Have you stopped buying certain things because of price?

[bizaro86]

I was going to say the same.

I have a feeling you're more in tune with things like the historical market price for vegetable oil than I am!

 

[PcflEZFlng]

Since I retired from Marzetti's, the new management has raised prices and downsized the bottle for the Marzetti refrigerated Ranch salad dressing, so I quit buying it.

See what you did? If you hadn't retired, they wouldn't have raised their prices and we wouldn't be in this mess. Moral of the story: never retire.

 

[geist1223]

I sometimes buy 5oz bags of potato chips. I have noticed that price of them have doubled in the past few years. They used to often be on sale for $1, now it is $2. I looked into it and the price of potatoes has been going up, but only up by about 20 cents a lb since 2020. So it isn't the raw materials that is pushing up prices.

The cost of the raw product in a boxed/canned/bagged product has always been the smallest contributor to its final cost.

 

[dioxide45]

The price of vegetable oil actually more than doubled from prepandemic/2020 to 2022. It's come down some since then but is still more than 50% higher than prepandemic. I wouldn't be surprised if that is equal or more than the cost of the potatoes themselves.

I was going to say the same.

Then that must be the driving factor. I looked into it some and it seems that prices peaked around in mid 2022. They are down about 50% since then. Close to where they were in 2020 when that bag of potato chips was still a buck but I've seen no decreases in the price of tater chips.

 

[Superchief]

The cost of the raw product in a boxed/canned/bagged product has always been the smallest contributor to its final cost.

This is true, but corporate executives still think it's a great idea to downsize packages. When Marzetti reduced the size of salad dressing packages, it would take several years to save enough from the reduced product to break even with the costs associated with the package change. Management ignored our Marketing Research that indicated sales would decline and customers would be alienated, but that is exactly what happened. When I began my career at P&G, we did marketing research to determine what consumers wanted and how to be better than competitors. In recent years, the objective is to figure out how to fool consumers so profit margins could be enhanced. This is why I retired.

 

[x3 skier]

Government in Seattle is using public funds to sell parking spots on city streets. Undercutting the private marketplace that wants to offer the same service. Absolutely decimates the profits of private companies trying to do the same thing. Most have given up and sold their surface parking lots to developers who build 40 story condo and apartment buildings.

Interesting but i suspect that doesn't have much of an effect on food prices.

 

[Tia]

The price of vegetable oil actually more than doubled from prepandemic/2020 to 2022. It's come down some since then but is still more than 50% higher than prepandemic. I wouldn't be surprised if that is equal or more than the cost of the potatoes themselves.

Anyone know why this is?? I have noticed the price in the grocery store is way up of Canola oil

 

[dioxide45]

Anyone know why this is?? I have noticed the price in the grocery store is way up of Canola oil

Seems to do with the conflict in Ukraine.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

When we eat out we try to go for lunches rather than dinners. Less expensive and better for digestion/health to have heavy meal in middle of the day.

Pet boarding has gotten ridiculous in our area. Cats used to be $17/day now $50/ day if you want a premium larger kennel where they are let out into a room to explore. Dogs were $35/day now $70+. Even Rover sitters are asking $30/visit now. So if they visit 2x per day plus tip you are still at$70 - 100/day. We are increasingly asking our adult kids to watch our pets and I will happily pay them to do so.

 

[slip]

Then that must be the driving factor. I looked into it some and it seems that prices peaked around in mid 2022. They are down about 50% since then. Close to where they were in 2020 when that bag of potato chips was still a buck but I've seen no decreases in the price of tater chips.

Does anything really come back down.

 

[susieq]

When we eat out we try to go for lunches rather than dinners. Less expensive and better for digestion/health to have heavy meal in middle of the day.

We do this too. Not only less expensive, but usually less crowded, (usually we get right in), and smaller portions that we can actually finish!

