Thursday, April 10, 2008

Insidious Marketing Practices.


This is the laundry detergent I have used since forever. It used to be $2.49 at Food Lion, but they upped the price to $2.99 some time ago. It's still the cheapest detergent I can find.
Now if you look closely at the top left, the manufacturer proudly proclaims this is 28% MORE.
28% more than what, I wonder, since this is the same container
I've always bought?
Well, if you double click and read the fine print, this 128-ounce container is 28% more than 100 ounces. The fact that this detergent was never sold in 100-ounce containers is irrelevant.
Is this just an exercise in math? Yes, 128 ounces is 28% more than 100 ounces.
Thanks for sharing.



Now, I went back to Food Lion to buy another container of XTRA laundry detergent. I'm looking at the container and notice something is different.
At the top left, the manufacturer excitedly announces this product does 50% more loads. 50% more than (in fine print) our 50-ounce concentrated detergent. But I've never seen a 50-ounce concentrated XTRA detergent.
Also on the package, it says the detergent is twice as concentrated (as what?) and will do 50 loads.

Something is still amiss ... awry ... if you will.



Let's compare the two XTRA containers, shall we?


AHHHHH HAHHHH!!!!


The one on the left is 128 ounces.
The one on the right is 78 ounces.
That's approximately a 61% decrease in product for the same price.

The XTRA's capful on the left holds 4 ounces.
The XTRA'S capful on the right holds 2 ounces.

The XTRA on the left would do 32 loads.
The XTRA on the right would do 39 loads, not 50 loads as advertised.

Now, I'm getting confused.
And also screwed.

I think I'll research laundry detergents and switch to something else.


They did this with my 8 O'Clock coffee beans, too.
I used to buy it in 1-pound bags. Now, the same price gets me a 13-ounce bag.

And Breyer's Yogurt! It used to be 10 8-ounce containers for $5.00.
Now, it's 10 6-ounce containers for $5.00.

The bastards.




3 comments:

  1. If you only used 1/2 capful, you'd get 100 loads (or 78?), so would that be 100% more loads 50% as clean?

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  2. May I recommend All small and mighty for the House of Hawthorne? I am quite happy with it.

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  3. Odd. I guess marketers will try anything to sell their products. (Like the way Aldi markets package their discount/house brands in the same colors and shapes as brand-name products).

    Researching and switching products sounds like a good idea. (And I'm going to pay closer attention to the labels on my laundry detergent the next time I'm shopping!)

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