# A Thread In Which We Call Out Ripoff Products **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 23, 2018, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270 "2018-01-23T04:11:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/41 "2018-01-23T18:05:50Z")
We found her text books digitally online for the most part. But the prerequisite for the course is owning a hard copy. Ridiculous and stupid. She invariably uses the digital version on her lap top. She had a maths course last semester, the book was almost $300, it came with a workbook, they never used the workbook. Stupid University! ---
**Author:** ![Mithras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mithras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithras)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/42 "2018-01-23T18:10:59Z")
> [@Grumbacher\_Red](#): > > Well, I don’t know how to show this, and I am not cutting into my fairly new tube of Crest Pro Gum Health…but no one else has noticed this sort of pillowy feel to toothpaste tubes? And how hard they are now to get the last bit out? I can tell there is trapped air in there after the tube is empty…I’ll get back to you on this one. > > I guess it my day to make questionable claims about ripoffs. 😃 I roll up all my toothpaste tubes to get as much out as I can. There has never been an air bladder or whatever inside that prevented me from or caused any difficulty when fully flattening the tube. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/43 "2018-01-23T18:13:45Z")
> [@Mithras](#): > > I roll up all my toothpaste tubes to get as much out as I can. There has never been an air bladder or whatever inside that prevented me from or caused any difficulty when fully flattening the tube. How about the bubble of air in the base? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/44 "2018-01-23T18:16:11Z")
> [@Mithras](#): > > I roll up all my toothpaste tubes to get as much out as I can. There has never been an air bladder or whatever inside that prevented me from or caused any difficulty when fully flattening the tube. While on the topic of toothpaste rip-offs: 1. Your teeth are not supposed to be white, they are more of a ivory color. Teeth whiteners can damage your teth. [http://www.sciencefocus.com/qa/are-yellow-teeth-stronger](http://www.sciencefocus.com/qa/are-yellow-teeth-stronger) [http://www.dentist-gladstone.com.au/teeth-not-perfectly-white-dont-feel-embarrassed-its-normal/93/](http://www.dentist-gladstone.com.au/teeth-not-perfectly-white-dont-feel-embarrassed-its-normal/93/) 1. You only need a amount of toothpaste the size of a pea. Decades of Toothpaste ads have shown the paste covering the brush and often then some. They are trying to get you to waste their product. ---
**Author:** ![Grumbacher\_Red](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@Grumbacher\_Red](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumbacher_Red)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/45 "2018-01-23T18:19:30Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > We found her text books digitally online for the most part. But the prerequisite for the course is owning a hard copy. Ridiculous and stupid. She invariably uses the digital version on her lap top. She had a maths course last semester, the book was almost $300, it came with a workbook, they never used the workbook. Stupid University! Or, they make you buy a ridiculously expensive “access code” for the online content, which expires and cannot be used but for 1 term. I’ve got 2 in college myself, so I know exactly what you are talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Mithras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mithras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithras)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/46 "2018-01-23T18:21:51Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > How about the bubble of air in the base? I believe that that would cause noticeable issues when dispensing toothpaste. To fully empty it, there should be a point where you’re squeezing the tube and nothing but air comes out. If you’re looking to underfill, why not just whip air into the toothpaste? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/47 "2018-01-23T18:21:54Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > I wonder what happened to the lawsuit against McCormick? They started [putting 1.5 oz of black pepper](https://consumerist.com/2015/06/10/watkins-sues-mccormick-over-pepper-makes-federal-case-out-of-grocery-shrink-ray/) in the same size container that used to contain 2 oz. They changed the label to update the quantity, but otherwise the tin looked exactly the same. IANAL, but according to this [link](https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCOURTS-dcd-1_15-mc-01825/pdf/USCOURTS-dcd-1_15-mc-01825-4.pdf) (pdf), the case against McCormick was dismissed on 6/13/2017. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/48 "2018-01-23T18:23:06Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > Do you have a box cutter? If so please cut up the tube and take a photo so we can see the chambers and the brand logo. I’m not doubting you - I would just like to see it. An older link, but illustrative: [Noxzema jars lose 2 ounces](https://consumerist.com/2011/04/20/shrink-rayed-noxzema-jar-has-2-fewer-ounces-bonus-false-bottom/), even though the new jar is the same size as the old jar. Reason: a false bottom has been plastic-welded into the bottom of the new jar. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/49 "2018-01-23T18:27:01Z")
> [@Randolph](#): > > When Mott’s started selling “Light” apple juice, they advertised “50% the calories!” and such. A quick look at the nutritional label showed that they were just selling 50% juice / 50% water pre-mixed. For the same price. Same with the V8 juice blends. We would buy the fruit/veggie blends for the kid and cut it with water. Then my wife started buying the “Light” versions. I looked at the label and realized that it was just already cut with water, but for the same price. Plus the kid was getting 75% water 25% juice now. ---
