# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/81 "2018-01-24T17:52:35Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > Laundry detergent is the first thing that came to mind. If you read the label carefully and look at the cap carefully you’ll probably find that you’re only supposed to use about half a capful or less of detergent per large load. They make the caps big on purpose, hoping you’ll use a full cap of detergent every time. They also make the fill-line markings on the cap hard to read, often white markings on a white cap. If you’re over 40 you don’t stand a chance of seeing them in less than perfect lighting conditions. Using more detergent than you need won’t get your clothes cleaner but can lead to incomplete rinsing which may irritate your skin, cause dingy clothing, and weaken the clothing fibers. I remember 10-15 years ago, there was some sort of plastic ball you were supposed to put in the washing machine with your clothes that claimed it could wash your laundry for you without running out. It claimed it was “ionic” or some such woo. Consumer Reports did an article on them explaining how they were a scam. They only _seemed_ to work because most people used too much detergent anyway, and you could wash your clothes a few times just with water and the laundry soap residue that was left on your clothes from the _last_ time you washed them. Ever since then I make sure to use a lot less detergent, and also occasionally wash a load or two without any detergent at all. In fact, all but the worst stains can probably be cleaned with just hot water and agitation, no detergent (or even leftover residue) needed. ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/82 "2018-01-24T17:58:08Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Well there’s the whole 16oz.things are now 12-14oz things. And why is a bottle of aleeve so expensive and you get 16 pills, but equate brand is cheaper and has more pills? > It’s the same meds. > My cats loooovvveee their treats. But are very picky about their wet and dry foods. Why don’t manufacturers use the same flavorings? > Don’t get me started on mens socks. > > And…college text books come shrink wrapped with no binding! WTF?? Dog biscuits and snacks like Snausages cost, ounce for ounce, more than gold. I’d bet one small milkbone costs about .000005 to make. ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/83 "2018-01-24T18:05:16Z")
> [@GESancMan](#): > > College math teacher here: I won’t get started on the giant racket that is the textbook industry. But… what you are talking about is a loose-leaf book. A 900-page textbook is _heavy_. The point of a loose-leaf book is that students can put just the portion they need for a particular day in a binder, so that they don’t have to haul the whole thing around. Englis prof here. I tell my students to buy used textbooks from Amazon, not our for-profit bookstore. Don’t get me started on the racket of putting out new editions every two years and cheaper “portable” anthologies getting longer and more expensive. Yeah, W.W. Norton, I’m looking at you. I’m working toward not requiring textbooks anymore and using (legal) Internet material. ---
**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 24, 2018, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/84 "2018-01-24T18:09:02Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > Laundry detergent is the first thing that came to mind. If you read the label carefully and look at the cap carefully you’ll probably find that you’re only supposed to use about half a capful or less of detergent per large load. They make the caps big on purpose, hoping you’ll use a full cap of detergent every time. They also make the fill-line markings on the cap hard to read, often white markings on a white cap. If you’re over 40 you don’t stand a chance of seeing them in less than perfect lighting conditions. Using more detergent than you need won’t get your clothes cleaner but can lead to incomplete rinsing which may irritate your skin, cause dingy clothing, and weaken the clothing fibers. I use liquid detergent. A few years ago, I determined that it takes three seconds to fill the cup to the lowest line. I haven’t used the cup since, I press the button to release the detergent directly into the washer and count to three. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/85 "2018-01-24T18:10:23Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > I remember 10-15 years ago, there was some sort of plastic ball you were supposed to put in the washing machine with your clothes that claimed it could wash your laundry for you without running out. It claimed it was “ionic” or some such woo. Consumer Reports did an article on them explaining how they were a scam. They only _seemed_ to work because most people used too much detergent anyway, and you could wash your clothes a few times just with water and the laundry soap residue that was left on your clothes from the _last_ time you washed them. > > Ever since then I make sure to use a lot less detergent, and also occasionally wash a load or two without any detergent at all. In fact, all but the worst stains can probably be cleaned with just hot water and agitation, no detergent (or even leftover residue) needed. One year, I was very poor. Somehow I had a huge commercial sized box of baking soda. With that and a single bar of Fels Naptha soap, I washed my clothes for a year. The Fels was for stain treatment. If your clothes are just sweaty, Baking soda works fine. Washing soda, too. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/86 "2018-01-24T18:11:31Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > Laundry detergent is the first thing that came to mind Luckily, nowadays they make these snack packs that also double as single size detergent balls. 🙂 ---
**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 24, 2018, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/87 "2018-01-24T18:13:36Z")
> [@Jennshark](#): > > Englis prof here. I tell my students to buy used textbooks from Amazon, not our for-profit bookstore. > > Don’t get me started on the racket of putting out new editions every two years and cheaper “portable” anthologies getting longer and more expensive. Yeah, W.W. Norton, I’m looking at you. > > I’m working toward not requiring textbooks anymore and using (legal) Internet material. I know, my blood boils when I think about it. How many advances in basic algebra have there been in the last two years that justifies putting out a new version of a textbook? Or in the last ten years? The last hundred years? Hint for students: the answer is the same to all three questions. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/88 "2018-01-24T18:22:07Z")
Anyone buy regular #2 pencils in the last decade or so? There seem to be two kinds available in stores: ( 1 ) Dirt-cheap budget pencils which seem to make up 95% of the market and shelf space, and ( 2 ) Expensive-by-comparison good pencils. A pencil’s a pencil, you say? Why look around for a “good pencil”? Because pencils in anything but the upper few percent will have their graphite annoyingly shatter and break any time you sharpen them. Novelty themed pencils are especially egregious. Best to buy the biggest box of [Ticonderogas](http://www.boardroomproducts.com/images/products/display/96ctpencils.jpg) you can find and use those. The sad thing is that Ticonderoga pencils are a Dixon product. Dixon’s lower-rent line of pencils, with the Dixon brand name, are just as plagued with the too-brittle graphite issue as the dirt-cheap dollar-store fare. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/89 "2018-01-24T18:28:49Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I was able to see them but yeah, I would recommend something like imgur for pic hosting. Loads faster too, in my opinion. Thanks! I’ve used flikr and photobucket years ago but will switch to imgur if I do more of it. ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/90 "2018-01-24T18:32:50Z")
> [@GESancMan](#): > > I know, my blood boils when I think about it. How many advances in basic algebra have there been in the last two years that justifies putting out a new version of a textbook? Or in the last ten years? The last hundred years? > > Hint for students: the answer is the same to all three questions. And why buy Poe and Hawthorne stories that are public domain? There is a superb and free writing/grammar/etc website from Purdue U (Owl.edu) that I link to in my online course. Last year a MacMillan rep tried to sell me “access” to Owl for students. Apparently this means that McM facilitates a “portal” to the site. WTF?? I know how to paste URL links, thanks. Textbook publishers are in a death knell and desperate to monetize anything they can get their slimy paws on. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/91 "2018-01-24T18:34:06Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > > [@bibliophage](#): > > > > Laundry detergent is the first thing that came to mind. If you read the label carefully and look at the cap carefully you’ll probably find that you’re only supposed to use about half a capful or less of detergent per large load. They make the caps big on purpose, hoping you’ll use a full cap of detergent every time. They also make the fill-line markings on the cap hard to read, often white markings on a white cap. If you’re over 40 you don’t stand a chance of seeing them in less than perfect lighting conditions. Using more detergent than you need won’t get your clothes cleaner but can lead to incomplete rinsing which may irritate your skin, cause dingy clothing, and weaken the clothing fibers. > > I remember 10-15 years ago, there was some sort of plastic ball you were supposed to put in the washing machine with your clothes that claimed it could wash your laundry for you without running out. It claimed it was “ionic” or some such woo. Consumer Reports did an article on them explaining how they were a scam. They only _seemed_ to work because most people used too much detergent anyway, and you could wash your clothes a few times just with water and the laundry soap residue that was left on your clothes from the _last_ time you washed them. > > Ever since then I make sure to use a lot less detergent, and also occasionally wash a load or two without any detergent at all. In fact, all but the worst stains can probably be cleaned with just hot water and agitation, no detergent (or even leftover residue) needed. [Cecil Adams also wrote about those laundry balls](https://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/944/do-laundry-balls-really-work/). As for the white-on-white markings that **bibliophage** mentioned, the marking isn’t printed on the inside of the cap but instead is just a slight ridge on it, so of course it’s the same color as the cap. