"New and Improved" is not a new indication about products
By stealthy
@stealthy (8181)
United States
September 12, 2012 6:05pm CST
Lately there has been a report on the national and local news about companies reducing the amounts in some products but keeping the price the same. They made a big deal about some kid coming up with a way to tell by then saying it was "New and Improved." Well I'm sorry kid but I noticed that before you were born. They have been doing it for many years starting well before the recession. One well know frozen dinner company started doing it and not only were the sizes smaller but they weren't as good and were less healthy. Those dinners have almost completely disappeared from the supermarket shelves now. Other products that have done this a long time ago were ice cream in going from a half gallon to 1,5 quarts. Just about all candy products starting doing it long before the recession. Hershey did it relatively early and eventually M&Ms followed suit but to a lesser degree. The candy companies didn't necessarily have New and Improved but many others did and still do. I have been very wary of the that being used for many years since it almost always means less of whatever it is at the same and sometimes higher price and with some food products that it won't be as good. Lean Cusine is rapidly destroying their whole product line with changes and new versions or new dinners that are supposed to be better but that aren't and their space in the supermarkets has started to shrink because of it.
6 responses
@mikyung (2232)
• Philippines
13 Sep 12
I thinkm, those companies are just cost cutting, but others maybe giving their real intentions, that is to attrack more buyers of their products. I think, that's a good marketing strategy. But they should provide as what they promise. it is really nice to have those new products around. Thanks
@sq2108 (95)
• China
13 Sep 12
In my opinion, it's undoubted that as worker's wage and material's cost are increasing now, manufacturer's profit rate is decreasing. To cope with this problem, the manufacturer have to cheat consumer, reducing the amounts in products but keeping the same price, then they can get profits. I think manufacturer is not be willing to reduce price and keep the same amount as before, which means then would be in loss.
@Fishmomma (11658)
• United States
13 Sep 12
I agree with the other posters and really get mad when I'm paying more and getting less. Its bad knowing many of these products worked better years ago and now they are suppose to be better according to the company.
I know I'm cooking more dishes, as the salt in some of the tv dinners could cause anyone to have high blood pressure and we are seeing more people have heart attacks at a younger age.
@alberello (4752)
• Italy
13 Sep 12
Well, I'm sorry, maybe my answer is not entirely inherent in the topic treated by you in your own thread, but I still feel compelled to write it.
Beyond the marketing strategies that are being implemented to try to sell you a little of what they want, my father always told me this:
Let the example that I have to buy a fork.
I go to the supermarket and I want to buy one and I repeat, only one fork, paying unitarily.
Does not interest me any way that sell 3 forks for the price of 2!
This is because I do not need. I just need one fork!
The classic 3X2 now it is still junk.
@enjoythejourney (523)
• United States
13 Sep 12
I saw an article on the news just last night about this. Maxwell House coffee is saying new and improved but it only means their canister makes 240 cups of coffee rather than 270. Duncan Hines cake mixes makes 21 cupcakes instead of 24 and Brawny paper towels contain 4.5 feet less of paper towl. It is all meant just to fool the consumer and like others have said it has been going on for years and years.