**Author:** ![Grumbacher\_Red](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@Grumbacher\_Red](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumbacher_Red)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/50 "2018-01-23T18:29:39Z")
> [@Mithras](#): > > I roll up all my toothpaste tubes to get as much out as I can. There has never been an air bladder or whatever inside that prevented me from or caused any difficulty when fully flattening the tube. The type of Crest I like and have been buying has a really thick-ish plasticy tube that doesn’t roll too well. Here’s a pic. The only difference is mine does have a regular small screw on cap versus this big flip top: [https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/crest-reg-prohealth-trade-5-1-oz-advanced-gum-protection-fluoride-toothpaste/1020463649?skuId=20463649&utm\_source=bingpla&utm\_medium=cpc&utm\_term=Condition%3DNEW&mcid=PS\_bingpla\_brand\_brand\_&creative=9338890555&device=c&matchtype=e&mrkgadid=3022664752&mrkgcl=609&rkg\_id=h-3fed4449b1345f6367f2f6d159001724\_t-1516731714](https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/crest-reg-prohealth-trade-5-1-oz-advanced-gum-protection-fluoride-toothpaste/1020463649?skuId=20463649&utm_source=bingpla&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=Condition%3DNEW&mcid=PS_bingpla_brand_brand_&creative=9338890555&device=c&matchtype=e&mrkgadid=3022664752&mrkgcl=609&rkg_id=h-3fed4449b1345f6367f2f6d159001724_t-1516731714) I like the product. Just not the gimmicky packing which as has been explained, is to get me repurchase more often. It is just not an improvement for the user over traditional tubes. It benefits the company and is a ripoff, imo. I am going to cut into the one I have once I get it as empty as possible, but that could take a while. This conversation reminds of Charlie’s father in _Charlie and the Chocolate Factory_. His job was to sit on bench all day and screw the caps on tubes of toothpaste. 🙂 I need to learn how to rename links to make them shorter. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/51 "2018-01-23T19:06:04Z")
> [@Grumbacher\_Red](#): > > That’s why I find it so frustrating. I am on the hook, and will continue to allow myself to be ripped off as repeat customer. I do try to look for comparable, less offending products and store brands where I can. I’m not sure how brand-loyal you are but have you checked at QVC? They have many face serums that are the same brands but usually have a volume deal or a twofer. /not a shill for QVC, but it is the same brands only cheaper! ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/52 "2018-01-23T19:17:21Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Any consumer product that claims it will “detoxify” or eliminate “toxins” is by definition a ripoff. No, definitely, I know that from the Dope and common sense. 🙂 I know my body does fine ridding itself of ick. But this says something about a deep clean so I thought it might have some extra ingredient that would do something more for me. ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/53 "2018-01-23T19:28:40Z")
> [@Grumbacher\_Red](#): > > My SO has worked for 25 years for one of the major textbook publishers, and we speak about this sort of stuff often. If it makes you feel any better, the whole industry is probably in its’ death throes. Between digital media, open source material, and the fact they usually don’t own/control their software platforms, it is killing them. He is glad to be at the end of his career and is hoping to hang on for a few more years until retirement now that he is at the executive level. They all know the clock is ticking on the relevance of the traditional textbook and their entire business model. Good riddance (but I hope your SO makes it to the end!) At both colleges I work for, the math department dictates the textbook used for any particular class. If I was allowed to choose my own textbooks, I would only choose open-source books. Fortunately, both departments are moving in that direction… slowly but surely. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/54 "2018-01-23T19:32:50Z")
the cap on my toothpaste tube is the flip off type and the toothpaste tends to dry out and gum up in huge clumps so that the top no longer dispenses toothpaste any more. I started just unscrewing the top and squeezing the pasre out like I used to. This seems to work better for me. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/55 "2018-01-23T22:31:46Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > I don’t carry a hand calculator with me to work it out. If you carry a smartphone you do. 🙂 > [@DrDeth](#): > > 1. You only need a amount of toothpaste the size of a pea. Decades of Toothpaste ads have shown the paste covering the brush and often then some. They are trying to get you to waste their product. You actually don’t need toothpaste at all. It’s a glorified breath freshener. (Yes, it usually has fluoride. If you don’t get enough fluoride, in your water for example, toothpaste helps supplement that. So would a fluoride rinse. The point is that the main benefit comes from the physical action of brushing your teeth, not the specific chemicals you add to the brush, which mainly provide flavor.) I’ve actually heard people say “I’m out of toothpaste, so what’s the point of brushing?” That attitude is completely backwards. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2018, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/56 "2018-01-23T22:50:47Z")
