# Is deceptive packaging always in the manufacturer's favor? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 10, 2017, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-deceptive-packaging-always-in-the-manufacturers-favor/784204 "2017-04-10T23:10:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [April 11, 2017, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-deceptive-packaging-always-in-the-manufacturers-favor/784204/21 "2017-04-11T20:00:27Z")
> [@constanze](#): > > In about 90% of the cases, I had the exact amount of screws etc. in the Little plastic bag as described on the instruction booklet. In one or two cases atmost I think, I had to call because a Piece was missing, and in more cases than that, some pieces were left over. > > Interesting is that it used to be you called and could collect any missing screws without any proof. Apparently, People abused the System, so now if you are missing screws, you go to a vending machine and pay 0.50 or 1 Euro (I think you get a coupon for that amount back?). The IKEA store near me has a section near the customer services and collections point that’s like a pick ‘n’ mix candy setup, except it’s all dowels, screws, etc - I’ve seen people there stuffing their pockets with more parts than can possibly have been missing from a dozen kits. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-deceptive-packaging-always-in-the-manufacturers-favor/784204/22 "2017-04-11T20:07:19Z")
> [@Disheavel](#): > > I thought of one or really many! I have a whole bucket of extra IKEA fasteners, screws, dowels, nails, etc. and they are not the only company that puts in an excessive number of parts to cover losing multiple parts for assembly. Some Lego sets now come with extras of the smallest pieces. Sometimes I’ll open a package of crackers or something and find coupons printed on the inside. Yeah, you have to buy more, but if it’s something you like and were going to buy anyway, it’s a nice bonus. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-deceptive-packaging-always-in-the-manufacturers-favor/784204/23 "2017-04-11T21:59:37Z")
> [@JcWoman](#): > > My “favorite” deceptive (or just stupid) packaging are pill bottles big enough to contain 500 pills but actually contain 25 pills. I bet it saves a lot of money to have only one bottle design to keep in stock. And lots of pills are so tiny that a bottle only large enough to contain 25 of them would be too small for normal fingers to handle. I doubt the design here is intended to be deceptive. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-deceptive-packaging-always-in-the-manufacturers-favor/784204/24 "2017-04-11T22:39:09Z")
> [@constanze](#): > > I have never heard whether IKEA specifically sorts all their screws etc. by weight or by Robot-camera (some of These screws are very similar in size and weight), but I always figured it’s cheaper for IKEA to add one extra than to deal with the hassle / bad PR of the customer not being able to finish his Billy bookcase this evening because of a missing screw, damit! I don’t know if this is a universal thing for Ikea, but the one I’ve gone to in Berkeley has an assortment of the bits & pieces in their customer service area, so if you’re missing a screw or wooden dowel, you can just grab one and go. Not sure if this one is in the context of the thread, but for the past while, car manufacturers have been trying to figure out how to take pictures of tiny cars so that they look huge. The first time I drove up behind a Tesla, I was kind of shocked at how huge those things are from behind… they have been minimizing the size of the car, rather than emphasizing it. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-deceptive-packaging-always-in-the-manufacturers-favor/784204/25 "2017-04-11T22:54:54Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Not sure if this one is in the context of the thread, but for the past while, car manufacturers have been trying to figure out how to take pictures of tiny cars so that they look huge. Heh heh heh. A friend pointed out to me that Geo originally used Harlan Ellison as a spokesbeing because in the commercials he made the cars look midsized… ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-deceptive-packaging-always-in-the-manufacturers-favor/784204/26 "2017-04-11T23:32:55Z")
