Cheap Shots! (What Items Have You Noticed Are Increasing in Price, But Decreasing in Quality?)

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seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
16,424
5,371
113
#1
Hey Everyone,

With inflation giving us nowhere to hide for a very long time, what things have you noticed have changed -- for the worse?

I was thinking of this topic last week while I was shopping for groceries.

I have a favorite brand of candles - - Tuscany -- they have great scents, colors, and are often on sale for half-price. They also have a sturdy metal lid that I find handy for snuffing them out when I'm done burning them for the day.

Lo and behold, I noticed a new crop of summer scents -- that now have corks for lids. :rolleyes: I guess I'm going to having to save at least one metal lid from each candle (they have different sizes) to use as a snuffer from now on, just in case.

I moved on to picking up a replacement jar of a staple sensitive skin cream I depend on -- then noticed that unlike the other jars before, this one no longer had a lid with a pump. :rolleyes: Thank goodness I didn't throw out the old jar, because now I'm going to have to save that pump to fit on future jars (and hope it lasts a long time.)

Yes, these aren't very earth-shattering things of course, but I just couldn't help noticing the stark difference -- while mumbling to myself about how cheap companies are getting.

My parents like to tease me about "saving all this junk" when they come over, but I always tell them I have a good reason as to why! :LOL:

How about the rest of you?

* What things have you noticed have changed -- for the worse?

* Is your favorite pack of cookies, jar of spaghetti sauce, etc., now half the size -- but twice the cost?

* Have you noticed certain products disappearing altogether? (Such as, with some companies shrinking costs by eliminating extra varieties?)

* Is there some kind of staple you always bought, but has starkly changed over the years? Do you still buy it?

This past Christmas, I finally bought myself a pair of flannel jammies. Being a bit of a cheapskate, I'd put it off by just surviving with old t-shirts and sweats.

I should have stuck to those!

I'm not sure how they're even getting away with calling this "flannel" -- it's thin, hardly holds any warmth, and most certainly doesn't have that cozy, slightly "furry" feeling you get from REAL flannel. I was most dismayed by the fact that it was from a company that was supposedly well know to have good products, and had ordered from before.

What about you?

I would really like to hear all about your latest disappointments with products, services, and any other item you would like to tell us about. :)
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
27,183
9,265
113
#2
*Lynx peers over the edge of his perch and waits for Nemesis to appear.
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
27,183
9,265
113
#3
Hey Everyone,

With inflation giving us nowhere to hide for a very long time, what things have you noticed have changed -- for the worse?

I was thinking of this topic last week while I was shopping for groceries.

I have a favorite brand of candles - - Tuscany -- they have great scents, colors, and are often on sale for half-price. They also have a sturdy metal lid that I find handy for snuffing them out when I'm done burning them for the day.

Lo and behold, I noticed a new crop of summer scents -- that now have corks for lids. :rolleyes: I guess I'm going to having to save at least one metal lid from each candle (they have different sizes) to use as a snuffer from now on, just in case.

I moved on to picking up a replacement jar of a staple sensitive skin cream I depend on -- then noticed that unlike the other jars before, this one no longer had a lid with a pump. :rolleyes: Thank goodness I didn't throw out the old jar, because now I'm going to have to save that pump to fit on future jars (and hope it lasts a long time.)

Yes, these aren't very earth-shattering things of course, but I just couldn't help noticing the stark difference -- while mumbling to myself about how cheap companies are getting.

My parents like to tease me about "saving all this junk" when they come over, but I always tell them I have a good reason as to why! :LOL:

How about the rest of you?

* What things have you noticed have changed -- for the worse?

* Is your favorite pack of cookies, jar of spaghetti sauce, etc., now half the size -- but twice the cost?

* Have you noticed certain products disappearing altogether? (Such as, with some companies shrinking costs by eliminating extra varieties?)

* Is there some kind of staple you always bought, but has starkly changed over the years? Do you still buy it?

This past Christmas, I finally bought myself a pair of flannel jammies. Being a bit of a cheapskate, I'd put it off by just surviving with old t-shirts and sweats.

I should have stuck to those!

I'm not sure how they're even getting away with calling this "flannel" -- it's thin, hardly holds any warmth, and most certainly doesn't have that cozy, slightly "furry" feeling you get from REAL flannel. I was most dismayed by the fact that it was from a company that was supposedly well know to have good products, and had ordered from before.

What about you?

I would really like to hear all about your latest disappointments with products, services, and any other item you would like to tell us about. :)
DON"T get me started!

A brand of chocolate, Schogetten, used to be 65% cocoa - only a mere 65%, but it was a delicious flavor - but when the price of cocoa spiked their cocoa content dipped. Now the first ingredient is sugar, and it no longer even tastes much like chocolate. It tastes like a sugar bar now.
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
16,424
5,371
113
#4
*Lynx peers over the edge of his perch and waits for Nemesis to appear.
Now Lynxsus, play nice. :)

I was just hoping for a fresh start in another thread. :geek:

If not, there's always tomorrow.
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
27,183
9,265
113
#5
Now Lynxsus, play nice. :)

I was just hoping for a fresh start in another thread. :geek:

If not, there's always tomorrow.
*Lynx tries his best to look innocent, but the tip of his tail keeps twitching.
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
16,424
5,371
113
#6
DON"T get me started!

A brand of chocolate, Schogetten, used to be 65% cocoa - only a mere 65%, but it was a delicious flavor - but when the price of cocoa spiked their cocoa content dipped. Now the first ingredient is sugar, and it no longer even tastes much like chocolate. It tastes like a sugar bar now.
Oh wow, did they have to change the percentage labeling??!!

