gallon increased as the MPG decreased because of the additives. A box of Kleenex gave 250 tissues for .99¢. Now a box gives only 175 tissues for the same price. There are countless other examples that could be given.
It seems the consumer just about always gets the raw deal. They either get the same amount of product for a higher price. They get less product for the same price. Or worst of all, the consumer gets less product for a higher price in some cases. The only edge for the consumer is to compare brands and their amounts for the price given. In our fast-paced world most people do not have the time to spend doing that. The businesses know that, and they take full advantage of life in our modern world. It is a negative result in the new American culture.
R.B.
11-22-09