I bought an electronic chess set back in the day that came with an extra queen and an extra pawn for each side. The queen was because it’s possible to promote a pawn to a second queen, and the pawn was because that’s the piece you’re most likely to lose. The notion of a “baker’s dozen” has similar origins: The law set very harsh penalties for any baker who gave less than a dozen items for the dozen price, so to be safe in the event of a miscount, bakers got into the habit of giving 13 for the price of 12. Of course, then consumers started expecting that, so you’d probably still get complaints if someone only got 12 of whatever, but at least they wouldn’t be in trouble with the law. On video games, for the processor (CPU or graphics) speed, you can usually get by on low settings with somewhere between half and three quarters of what’s listed, but going under on the memory requirements will usually cost you severely, and it’s impossible on less than the listed hard drive requirement. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-deceptive-packaging-always-in-the-manufacturers-favor/784204/27 "2017-04-12T01:07:47Z")
Not exactly the same thing but Apple is one of the only computer manufacturers that pretty commonly undercounts battery life. ---
**Author:** ![Annoying\_Buzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Annoying\_Buzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annoying_Buzz)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-deceptive-packaging-always-in-the-manufacturers-favor/784204/28 "2017-04-12T02:34:50Z")
nm, Chronos beat me to it. ---
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-deceptive-packaging-always-in-the-manufacturers-favor/784204/29 "2017-04-12T08:43:15Z")
> [@JcWoman](#): > > My “favorite” deceptive (or just stupid) packaging are pill bottles big enough to contain 500 pills but actually contain 25 pills. I only get pills in blistered foil (to Keep them fresh); are you sure that the 25 pills in a big bottle don’t draw water faster than in a small bottle? ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-deceptive-packaging-always-in-the-manufacturers-favor/784204/30 "2017-04-12T21:09:18Z")
RE baker’s dozen… I always thought the reason for a baker’s dozen (cookies, etc.) was due to the relatively small cost of the actual ingredients vs. other costs like overhead, personnel, etc. Tossing in an extra cookie impresses the customer more than it costs the bakery. After all, that extra cookie might otherwise end up in the trash – not everything baked gets sold anyway. ---
**Author:** ![RadicalPi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/radicalpi/32/9806_2.png) [@RadicalPi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadicalPi)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-deceptive-packaging-always-in-the-manufacturers-favor/784204/31 "2017-04-12T21:51:01Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > The notion of a “baker’s dozen” has similar origins: The law set very harsh penalties for any baker who gave less than a dozen items for the dozen price, so to be safe in the event of a miscount, bakers got into the habit of giving 13 for the price of 12. I’m pretty sure the baker’s dozen is more related to the weight of the items than their number. Each item can be a bit below its advertised weight without a problem if you just give everyone an extra one. ---
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-deceptive-packaging-always-in-the-manufacturers-favor/784204/32 "2017-04-13T11:58:15Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > RE baker’s dozen… > > I always thought the reason for a baker’s dozen (cookies, etc.) was due to the relatively small cost of the actual ingredients vs. other costs like overhead, personnel, etc. Tossing in an extra cookie impresses the customer more than it costs the bakery. After all, that extra cookie might otherwise end up in the trash – not everything baked gets sold anyway. No, the practice of either given customers one more roll, or making the rolls bigger, goes back to Europe Middle Ages, when (esp. during times of hunger and high bread Prices) bakers were often suspected of selling loaves/ rolls that didn’t weigh enough. Esp. if the local City council decreed that the Price for a loaf of bread could not rise above x guilders, but the wheat Prices continued to rise, the margin for the baker got rather small. And similar to millers, who were often accused of dishonesty, because hey, you bring a whole bag of wheat and get less of a bag of flour (because the rest is chaff), bakers also start with dough that weighs x kg, but after baking weighs less (because some of the water evaporates), but Looks bigger (because it has risen). So the bakers weigh before putting it inside the oven and trust their experience, but don’t want the City council guy who Comes around checking up to nail their ear to the wall for cheating. So better add a bit to be on the safe side. ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-deceptive-packaging-always-in-the-manufacturers-favor/784204/33 "2017-04-13T15:11:23Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > Not exactly the same thing but Apple is one of the only computer manufacturers that pretty commonly undercounts battery life. Not so much recently. [https://arstechnica.com/apple/2016/12/explaining-the-battery-life-problems-with-the-new-macbook-pros/](https://arstechnica.com/apple/2016/12/explaining-the-battery-life-problems-with-the-new-macbook-pros/) ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2017, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-deceptive-packaging-always-in-the-manufacturers-favor/784204/34 "2017-04-15T01:04:50Z")