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/92 "2018-01-24T18:37:25Z")
The incredible shrinking tuna can! You used to get six ounces (undrained), which could make two sandwiches. Now they’re five ounces undrained, which too much for one sandwich by not enough for two. Yogurt is even worse. Used to be (before 2003), a single-serving yogurt was 8 oz. Then it shrunk down to 6 oz. Nowadays, it’s 5.3 ounces. A cup of yogurt made a satisfying lunch. Now, not really. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/93 "2018-01-24T18:41:29Z")
You know those [Tetra Pak paper containers](https://assets.tetrapak.com/static/us/publishingimages/gable-top-bio-based.jpg)? The half-gallon, quart and cup sizes? Next time you buy a non-dairy product in a Tetra Pak, look at how many ounces it actually holds. A half-gallon (64 oz) now holds 55 oz. And you’re still paying the 64 oz price, too. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/94 "2018-01-24T20:02:40Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Luckily, nowadays they make these snack packs that also double as single size detergent balls. > > 🙂 You know, I used to work with people who were so diligent with that name-brand detergent that I could fucking smell it on their clothes. To me (the definitive fragrance-averse person) it was as though a thousand infants had barfed upon them. But I guess once you get used to the “clean” smell you stop noticing how vile it is. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/95 "2018-01-24T20:17:02Z")
Nathan’s hot dogs - each hot dog has gone from 2 ounces to 1 1/2, and the package of “dinner franks” has gone from 4 x 4 ounces to 5 x 2.4 ounces. The only reference to any change is that their “bigger than the bun” hot dogs are now “bun-length.” ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/96 "2018-01-24T20:32:55Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > You know, I used to work with people who were so diligent with that name-brand detergent that I could fucking smell it on their clothes. To me (the definitive fragrance-averse person) it was as though a thousand infants had barfed upon them. But I guess once you get used to the “clean” smell you stop noticing how vile it is. Preach on! I hate laundry detergent smells. I hate when I’m out walking and that vile smell is being pumped out of the houses as they do laundry. It is one of the strongest, most sickening smells. And yes, I have coworkers that are obvious to how bad they smell. It doesn’t smell “clean”…it smells disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/97 "2018-01-24T20:47:20Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > 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. I do that, too. Don’t like the dried out gummy bits I got the other way. Just made a mess. > [@](#): > > You actually don’t need toothpaste at all. It’s a glorified breath freshener. I tried one of those enamel-building pastes one time for about a week. After about that time, my gums looked sort of like the picture Colgate had of gingivitis on the box (redder next to the teeth). And I looked at the ingredient list and the enamel-building one didn’t have the anti gingivitis ingredient. Still don’t know if that was actually the problem, but I switched back. ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/98 "2018-01-24T20:56:32Z")
Though I do think on this thread we really need to make distinction between actual rip-offs, and things just getting more expensive as time passes, due to inflation, etc. Just because 6 oz. now costs what 8 oz. did 10 years ago doesn’t make it a ripoff. Deceptively sized/labeled packages, on the other hand… ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2018, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/99 "2018-01-24T23:38:11Z")
> [@Jennshark](#): > > Englis prof here… You don’t say? 😛 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MacLir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@MacLir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacLir)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/100 "2018-01-25T00:05:02Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > …, I have coworkers that are obvious to how bad they smell. It doesn’t smell “clean”…it smells disgusting. Obvious to you, oblivious to them. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270.md?page=6)