Commerce
Giant Economy Size
The quest for the almighty dollar has birthed some marketing schemes which go well beyond what was intended as nature’s way. When I was young (it may have been the stone age) soda drinks were usually 12 ounces, a bag of potato chips was a pound, candy bars were all the same size and sold for a nickel, a can of coffee was a pound. I think Maxwell House coffee was the first to produce the “new” weight of about 13 ounces in the same size “pound” can so you might be fooled. Today the pound can contains 11 ½ ounces. The plethora of sizes for anything you might choose to buy is mind boggling. Since even the manufacturers have trouble keeping up with their chicanery, you will often find that the smaller sizes are actually the better buy. Packaging products in bags or boxes that are way too big for what they contain are explained by such things as “may have settled during shipping.”
Wouldn’t it be cheaper to produce disposable items all in one handy-dandy size? Do we really need to choose between a 1 lb, 2 lb, 2 ½ lb, 5 lb or 10 lb box of laundry detergent? How about toilet paper in the handy one pack, 2 pack, 4 pack, 6 pack, etc., not to mention the “double roll” where magically they squeeze twice as many sheets on the same size roll! Take a survey to find out how many double rolls the average family of 4 ½ people use in two weeks. Let’s say the answer is 3.2. Make all packages 4 double rolls. Single people can either store the extras or give them away as gifts to their friends. Larger families can either shop weekly or buy two packages at the same time – what a concept!
The most amazing product is tooth paste (do they still make tooth powder?). Not only must you choose between dozens of brands – but then – pick a flavor. Now pick a size. Pick a shape. Tube or squeeze bottle. Now choose the one that is specifically designed for whatever horrible oral disease you fear most – tartar control, gum disease, tooth decay, or maybe you are one of the lucky ones and only need your paste to make your teeth extra white. Ever try baking soda for brushing? Effective and refreshing.
Just what is a “jumbo” shrimp? (other than the most famous oxymoron) I’ve seen the ones that are about a quarter of an inch long that they call “salad” shrimp and big ones that look like little lobster tails. They are usually graded in size by how many are in a pound, 15-20, 30-40, 50-60, etc. “Jumbo” is used by sellers for about the largest 50% of the sizes.
Years ago, when I went to buy a bushel of crabs for a party, I asked the prices and was told they had some nice “medium” crabs for “X” dollars. Thinking this was a little high, I asked for the price of the “small” crabs. Without blinking, the answer was “the mediums ARE the small.” Pithy.
Chastity may save us from Hades, but who will save us from ourselves?
The quest for the almighty dollar has birthed some marketing schemes which go well beyond what was intended as nature’s way. When I was young (it may have been the stone age) soda drinks were usually 12 ounces, a bag of potato chips was a pound, candy bars were all the same size and sold for a nickel, a can of coffee was a pound. I think Maxwell House coffee was the first to produce the “new” weight of about 13 ounces in the same size “pound” can so you might be fooled. Today the pound can contains 11 ½ ounces. The plethora of sizes for anything you might choose to buy is mind boggling. Since even the manufacturers have trouble keeping up with their chicanery, you will often find that the smaller sizes are actually the better buy. Packaging products in bags or boxes that are way too big for what they contain are explained by such things as “may have settled during shipping.”
Wouldn’t it be cheaper to produce disposable items all in one handy-dandy size? Do we really need to choose between a 1 lb, 2 lb, 2 ½ lb, 5 lb or 10 lb box of laundry detergent? How about toilet paper in the handy one pack, 2 pack, 4 pack, 6 pack, etc., not to mention the “double roll” where magically they squeeze twice as many sheets on the same size roll! Take a survey to find out how many double rolls the average family of 4 ½ people use in two weeks. Let’s say the answer is 3.2. Make all packages 4 double rolls. Single people can either store the extras or give them away as gifts to their friends. Larger families can either shop weekly or buy two packages at the same time – what a concept!
The most amazing product is tooth paste (do they still make tooth powder?). Not only must you choose between dozens of brands – but then – pick a flavor. Now pick a size. Pick a shape. Tube or squeeze bottle. Now choose the one that is specifically designed for whatever horrible oral disease you fear most – tartar control, gum disease, tooth decay, or maybe you are one of the lucky ones and only need your paste to make your teeth extra white. Ever try baking soda for brushing? Effective and refreshing.
Just what is a “jumbo” shrimp? (other than the most famous oxymoron) I’ve seen the ones that are about a quarter of an inch long that they call “salad” shrimp and big ones that look like little lobster tails. They are usually graded in size by how many are in a pound, 15-20, 30-40, 50-60, etc. “Jumbo” is used by sellers for about the largest 50% of the sizes.
Years ago, when I went to buy a bushel of crabs for a party, I asked the prices and was told they had some nice “medium” crabs for “X” dollars. Thinking this was a little high, I asked for the price of the “small” crabs. Without blinking, the answer was “the mediums ARE the small.” Pithy.
Chastity may save us from Hades, but who will save us from ourselves?
posted by revsnodgrass | 2:55 PM
1 Comments:
Only one size of tp? No double rolls! They don't fit well, and it's hard for the cat to unravel the whole roll.
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