In Australia, our Fish and Chip shops sell Potato Cakes (you may call then potato scallops, potato patties or hash browns - things like that). It is a _ **LAW** _ :D:D:D:D:D that you must receive one more potato cake then you order - ie ‘2 snapper, chips and a potato cake’ means you will get 2 potato cakes. If you order 3 potato cakes, you will get 4. No exceptions permitted. If any shop fails to deliver, the resulting backlash will see it shut down immediately. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2017, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-deceptive-packaging-always-in-the-manufacturers-favor/784204/35 "2017-04-15T01:18:30Z")
On the topic of deceptive packaging, one thing I notice regularly and am constantly baffled at is how Imodium AD is packaged. The box looks like it was made to contain two bottles of Imodium. The interior of the box is divided directly down the middle, as if it was made to hold two products. Yet, there is never anything but one bottle in these boxes. The other section of the box, which would fit another bottle of Imodium perfectly, is always totally empty. I am flummoxed as to why this is. I mean, as soon as you pick up the package, it’s clearly evident that it only contains one bottle. It’s not as if people buying it are expecting double which makes them think it’s a great deal. The only way you’d think that is if you looked at the size of the package, without reading anything on the package or picking it up. I-just-don’t-get-it. The volume of paper products wasted from these packages, when considered on a global scale (or at least national scale) is ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2017, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-deceptive-packaging-always-in-the-manufacturers-favor/784204/36 "2017-04-15T01:25:08Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Speaking of game packaging, publishers tend to overstate the system requirements on the box of PC games. Which makes some sense: better to set the floor high and give yourself some breathing room for low-end users than to have people upset that their game set to minimum graphics doesn’t look like the box. Still, many games can be played on lower end systems than what the box indicates. they used to do that with 2 boxes on the bottom box flap one was the "minuiumn requirements to run " and the "suggested requirements " the actual requirements were usually somewhere in the middle … ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2017, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-deceptive-packaging-always-in-the-manufacturers-favor/784204/37 "2017-04-15T01:28:29Z")
Ive been told that as long as it states “product is sold by weight not by volume” you could sell 1 chip that weighs 2 pounds if the bag of chip says its a 2 pound bag ---
**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:** [April 17, 2017, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-deceptive-packaging-always-in-the-manufacturers-favor/784204/38 "2017-04-17T16:11:47Z")
The most blatant one I’ve seen: [this Noxzema jar](https://consumerist.com/2011/04/20/shrink-rayed-noxzema-jar-has-2-fewer-ounces-bonus-false-bottom/). Contains two ounces less than the old jar, but it’s still the same size. How is that possible? A false bottom. Of course, sometimes, they can keep the package size the same and underfill by a whole 25%, as in the case of [McCormick’s black pepper](https://consumerist.com/2015/06/10/watkins-sues-mccormick-over-pepper-makes-federal-case-out-of-grocery-shrink-ray/). It’s a lot harder to verify that you’re getting what you’re paying for in the case of something like pre-ground pepper, where the packaging is largely sealed except for shaker holes and one or two narrow slots to admit small measuring spoons. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-deceptive-packaging-always-in-the-manufacturers-favor/784204/39 "2017-04-17T16:20:29Z")
As far as wine bottles go, 750 ml is 750 ml regardless of the bottle shape. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2017, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-deceptive-packaging-always-in-the-manufacturers-favor/784204/40 "2017-04-17T16:21:28Z")
I continually to be impressed by items that need assemble, that include all the tools to do it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-deceptive-packaging-always-in-the-manufacturers-favor/784204.md?page=1)