 

[jp10558]

This is true, but corporate executives still think it's a great idea to downsize packages. When Marzetti reduced the size of salad dressing packages, it would take several years to save enough from the reduced product to break even with the costs associated with the package change. Management ignored our Marketing Research that indicated sales would decline and customers would be alienated, but that is exactly what happened. When I began my career at P&G, we did marketing research to determine what consumers wanted and how to be better than competitors. In recent years, the objective is to figure out how to fool consumers so profit margins could be enhanced. This is why I retired.

I don't actually know anyone who wants smaller packages. I'd much prefer the price just go up but I get the same thing and amount. Especially because of unneeded wastage in the packaging.

I really don't get the ongoing idea that the way to make money is to fool your customer. When you devalue your brand this way, it just pushes people to the "whatever X commodity is cheapest because it's going to suck anyway".

I'm generally judicious with regulation, but I'm beginning to think just to deal with the environmental and consumer concerns all items sold "by the oz" either volume or weight need to have fixed "sizes" and you're liable if you're not meeting that.

IDK what they might be, but my stab would be Small 5oz, Medium 12oz, large 24oz, bulk 1 gallon. If you're "downsizing" you can't hide it from the customer, they'll notice going from 24 to 12 oz I hope. I know, it'd be hard to keep a reasonable set of sizes, but no one needs to be comparing 10,10.5,11.2,12,12.5,14,16 oz salad dressing bottle sizes.

 

[Tia]

Seems to do with the conflict in Ukraine.

huh , the price of Canola oil is up due to Ukraine..... well that's interesting...

 

[pedro47]

Blue Bell Ice Cream all favors.

 

[sun starved Gayle]

I have significantly cut down on the amount of annual bedding plants I buy and am concentrating on perennials now. Nursery stock has really gotten expensive.

 

[amycurl]

My typical You-Pick-2 order at Panera used to be just under $10, now it's something closer to $15, and that's *without* a drink. I used to go about once a week; now, it's maybe once a quarter. Some of that is because I'm not in the office as much during lunchtime, but it's also price. Just not worth it for soup and salad. I had lunch at Chipotle come to over $20! And it's not like I got really fancy or something. A recent Wendy's order was over $10.

I do think some of the casual sit-down restaurants are trying to bring folx back with this prix fixe specials, and will probably be successful. I know that I've gotten disillusioned with the prices at both fast food and fast casual joints.

 

[melissy123]

Olive Oil prices have really gone up. I've read that's due to drought and disease in groves in Europe. I'll still buy it, versus other types of oil.

 

[bizaro86]

huh , the price of Canola oil is up due to Ukraine..... well that's interesting...

Apparently they're the largest exporter of sunflower oil which is a substitute.

 

[Superchief]

I don't actually know anyone who wants smaller packages. I'd much prefer the price just go up but I get the same thing and amount. Especially because of unneeded wastage in the packaging.

I really don't get the ongoing idea that the way to make money is to fool your customer. When you devalue your brand this way, it just pushes people to the "whatever X commodity is cheapest because it's going to suck anyway".

I'm generally judicious with regulation, but I'm beginning to think just to deal with the environmental and consumer concerns all items sold "by the oz" either volume or weight need to have fixed "sizes" and you're liable if you're not meeting that.

IDK what they might be, but my stab would be Small 5oz, Medium 12oz, large 24oz, bulk 1 gallon. If you're "downsizing" you can't hide it from the customer, they'll notice going from 24 to 12 oz I hope. I know, it'd be hard to keep a reasonable set of sizes, but no one needs to be comparing 10,10.5,11.2,12,12.5,14,16 oz salad dressing bottle sizes.

While it made sense to downsize laundry detergent packaging when concentrated formulas were introduced, most downsizing really screws up consumer purchasing habits. Dry dog food is a perfect example. When I started working at Ralston Purina several years ago, a large bag was 50 lb. and a medium bag 25 lb. Now a large bag is often 30-35 lb and medium is 15 lb. This problem is even worse for large breed dogs. It is also a problem for items that are often used in recipes. 16 oz packages provided just the right amount, but 12-15 oz cans make things much more difficult.

