Would you rather have a company raise the price and decrease the size of the product they are selling or just increase the price?

Prices have increased not only because of the price of materials to make the products but to increase the profits. In some cases this has amounted to nothing more than greed. As the prices have increased the size of the products have decreased. Finding ice cream that is sold in a half gallon container or a five-pound bag of sugar is akin to winning the grocery lottery.

Today, I saw a half liter bottle of balsamic vinegar selling for 2.29. The liter bottle used to sell for $3.99. Buying two would mean for the same amount there is a price increase of 15%.

No one really wants price increases but reducing the volume of products also contributes to waste if you need a certain amount for a recipe or family’s needs. If you have to buy a larger container or a multiple smaller ones to get the amount you need, then there is the chance that some might be wasted.

Toilet paper rolls have been shrinking as the price remains the same. Some things that we cannot live without such as food and personal hygiene items are being sold in packages that are more “profit friendly” for companies yet take more out of the consumer’s bottom line.

My preference would be to have the product size remain the same and increase the price moderately. When you have grown accustomed to a certain size and know how long it will take you to use an item, only to have the size reduced by 20% it seems like a crime. When the price stays the same, but there is less in the package, this is still a price increase, subtle yet still an increase. For some items you just can’t make do – while eating less may work for your waistline – using fewer personal hygiene products may not be good for your social life.