> [@Grumbacher\_Red](#): > > Well, I don’t know how to show this, and I am not cutting into my fairly new tube of Crest Pro Gum Health…but no one else has noticed this sort of pillowy feel to toothpaste tubes? And how hard they are now to get the last bit out? I can tell there is trapped air in there after the tube is empty…I’ll get back to you on this one. I wonder if you’re talking about the change from metal to plastic as the material for toothpaste tubes - the metal ones used to stay squeezed in the shape you squeezed them - the plastic ones have more of a tendency to spring back. But I haven’t noticed any air inside (I use Sensodyne) - I squeeze every last bit of toothpaste out of the tube by squeegeeing it against the side of the wash basin with my hand - if there was air in the tubes I’m buying, I’d have noticed it bursting out. ---
**Author:** ![Grumbacher\_Red](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85e7bf/32.png) [@Grumbacher\_Red](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumbacher_Red)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/57 "2018-01-24T01:06:32Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > I wonder if you’re talking about the change from metal to plastic as the material for toothpaste tubes - the metal ones used to stay squeezed in the shape you squeezed them - the plastic ones have more of a tendency to spring back. > > But I haven’t noticed any air inside (I use Sensodyne) - I squeeze every last bit of toothpaste out of the tube by squeegeeing it against the side of the wash basin with my hand - if there was air in the tubes I’m buying, I’d have noticed it bursting out. Not really, I recall older plastic tubes being much more pliable. I dunno, maybe I am wrong, but I get a sense of a double wall on some of these newer tube designs, and just like the other beauty products, I suspect it is a way to give us less while charging more. And I just threw one away not too long ago, too. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/58 "2018-01-24T01:18:37Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > An older link, but illustrative: [Noxzema jars lose 2 ounces](https://consumerist.com/2011/04/20/shrink-rayed-noxzema-jar-has-2-fewer-ounces-bonus-false-bottom/), even though the new jar is the same size as the old jar. Reason: a false bottom has been plastic-welded into the bottom of the new jar. Thanks. That sucks. ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/59 "2018-01-24T03:36:30Z")
> [@Grumbacher\_Red](#): > > The type of Crest I like and have been buying has a really thick-ish plasticy tube that doesn’t roll too well. Here’s a pic. The only difference is mine does have a regular small screw on cap versus this big flip top: > > [https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/crest-reg-prohealth-trade-5-1-oz-advanced-gum-protection-fluoride-toothpaste/1020463649?skuId=20463649&utm\_source=bingpla&utm\_medium=cpc&utm\_term=Condition%3DNEW&mcid=PS\_bingpla\_brand\_brand\_&creative=9338890555&device=c&matchtype=e&mrkgadid=3022664752&mrkgcl=609&rkg\_id=h-3fed4449b1345f6367f2f6d159001724\_t-1516731714](https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/crest-reg-prohealth-trade-5-1-oz-advanced-gum-protection-fluoride-toothpaste/1020463649?skuId=20463649&utm_source=bingpla&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=Condition%3DNEW&mcid=PS_bingpla_brand_brand_&creative=9338890555&device=c&matchtype=e&mrkgadid=3022664752&mrkgcl=609&rkg_id=h-3fed4449b1345f6367f2f6d159001724_t-1516731714) > > I like the product. Just not the gimmicky packing which as has been explained, is to get me repurchase more often. It is just not an improvement for the user over traditional tubes. It benefits the company and is a ripoff, imo. > … That’s the same as I use. And, I have also found there is much more air in the tube than I thought was necessary. I usually buy on weight (or, dollars per ounce, if that makes sense), but it does tend to piss me off when I go to squirt some toothpaste on my brush and it goes “poooff” and a bunch of air comes out. ---
**Author:** ![Daylate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9dc877/32.png) [@Daylate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daylate)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/60 "2018-01-24T04:11:10Z")
This talk about the price of textbooks makes me realize how lucky I was to go to college back in the 1940’s, rather than now. Went to an engineering school (Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy, in Rolla, MO). There were two bookstores in town, and they both gladly bought back textbooks and resold them to the next class. I still have my old Analytical Geometry textbook, and actually use it on occasion. The price (it was second hand) is still written on the inside cover - $2.99. I bought it in 1949, still in good shape considering it was printed in 1929. I’ve seen several of the newer analyit texts, and aside from having way more text and lots of pretty colored diagrams, very little new is presented. And I’ll bet they charge way more that a hundred bucks for this. As an aside, I remember my father discussing how much it was costing him to send me to college. Including food and lodging (in a fraternity), books, tuition (for an out-of state student) and all the incidentals, the total annual cost of my college education averaged roughly $1,000. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270.md?page=4)