So I’ve been buying 220g bags of Ruffles potato chips for $4.79 at No Frills (a value-based franchise banner under Loblaws that operates in Ontario). This is one of many products that seems to be towing the line of not going over the $5 threshold.

Now the bags of Ruffles sold in the same store are 200g (almost a 10% reduction in volume) for the same price. I suspect the same applies to other Frito-Lay products. (I noticed the Flammin’ BBQ flavour of Ruffles was weighing in at 190g.)

As we’ve seen with other products, I think the choice of going to 200g from 220g is an intentional number choice that they believe people are less likely to notice than 199g for example.

Shame on Frito-Lay, Shame on Loblaws. I’m in my 30s, and I’ve never experienced @#%! relentlessly getting incrementally more expensive like things have the last few years. It’s wild and it unsettles me, as I know it’s just about unchecked greed, and wouldn’t bet on it slowing down any time soon.

  • YurkshireLad
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    8 months ago

    Go to other stores and find cheaper lesser brand alternatives. It’s worth it.

      • Doubleohdonut
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        8 months ago

        When Loblaws and Frito Lay were in talks, and there were big empty shelves all across the chip department, we found that the No Name and Compliments brand were perfectly sufficient to get us by. Now I won’t buy anything else unless it’s a special request. And we’re eating fewer chips. Win win for everyone except the greedy fuckers who made me think about this topic so hard.

    • ebc
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      8 months ago

      I actually prefer the Selection brand of all-dress chips. They’re less oily than ruffles, and they’re often on sale for around 1.50 a bag.

      • YurkshireLad
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        8 months ago

        I think I have a bag of Selection salt and vinegar on the go and they’re pretty good.

  • niktemadur@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    Gotta add that if the political right wing had their way since the beginning, there probably would not be any objective indicator of weight that corporations could not fudge, let alone things like salt, fat and sugar.

    Even so, corporations find the way to lie and mislead in any way they can, regarding consumers as suckers.
    For example, use two types of sugar so neither exceed the red flag threshold, and slap a “low sugar” label on the box/bag/can.

    “So, technically, we’re not lying, see? It’s low on this one, and low on that one. Not guilty! See?”

  • SpeedLimit55@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    Never seen that flavor before in the US, now I want to try some. I just checked the grocery and the standard bag here is still 8oz (around 225g). We are getting screwed on price here though, name brand chips have basically doubled in price the past few years. We now buy whatever happens to be on sale rather than what we want.

    • streetfestivalOP
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      8 months ago

      From what I know, all dressed and ketchup chips are (2) popular Canadian flavours that are rare in the US. I hear you about feeling screwed by the prices!

    • WordBox@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Uncle Ray’s caries all dressed now. Still hard to find, but they are in the US and sell farther south than the other brands.

  • Showroom7561
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    8 months ago

    Almost $5 for 200g? Are they selling potato chips or street drugs? 😂

    • streetfestivalOP
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      8 months ago

      You’re @#$%ing right. Regular chips-- ingredients: potatoes, canola oil, salt. And they’re selling it right out in the open at that price 🤭🤫

  • CptEnder@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    Unrelated but Canada chip flavors far surpass US ones. Ketchup chips absolutely slap.

  • JokeDeity@lemm.ee
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    8 months ago

    Ruffles has been out of my price range for like a decade now. That is the best flavor though, but you can’t find it hardly anywhere in the US. I usually just buy store brand chips because it’s too expensive.

  • BCsven
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    8 months ago

    We buy them at the dollar store, as well as other name brand products. Usually half price compared to Loblaws

    • Baggins [he/him]
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      8 months ago

      Last time I got Ruffles at Dollarama they had made those bags even smaller than 200g.

      • BCsven
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        8 months ago

        Their stocks vary. lately our has had the big bags. And I used to get lays low salt for half price of going the the grocery store. But I accidentally found this brand there and they are delicious. https://coveredbridgechips.com/en