Marketing

I understand inflation; at least enough to know that it happens. So, from time to time, manufacturers have to increase prices to maintain a profit. This is commonly done in one of several ways: raise the price, reduce the quality or quantity of the product. The thing that pisses me off is when they hit you with the double-whammy and do two or more things at the same time AND at the same time try to make you think there's some benefit for you! I have been buying “Dixie Cups” with lids for hot drinks, 16 cups and lids for $2.00. They were packaged in a simple cylindrical plastic wrap stacked one on the other. How simple it would be to either reduce the number of cups OR to raise the price to increase profits. But no – some genius in marketing came up with “New Packaging!” proudly displayed on the now 14 cups and lids in a flimsy cardboard container with two stacks of 7 cups and lids side by side. Oh, do we think this marvelous new packaging comes without cost? Nooooo! Two dollars and twenty cents, please. Packaging is another word for the trash you dispose of to get to the product. So, thank you Georgia- Pacific, for changing the design of my trash, reducing the number of usable items and only increasing the price per cup by twenty-five percent.