Post # 129 - Meijer and Their Yogurt Downsizing - 2/5/2010

A friend of a friend brought this to my attention.  I understand why companies do this, but it really bugs me.  Thanks Stacey!

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Dear Meijer,

You’re not fooling anyone. One week, you’re selling me 8 ounce yogurt for 49 cents. The next week, you’re charging the same 49 cents. But you’ve downsized me by 2 ounces. That’s a 25 percent reduction. If the tables were turned, and I tried shorting you by 5 percent (12 cents), your hired guns behind those checkout counters would tell me to get lost. Why do you hold the power?

I find it funny that suddenly it’s healthier. It says so right on the container. I’m betting a serving has 25 percent less calories.

It’s a practice known industry-wide as “Frito-Laying” the customer. Those fine folks have been doing this for years. Here’s how it works:

-Year one: 16 ounce bag for $1.99.
-Year two: 14.5 ounce bag for $1.99
-Year three: 13 ounce bag for $1.99 (funny—the bag looks the same)
-Year four: 11.5 ounce bag for $1.99, plus new One Pound Bag for $2.99
-Year five: 14.5 ounce bag for $2.99
-and on and on and on.

Look—I get it. As raw materials, work forces, utilities, and overhead increase in price, companies need to be creative. You’re trying to avoid consumer sticker shock by pulling the wool over our eyes. Why not look into less expensive packaging, like the Go-Gurt folks did? Or stick it to the farmers. Maybe they could streamline their processes.

We’re all used to seeing it from giant, out of touch companies like Frito Lay. It’s a little disappointing seeing it from a nice, community friendly store like Meijer.

The same store that:

-Once replaced a bag of groceries, free of charge, on the honor system when accidentally left it in the cart.
-I’ve personally seen donate gift cards for turkeys for needy folks at Thanksgiving.

From that store, I expect better.

Sincerely,

Jerry
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No response


From http://thehermanletters.blogspot.com

Post # 52 - Yoplait and Their Smelly Pink Lids - November 9, 2009

Dear Yoplait,

I think it’s great that you’re offering to donate $.10 per pink yogurt lid, if we clean them off and send them in. You’ve agreed to donate at least $500K, and up to $1.5 Million. Nice work--give one another a pat on the back.

Here’s my question—what role do the lids actually have in all of this, other than raise awareness of your very noble initiative? It can be a real inconvenience—if I’m at work having a lovely Yogurt breakfast, I have to save the lid, go to the washroom, wash it off, dry it off, put it in my pocket, and remember to pull it out before I throw my pantalones into the washer. Then, I have to take all of the lids, put them in an envelope, take them out of the envelope because you can’t address the envelope legibly with the lids in there, then add the stamp—oh but postage went up and I don’t have a 3 cent stamp, so now I’m using two stamps.

What do you do with the lids? Is this also a recycling initiative? I’d bet they’re smelly by the time you receive them. Some people’s “cleaning” process is just licking them.

Bottom line: You (Yoplait) know, based on inventories and orders, how many Yogurts are purchased. Why wouldn’t you make it easier on everyone and say “We’ll donate $0.10 per yogurt that you purchase, not to exceed $1.5 Million. Eat up, America!” Then, the act of enjoying the yogurt is the thing driving the initiative, and not the licking, saving, and mailing of smelly pink lids.

Sincerely,

Jerry

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Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:09:53 -0600
Subject: Your Response From "General Mills" - 2009/11/11-1005 ZJC

Dear Jerry:

Thank you for contacting General Mills regarding . We appreciate the time you have taken to share your comments.  The information you provided will be shared with members of the promotion team.

Once the lids have been received and counted, they are sent to be recycled.

We hope you will continue to participate in our promotions.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jenni

Consumer Services

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