Like, did the package proudly boast "65% Cocoa!" and now it's like, "25% Cocoa Imitation"?! :oops:

Hershey has long been seen as a bit of steady-eddy stock in the stock market (to some at least,) but the rise in cocoa prices have sent them on a tumble.
 

Burn1986

Active member
Mar 4, 2024
918
212
43
#7
Head tennis racquets (just sayin)
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
16,424
5,371
113
#8
Head tennis racquets (just sayin)
Interesting.

I don't know anything about these.

What are they made of? (Such as, has the quality of the wood or metal gone down?)

And what about the strings and grips?
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
27,183
9,265
113
#9
Oh wow, did they have to change the percentage labeling??!!

Like, did the package proudly boast "65% Cocoa!" and now it's like, "25% Cocoa Imitation"?! :oops:

Hershey has long been seen as a bit of steady-eddy stock in the stock market (to some at least,) but the rise in cocoa prices have sent them on a tumble.
Oh they used to have a proud "65% cocoa" real big on the front of the box. They quietly took that off.
 

Burn1986

Active member
Mar 4, 2024
918
212
43
#10
Interesting.

I don't know anything about these.

What are they made of? (Such as, has the quality of the wood or metal gone down?)

And what about the strings and grips?
Its a weird hangup of mine from playing tennis for many years. Grips are good but they changed how they made racquets at the end of 2013, etc.


Also KTM, Husqvarna, and Gas Gas motorcycles have also steadily increased in price up to about $10K for a regular dirt bike. (Another weird hang up of mine).
KTM Husqvarna GasGas
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
27,183
9,265
113
#11
Those motorbikes look a lot like the $750 models they had for a while at a local store that opened... in our small town... and closed a month later.

Don't open a store focusing on off-road generic cheap motorbikes in a tiny town. That's the moral here. Also, if you want to buy a 10k machine, first get a $750 one to test the concept.
 

RodB651

Well-known member
Feb 11, 2021
722
442
63
59
#12
Coffee has gone up..
My preferred salsa has gone up..
Toothpaste tubes have gotten smaller, but same price..
There are other things I could mention...

Insurance premiums have gone way up.. What they cover has been reduced..
Utilities have gone up..
Taxes have gone up.. 🤦

Anyhow.. 🤷
 

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
16,424
5,371
113
#13
Its a weird hangup of mine from playing tennis for many years. Grips are good but they changed how they made racquets at the end of 2013, etc.


Also KTM, Husqvarna, and Gas Gas motorcycles have also steadily increased in price up to about $10K for a regular dirt bike. (Another weird hang up of mine).
KTM Husqvarna GasGas
Those pictures are beautiful! :)

Years ago, I had a Husqvarna sewing machine.

1719102350555.jpeg

I knew they made a lot of products, but I never knew they made motorcycles. :cool:

I've only been on motorcycles twice -- it wasn't enough to convince me to think about buying one myself, but it sure was fun!
 

Burn1986

Active member
Mar 4, 2024
918
212
43
#14
Those pictures are beautiful! :)

Years ago, I had a Husqvarna sewing machine.

View attachment 264955

I knew they made a lot of products, but I never knew they made motorcycles. :cool:

I've only been on motorcycles twice -- it wasn't enough to convince me to think about buying one myself, but it sure was fun!
Nice! Yep, they’re a whole lot of fun. But not for $10k lol. Of course that’s a brand new ‘25 model. There are cheaper ones out there, but these machines are getting out of reach for most consumers. However, they are slightly cheaper made due to the involvement of China.
 

Burn1986

Active member
Mar 4, 2024
918
212
43
#15
Those pictures are beautiful! :)

Years ago, I had a Husqvarna sewing machine.

View attachment 264955

I knew they made a lot of products, but I never knew they made motorcycles. :cool:

I've only been on motorcycles twice -- it wasn't enough to convince me to think about buying one myself, but it sure was fun!
These are all European based. Here’s the Japanese equivalents:
Honda: Kawasaki: Yamaha: Suzuki:
 

HealthAndHappiness

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2022
10,221
4,283
113
Almost Heaven West Virginia
#16
Those pictures are beautiful! :)

Years ago, I had a Husqvarna sewing machine.

View attachment 264955

I knew they made a lot of products, but I never knew they made motorcycles. :cool:

I've only been on motorcycles twice -- it wasn't enough to convince me to think about buying one myself, but it sure was fun!
They make all kinds of machines.

If you want a sewing machine, I can recommend one. It won't be new, but should outlast you.
 

HealthAndHappiness

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2022
10,221
4,283
113
Almost Heaven West Virginia
#19
Certain vintage Singers that were all metal. They competed with Sears Kenmore for quality and features.
Nothing against vintage Singers.
The Kenmores are the ones I have inherited and am familiar with though.

Everything these days is fragile built to break. Back in the days of pride of precision craftsmanship, they didn't have the issues of disposable plastic products.
The metal ones are highly sought after incredible machines. I've heard a few repairmen say that you, your children and grandchildren can use one full time every day and not wear them out.
I use one of mine hard on military grade fabrics, keep it oiled and no problems since I learned how to adjust it properly. My back up has only been tested, but will remain in the case. I never expect to need the back up since spending time talking to an older sewing machine man who reconditioned thousands of used for resale back in the day for a big company.
 

HealthAndHappiness

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2022
10,221
4,283
113
Almost Heaven West Virginia
#20
Do you have a vintage Singer?

This is a slightly older variant, same model, of the one that I use. It takes the biggest needles to handle the bonded nylon thread used for highest quality commercial mil spec backpacks and guy gear. The motor isn't as powerful as the bigger commercial duty SailRight Sail Boat machines, but it's a blessing for my tasks so far. My next challenge is to use it to make a 500 D Cordura coated nylon pach that will make hemming jeans seem like a shirt.