I’ve noticed a lot of companies are putting less into the products I have bought all my life. First it started with smaller portions at restaurants. Like the place that has a large drink for $1 but when you put it beside the competitors large, it looks like a medium. Now, companies are making the bags and containers they put their products in thinner…I assume to save money.
The other day I bought a diet soda from a vending machine. Lately I have noticed the aluminum can is so thin that if you bump it or drop it on the floor before it’s opened, it sometimes explodes and sprays soda all over the place. This happened to me the other day. I dropped a six pack and two cans tore open and sprayed soda everywhere. Then there is the time I was getting a soda from a vending machine and when it dropped the can, it exploded and fortunately it was in the machine so it was not a big mess. I have noticed the newer vending machines have a robotic arm that goes up and gets your can and gently delivers it to the opening. So if vending companies have to spend big bucks buying new machines because the old ones are too violent for the new cheaper cans, who pays for that? Probably us soda drinkers. Another reason to quit.
The other day I bought some whole wheat rolls at the store to make a daily sandwich to take to work. The clear plastic bag seemed thin. Before I used them all, I noticed they were turning green on the edges and then I found a small split in the bag that was keeping it from being air tight. I can see why the bakery would use thinner bags, so the rolls won’t last as long and you will have to buy more. And then there are the plastic water bottles. At least those manufacturer’s can claim they are saving the planet by putting less plastic in the landfills.
I have often heard that phrase “less is more”. I think I finally figured out that this means when the product is made cheaper and thinner and with a smaller portion, you have to buy more to enjoy what you used to have.
Mickey Briggs
