# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2018, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/141 "2018-01-27T02:29:33Z")
> [@AllShookDown](#): > > “Mega” toilet paper rolls. When I first started buying the bigger rolls they were actually bigger. Then costs must have gone up so, instead of using the same amount of paper and raising the price, they made the hole bigger and used less paper. Seems to be a lot of issues with paper towels and toilet paper. I just buy mine by square footage. For paper towels: I guess the thickness of the sheets wouldn’t be accounted for. I don’t know if people are claiming the sheets are getting thinner, but the labels always show the square footage. I try to compare similar quality products to take that into account. I am usually fine with the standard quality paper. So then it’s a simple matter of: Do I want to pay $1 for 55.8 sqft or $3.99 for 127.6 sqft? Same thing for toilet tissue. Do I want to pay $4.99 for 12 rolls that are 227 sqft or $3.49 for 6 rolls that are 312 sqft? And so on. ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2018, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/142 "2018-01-27T02:40:29Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I am of the minions who loves me some hershey bars. Not a fan of kisses or the white chocolate hershey bar. Regular bar for me! I can’t, for the life of, figure out why anybody would not like them. They are perfect. I miss the two part wrapper, it was so satisfying to open. I love hersheys syrup too. For me they are way too sweet and waxy. For context, I mostly eat 90-99% dark chocolate and find anything below a 70-72% too sweet, and I think my tastes are more out of the ordinary. When I was a kid I liked Special Dark but now that’s a little much for me. Probably some kind of genetic tasting thing. I never enjoyed overly sweet deserts and things like kids’ cereals, but as I aged into young adulthood it shifted from indifference to dislike. ---
**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 27, 2018, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/143 "2018-01-27T02:54:52Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > … Probably some kind of genetic tasting thing. I never enjoyed overly sweet deserts and things like kids’ cereals, but as I aged into young adulthood it shifted from indifference to dislike. Holy fuck, you wanna talk about sugar? Christ on a cracker, that deserves a whole goddam thread of its own. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2018, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/144 "2018-01-27T04:08:01Z")
Another instance of the incredible shrinking portion. Back in the 80’s I used to love Ritz Handi Snacks. Yeah, I know, plastic cheese, but I liked em. Back then the packages looked like this. [1980](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XXte0LQNZPQ/hqdefault.jpg) A few years ago I thought I’d grab another box just for old time’s sake and to see how they’d changed. [Today](https://iwantpizza.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/img_0035-11.jpg) I was more than a little annoyed. Looked the same from the top, but the difference from the side is glaringly obvious. ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2018, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/145 "2018-01-27T14:36:13Z")
Wow, I posted this thread and then did other things for a couple days. Came back to it tonight and was amazed at the response. So many things I want to respond to. For the people talking about frozen pizzas, some brands seem to have gotten pretty good, and are frequently on sale. I like the DiGiornos. **Jackmannii:** Yes, ten or twelve bucks for the Libmann mop which is just a bunch of glorified handi-wipes seems really excessive to me! **aceplace57:** Definitely! There is nothing nastier than that fluffy shortening-and-sugar lame excuse for frosting. You are 100% right, the only way to get a good cake is to make it yourself from scratch. And think of all the chemicals you can leave out! **Channing Idaho Banks:** Clever. **BobBitchin’:** Oh, god, don’t even start me on jeans! What I wouldn’t give for a pair of black stretch skinny jeans with deep pockets, made out of real proper thick denim that you won’t end up poking your finger through like a pair of cheap-ass nylons! That actually happened to me with a _ **brand new** _ pair of jeans. **Voyager:** Had to be a Hungry Man. National Champion for “Most Ironically Named TV Dinner.” **Duckster:** I wondered when they were going to start doing that! **Tzigone:** Well, that’s probably on me, because I started the thread from that angle. But I just don’t believe that it’s now SO expensive to make a chocolate bar that Hershey will only make money using fake ingredients to produce a bar one molecule thick. And that’s where the idea of a “ripoff” comes in. They are lowering expectations by citing “rising costs” when what they mean is “increasing demands for profit from shareholders.” **Max Torque:** Right you are! That bugs me too. They probably want you to buy two cans. My personal solution is to make my pumpkin pies from scratch, using butternut squash. You roast the squash, then squeeze out excess fluid in cheesecloth. (the juice is delicious, BTW. Drink it iced, or put in beef stew.) One squash can make two pies; all you need is eggs, sugar, spices, and half&half. You can do it in the blender. **Grestarian:** Aha! I never knew that! I have a friend who insists that Hershey’s “secret ingredient” is maple syrup. I agree about other brands; I really like Ritter Sport and Kinder bars. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2018, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/146 "2018-01-27T18:31:09Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > I was more than a little annoyed. Looked the same from the top, but the difference from the side is glaringly obvious. Heh. Speaking of deceptive from the top, convenience store sandwiches that look meaty, until you open it and the meat is all on the edge and none inside. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2018, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/147 "2018-01-27T19:06:54Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > In the case of Beats, we know what that “other” is. My cousin worked for a brief time at the Furzhaus Hub, where they were in the business of moving pelts. One day, a small package arrived, which when unwrapped appeared to be a P-51 plastic model airplane kit. Inside the box, however, were a couple hundred labels. Because, it would seem, the right name on a coat can make an enormous difference in what it can be sold for. > > I think there is a lot of stuff that works that way. You’re talking about profit. I’m talking about the cost. