tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post1016208153727995288..comments2024-03-22T00:35:19.082-07:00Comments on Casual Kitchen: Ask CK: How Do You Like Your Prices Raised?Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02388302796031288076noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-76936855487751000262011-10-06T07:29:56.627-07:002011-10-06T07:29:56.627-07:00Ronda, great point. That's another unintended ...Ronda, great point. That's another unintended consequence of stealth price hikes. Those seemingly minor 3 ounces of missing pumpkin works out to 10% of the total... not enough maybe to screw up a recipe, but certainly enough to make a difference. Thanks for raising the issue. <br /><br />DKDanielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02388302796031288076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-55396928661078093432011-10-06T07:15:01.975-07:002011-10-06T07:15:01.975-07:00I agree that it is far more frustrating to me to d...I agree that it is far more frustrating to me to downsize the packages, since it messes up my recipes. Especially in the case of canned items, this contributes to waste, since there have been times I've had an opened can of something in the frig and forget about it. <br />Another irritation to me: having a 16 oz. size and a 29 oz. size of a particular product, such as pumpkin.When I want to make a double recipe, I would prefer to use the *32 oz* can,(which doesn't exist) thank you! Yet it irks me that the 29 oz. size is cheaper per oz, so I usually just make it less pumpkin-y.Rondahttp://homefire.xanga.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-45231128816193273062011-08-05T03:37:23.613-07:002011-08-05T03:37:23.613-07:00Maybe the new question to answer is how the produc...Maybe the new question to answer is how the producer price varies from the point of sale prices.<br /><br />Like why can I get the brand of pasta sauce that I prefer for $1.88 at retailer X, but the same jar is near $3.50 at retailers Y, Z, A, B, & C?<br /><br />How much was it produced for if retailer X can regularly (not on a special sale, no coupons) sell it for close to half what the rest of the market sells it for?<br /><br />(Yes, I know I can make pasta sauce less expensively at home, but my last batch was too ____.)The Calico Cathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06319271181930512880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-29808206233884217562011-07-31T19:41:25.232-07:002011-07-31T19:41:25.232-07:00Julia, thank you for bringing up the question in t...Julia, thank <em>you</em> for bringing up the question in the first place. It was a provocative one. <br /><br />And you make an interesting point on the package sizes of candy, chips and soda. I'm not sure I agree, but I can see where you're coming from. <br /><br />DKDanielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02388302796031288076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-87608753380199717172011-07-30T05:08:11.097-07:002011-07-30T05:08:11.097-07:00An interesting side conversation -- why "seco...An interesting side conversation -- why "second-order foods" and highly marketed foods are more susceptible to price increases... they have more inputs (including packaging and labor)that create more variables for price increases. <br /><br />Also, with commodity type foods such as lentils and other legumes, there's less opportunity for quality differentiation (read: marketing), which contributes to premium pricing.<br /><br />As for transparency in price increases, I'm going to buck the trend here. For some items, like candy, chips and sodas I'd rather see the packaging size decrease. The industry went through a phase of super-sizing everything which has contributed to the epidemic of obesity. I'm glad to see portion sizes coming back down to reasonable.<br /><br />I will agree that with things like frozen veggies, pasta or tinned tomatoes, keep the package size the same and just raise the prices.Juliahttp://www.growcookeat.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-11514412631289201112011-07-29T16:13:28.522-07:002011-07-29T16:13:28.522-07:00I hate when they change the sizes of things, it ma...I hate when they change the sizes of things, it makes it difficult to follow recipes to the letter (which I rarely do, but still) or keep portion sizes consistent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-48180606269543359882011-07-29T11:12:55.217-07:002011-07-29T11:12:55.217-07:00Good insights so far.
One response that comes to...Good insights so far. <br /><br />One response that comes to mind, now that's it clear that most/all of us want clearer pricing and no lame discounting tactics, is why do the companies that sell us stuff use these tactics? Or better said, why do the tactics work?<br /><br /><em>Because we enable them to work.</em> <br /><br />Kat, I think, really gives us the ideal solution to help us stop this enablement: Find your own substitutes--whether it's a competing product or a solution like making it at home for a fraction of the cost. <br /><br />One final thought: I wrote a piece here at CK on how consumers can make the most of the <a href="http://casualkitchen.blogspot.com/2010/06/why-do-products-go-on-sale.html" rel="nofollow">natural rhythm of retail discounting</a>. It's a timely piece to bring back in front of readers. <br /><br />DKDanielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02388302796031288076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-56229710959411108732011-07-29T07:38:56.712-07:002011-07-29T07:38:56.712-07:00I agree with your other readers...keep them fair a...I agree with your other readers...keep them fair and keep them transparent. It's irritating to see prices go up but it's even more so to see producers try to fool us through changing the size of packaging.<br /><br />And...if special circumstances warrant a price increase to keep the goods on the shelf; I sure want to see them go back down again once that circumstance is over. Seems once they get us used to paying a higher price, too often it stays in place once the shortage is over. I'm looking at you Pine Nuts. :)Barbara | Creative Culinaryhttp://www.creative-culinary.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-7346487650593747852011-07-28T09:24:34.634-07:002011-07-28T09:24:34.634-07:00I think there's a big distinction to be made b...I think there's a big distinction to be made between manufacturer pricing and reseller pricing. Part of Calico's comment referred to the sort of discounting that happens at point of sale. I think Daniel was talking about pricing set by the producer.<br /><br />I prefer open price increases for the same quantity of a product, versus holding the price steady for less of the product. That seems to be the consensus so far! <br /><br />There is nearly always an alternative producer or seller for a given product, so if everyone kept their quantities standard, consumers would have a much better basis for price comparison (anybody besides me hate that "unit pricing" small print?).<br /><br />You would think our National Institute of Standards and Technology would be on this like a squirrel on a bird feeder, but apparently not.chacha1http://www.ombailamos.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-16648385173722903182011-07-28T07:55:32.815-07:002011-07-28T07:55:32.815-07:00I'd rather they just raise the price. I hate ...I'd rather they just raise the price. I hate that now frozen vegetables come in 12 oz bags instead of 16 oz, and that a can of tomatoes is 14.5 oz instead of 16 oz, and that pasta comes in 13.25 oz boxes.<br /><br />I mean, really. If I want to cook a pound of frozen veggies, then I have to open two bags. That's just an example.Marciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13984899661746845414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-14511990166177450332011-07-28T06:42:52.977-07:002011-07-28T06:42:52.977-07:00I definitely appreciate more transparent price-hik...I definitely appreciate more transparent price-hikes than changes in package/product size.<br /><br />Just last weekend when I was at the grocery store, I considered buying a container of tzatziki because I didn't want to go through the hassle (really, it's more like a 15 minute process in our house) of making it myself. <br />After I saw the price tag ($4), my jaw dropped, I put it back in the cooler and (duh) made my own for half the price.Kathttp://www.tenaciouslyyours.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37886248.post-38778237789677755132011-07-28T04:11:09.208-07:002011-07-28T04:11:09.208-07:00This is a tough one for me. I know we are all pric...This is a tough one for me. I know we are all price conscious. But I'd prefer for the prices just to be "fair" without sale &/or coupon pricing.<br /><br />If the price is $2, so be it. Don't change that to 2 for $3.80 this week (especially if you have to buy 2 to get the savings) or insert a $.25 coupon that can be doubled here but not there in the paper that I just don't want to buy!<br /><br />If because of the price of tea in China (or some other reason) the new fair price is $2.10, so be it. Just change the damn price, don't remove ___% to keep the price at $2.The Calico Cathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06319271181930512880noreply@blogger.com