CONSUMER GAL: How to fight 'shrinkflation'

Have you noticed package sizes or weights at the grocery store are getting smaller while prices remain the same? It's not your imagination; this is what's called shrinkflation.

Shrinkflation is really just a form of inflation and it's a key phrase that’s being used right now to describe what packaged goods makers are doing in retail stores and supermarkets.

Marketers are keeping the package the same size but they reduce the amount of contents while charging you the same price. The effect is you pay more for less product. For example, coffee that used to contain 12 ounces now contains 10 ounces for the same price.

Ways to fight shrinkflation include not only looking at the price tag on the item but also checking the unit price. Unit price will let you know if you're paying more for less. Unit price is the cost divided by the weight. So if something costs $5 for 15 ounces, the unit price is 33.33 cents per ounce. Make sure you're not paying more per unit price for the item.

Next, look for store brands. Often retailers and supermarkets will provide incentives for shoppers to purchase the store brand instead of the nationally advertised brand.

And finally, be careful of the phrase “new and improved.” Often this phrase means that marketers are just trying to push through a price increase. It might be a new package with less product at a higher price that is “new and improved,” so don’t be fooled.

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Bank thwarts Norton scam

A reader from Hayden alerted us to the importance of verifying contact information independent of emails we receive. He almost was caught up in a Norton scam.

He received an email notice (supposedly from Norton) telling him that his VIP security program had been renewed and that the money was charged to his account. If he would like to stop the payment or cancel the order, he needed to contact the company at the number provided in the email.

Our Hayden reader said he made the mistake of calling the number included in the email instead of independently going to the search engine and getting the Norton customer service number directly. His intention was to decline the program but the person he spoke to on the phone convinced him that he needed access to his computer in order to cancel the subscription.

Once the scammer had access to the reader’s computer, he informed the reader that $20,000 had been inadvertently wired into the reader’s checking account. As part of the scam, the crook instructed the reader to go to his bank and wire $20,000 to a bank in Thailand.

When the reader went to his bank, he discovered that the scammer had actually moved $20,000 out of the reader’s savings account into his checking account, which is why the reader believed money had been accidentally placed into his account that wasn’t his own.

Thankfully, the bank checked all the activity in the reader’s accounts and thwarted the crime before money was actually taken. Which brings us back to the reader’s suggestion to reiterate the importance of always checking the number directly and to not call numbers provided in the email or text.

Also, as a reminder, never let anyone access your computer or accounts directly. Had the scammer been able to wire the money to the bank in Thailand, there would have been no recourse for the reader to recover his money. Always keep your guard up with these types of requests.

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The real cost of gas

A Post Falls reader recently emailed me his comments about a consumer behavior observation which I thought was interesting. Though his observation took place the week before the July 4 holiday, I have made the same observation many times.

Most of us like shopping at Costco and saving money where we can, which includes fuel, but is it truly a deal with fuel? On the particular day the reader observed long lines that were five to six cars deep in all lanes and the lines were growing such that cars were blocking the lane for entering and exiting Costco and related stores.

With such long lines the reader wondered if the fuel savings was worth the time spent and fuel burned while waiting in line. Not an easy question to answer but worth considering if you face long lines at the Costco fuel station.

Gas prices in our area seem to vary significantly between cities and even within Coeur d’Alene and surrounding areas, but there are stations not far from Costco whose prices are not much more and with no waiting. Personally, I value my time and do not like waiting in long lines for gas so I usually don’t fill up at Costco.

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Remember: I’m on your side.

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If you have encountered a consumer issue that you have questions about or think our readers should know about, please send me an email at terridickersonadvocate@gmail.com or call me at 208-274-4458. As The CDA Press Consumer Gal, I’m here to help. I’m a copywriter working with businesses on marketing strategy, a columnist, a veterans advocate and a consumer advocate living in Coeur d’Alene.