118. Shrinkflation; Skimpflation & The Downfall of Subway

Game Theory

At a glance:

Takeaways

Shrinkflation is the process of products decreasing in size or quality while maintaining the same price.

Examples of shrinkflation include smaller food packages and thinner burger patties.

Ben and Jerry's faced tax issues in Canada due to downsizing their ice cream pints.

Skimpflation refers to a decrease in product quality for the same price.

Shrinkflation impacts consumer experiences and the economy. Shrinkflation and skimflation are common practices where companies reduce the size or quality of products while maintaining the same price.

Examples include Ben & Jerry's reducing ice cream container sizes and Chipotle decreasing portion sizes.

Measuring skimflation can be challenging, as it often involves changes in product quality that are not easily quantifiable.

Companies like McDonald's and Subway are facing declining sales and customer frustration due to high prices and lack of value.

Businesses should focus on providing quality products at affordable prices to meet customer expectations and drive sales.

In this episode, we explore the concept of shrinkflation, where products decrease in size or quality while maintaining the same price. They provide examples of shrinkflation, such as smaller food packages and thinner burger patties. The hosts also mention Ben and Jerry's involvement in shrinkflation and how it led to tax issues in Canada.

They touch on the related concept of skimpflation, where the quality of a product decreases for the same price. Overall, the conversation highlights the impact of shrinkflation on consumer experiences and the economy. The conversation explores the concepts of shrinkflation and skimflation, which refer to the practice of reducing the size or quality of products while maintaining the same price.

Examples are given, such as Ben & Jerry's reducing the size of their ice cream containers and Chipotle decreasing the portion sizes of their meals.

The discussion also touches on the challenges of measuring skimflation and the impact it has on consumers. McDonald's and Subway are highlighted as examples of companies facing declining sales and customer frustration due to high prices and lack of value. The conversation concludes with the importance of businesses focusing on providing quality products at affordable prices.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Casual Chat

02:57 The Decline of Dating Apps

11:16 Introduction to Shrinkflation

17:30 Examples of Shrinkflation

21:44 Ben and Jerry's Involvement in Shrinkflation

24:22 Skimpflation: Decrease in Quality

25:01 Impact of Shrinkflation on Consumers and the Economy

31:38 Examples of Shrinkflation and Skimflation

36:32 Challenges in Measuring Skimflation

39:42 Impact of Shrinkflation and Skimflation on Consumers

45:07 Struggles of McDonald's and Subway

48:25 The Importance of Providing Value to Customers