I often tried to convince management that downsizing would also reduce their market share (determined by volume), and increased the number of store visits people had to make. The more times you are in the store, the more exposure you have to competitor products and promotions.

 

[Superchief]

Orange juice prices are going up substantially due to a citrus disease in Brazil that requires destroying infected trees. A similar disease hit the Florida grapefruit crop a few years ago and some regions destroyed their groves. It is interesting that the media tries to blame climate change for this problem, but the disease is unrelated to weather issues. There is no treatment or cure for citrus greening. Infected trees eventually die. Citrus greening is one of the most serious citrus diseases in the world. Once infected, most trees die within a few year. It will take several years for the orange crop to recover.

I suggest people seek alternatives to orange juice because prices will continue to be extremely high for a while.
Here is a link to an article describing the disease and research being done to develop treatment.

New Treatments for Citrus Greening Have Passed Initial Testing - Modern Farmer

Citrus greening, a disease with no cure, has torn through citrus groves in Florida, Louisiana, Texas and around the world. The disease is spread through

modernfarmer.com

 

[rickandcindy23]

I hardly ever buy a new Lamborghini anymore. It's Coke Zero. I used to buy 12-packs just willy-nilly. four at-a-time. For $12 bucks or so. Now, it's a special trip to Costco for a 35-pack for $13. Boy, where'll it end??? I had to stand in front of the toilet paper today at Smith's to decide if the 12 Mega rolls at $17 was a better buy than the SUPER MEGA 12 pack at $22.

What's a dyed-in-the-wool cheapskate to do???

I think I'll go get a $12 Craft Imperial IPA out of the fridge to survive the heat.

Jim

Our son has a Lamborghini. The kids cannot even ride in it. What a waste of garage space, but he loves it and takes our granddaughter to the playground in it. I don't get sports cars. Still driving my 2003 Toyota Avalon.

 

[HitchHiker71]

We haven't necessarily stopped buying anything outright, but we're leveraging substitutions where feasible due to price increases. This includes but is not limited to:

• Buying less expensive cuts of red meat, more chicken instead
• Buying more store brands as opposed to name brands
• Utilizing daily restaurant specials, happy hour specials, and coupons where applicable (BOGO Ruby Tuesdays, Tail Tuesdays at Outback, Surf & Turf Wednesday Red Lobster specials, etc.)
• Utilizing discount oriented stores for grocery shopping more often - Walmart, Aldi, etc. - both offer easy pickup options for the same prices as in-store items
• Driving our ICE truck less often - using our Tesla BEV more to save on gas money for daily errands

Probably have others as well, I'll add them after the fact when I think of them.

 

[WinniWoman]

This! $16 for a glass of wine? Nope. I can buy that wine at the grocery store for $12/bottle. I usually order a beer instead too!

And the glass is not even a full glass! I stopped ordering a few years ago and now if I order alcohol at all it’s a beer or a cocktail. But I do water a lot now and cocktail is at home.

 

[Superchief]

We haven't necessarily stopped buying anything outright, but we're leveraging substitutions where feasible due to price increases. This includes but is not limited to:

• Buying less expensive cuts of red meat, more chicken instead
• Buying more store brands as opposed to name brands
• Utilizing daily restaurant specials, happy hour specials, and coupons where applicable (BOGO Ruby Tuesdays, Tail Tuesdays at Outback, Surf & Turf Wednesday Red Lobster specials, etc.)
• Utilizing discount oriented stores for grocery shopping more often - Walmart, Aldi, etc. - both offer easy pickup options for the same prices as in-store items
• Driving our ICE truck less often - using our Tesla BEV more to save on gas money for daily errands

Probably have others as well, I'll add them after the fact when I think of them.

I also shop specials at multiple stores. I now buy a lot of our meat at Fresh Market, which has different daily specials that are better than Costco prices and is of excellent quality.

 

[DeniseM]

Folks - This thread has gotten very political. Knock off the comments blaming various governments/political groups. TUG is not the place to grind your axe.