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2018, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/148 "2018-01-27T19:10:14Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Ok that sounds sorta reasonable. But for the price they charge you’d think you’d get a whole book. There really is no way to resell it if pages are scattered. It is a racket! This is the single most ridiculous thing, and high priced, that I have had to purchase for my college student. It really chaps my ass. She gets a book allowance in her scholarship, but it still makes me mad. I hope I never have to buy a book for $192.00 again. Stupid University! Absolutely agree, but it is not the university; it is the publishers. First, they want to do everything possible to reduce resale, as you note. But they also “revise” them every year. Often the revision consists mainly of changing the exercises so the instructor cannot just say “page 347, nos. 1,3, 5”. When I was a student the calculus book was about 250 pages and cost, new, $5, although I bought a used copy for half that. What has happened to make calculus now take 1000 pages? Several things. Graphics, occasionally even helpful, in four colors. Add trigonometry and analytic geometry, formerly taught in pre-calculus. Add dozens of applications (generally skipped in the courses: they are better taught in the subject courses such as engineering and physics). And wide, wide margins. The reason for that is to encourage the students to make notes and help cut down the second hand market. My solution: get the Amer. Math. Soc. to subsidize the writing of a standard calculus textbook that could be distributed electronically for a small fee to each university for the students to download. It will never happen. Too many hands sharing in the bonanza. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2018, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/149 "2018-01-27T19:19:36Z")
> [@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! This is insane. I have never heard of such a prerequisite nor do I have any idea how they could enforce it. If so, then the university is indeed complicit in the ripoff. Incidentally, these publishers have dug their own graves by all their shenanigans. Textbooks were reasonably profitable when they cost $5 (or $50, accounting for inflation since 1957) and resold once or twice. Now that they are in the multi-hundreds and cannot be resold, the textbook makers are facing extinction. They have brought it on themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2018, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/150 "2018-01-27T23:16:27Z")
Dial soap. They changed their mold so the lettering is sunk much deeper into the bar making it break sooner. I miss that soap. Always liked the smell. ---
**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 27, 2018, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/151 "2018-01-27T23:17:44Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Dial soap. They changed their mold so the lettering is sunk much deeper into the bar making it break sooner. > > I miss that soap. Always liked the smell. A half bar still works. ---
**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 27, 2018, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/152 "2018-01-27T23:41:17Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > A half bar still works. Or a scrubber bag. Those things are great for getting your money’s worth out of bar soap. Because, bodywash, fuck that shit. ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/153 "2018-01-28T01:13:47Z")
I bought one of those As Seen on TV Super-Support Bamboo Bras. What a piece of shite! It gave the same “support” that wearing a tube sock on each boob would. A product that worked really well was the home dog biscuit maker (As Seen on TV!) The problem was it had four batter molds and it took three hours to make a mix and cook 25 biscuits. The puppers loved them but they’ll have to make do with Milkbones until I can retire and make biscuits fulltime. ---
**Author:** ![Tempe\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tempe_jeff/32/7328_2.png) [@Tempe\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tempe_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/154 "2018-01-28T02:14:09Z")
FWIW, I have NEVER had a Dial soap Bar break in half. Are you scrubbing with the Bar? I suds up my hands, then wash. ---
**Author:** ![SigMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SigMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SigMan)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/155 "2018-01-28T03:56:39Z")
I can tell you this. I’m nearly 68 years old and I’ve seen food quality and quantity go downhill. It is pathetic. I think it’s due to population growth and poor workmanship. Everybody is sliding by, no pride in production anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/156 "2018-01-28T07:48:55Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Or a scrubber bag. Those things are great for getting your money’s worth out of bar soap. Because, bodywash, fuck that shit. You completely missed the point. they deliberately took a curved piece of soap and engraved their logo deep into it on the other side so it would break apart quicker. There is zero reason to have a 1/4 inch deep logo carved into the soap. I’m not inclined to play games with it to get my money’s worth out of it. I’ve washed my hands of the issue. 40 years of blindly using their product down the drain. ---
**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 28, 2018, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/157 "2018-01-28T08:40:26Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > This is insane. I have never heard of such a prerequisite nor do I have any idea how they could enforce it. If so, then the university is indeed complicit in the ripoff. Incidentally, these publishers have dug their own graves by all their shenanigans. Textbooks were reasonably profitable when they cost $5 (or $50, accounting for inflation since 1957) and resold once or twice. Now that they are in the multi-hundreds and cannot be resold, the textbook makers are facing extinction. They have brought it on themselves. Yep, it is insane alright, I suppose they have to bring it to class. I agree the School is in on the rip-off. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/158 "2018-01-28T13:37:53Z")
Regarding textbook ripoffs, a while back I took a class in 19th century literature. The class requirement was that the student must purchase the 8th edition of the textbook, which was published that year, for $139. Because, I guess, so much has changed in 19th century literature since the previous edition that was published three years prior. I grabbed a used copy of the 7th edition for $20 and did just fine in the class. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/159 "2018-01-28T22:53:07Z")
Nerf guns. (Child toy) 1. We’ve got 5 kinds of nerf darts. Every year the dart is a different size. And they get lost of broken, but you can’t use the other size from the other gun. But they don’t care, because 2. Half the Nerf guns only last a couple of minutes before they fail anyway. We’ve just gone Christmas, and none of the Nerf gun toys we bought are still working. That’s not heavy use: some of them didn’t work when the box was opened. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2018, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270/160 "2018-01-28T23:12:46Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > You completely missed the point. they deliberately took a curved piece of soap and engraved their logo deep into it on the other side so it would break apart quicker. There is zero reason to have a 1/4 inch deep logo carved into the soap. I’m not inclined to play games with it to get my money’s worth out of it. I’ve washed my hands of the issue. 40 years of blindly using their product down the drain. I think this would make me get into a lather too. Of course I consume the aforementioned “bodywash, fuck that shit”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-in-which-we-call-out-ripoff-products/807270.md?page=9)