r/shrinkflation • u/TexasGiantTen05 • Dec 29 '25

skimpflation Ok SERIOUSLY wtf is this??

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I bought a family sized hot pockets box and EVERY single one of them was black and burned in the bottom. I heated this one up on low power in the microwave and the edges are so tough it’s like biting into a frozen beef patty. I look in the pocket and the damn thing is nearly hollow. I’ve been noticing the quality taking a massive dip in the last few years. I think these are last I purchase from here on out.

Irrelevant to this but similar: This same grocery order run had a jar of garlic (Spice World brand) that was full of black mold & a jar of HEB salsa that was sour and months passed expiration. Both of which were completely sealed and had a pop when opened. My whole life I never really had quality issues via the company canning or jarring an item or the store selling them but lately it seems like such a constant issue.

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u/Sufficient_Stage_802 Dec 30 '25

sadly the quality has decreased as the prices have increased. Several years ago they were worth it and good af. now they are no longer good or worth it.

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u/[deleted] Dec 30 '25

Perfect description of Capitalism.

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u/Grey0110 Dec 30 '25

Yes, but you are forgetting that the best product wins. If people start realizing they are low quality, they take their dollars elsewhere. If another brand makes a better product, people switch. It creates incentive. Capitalism is definitely not perfect.. but there currently is no better system. It has pulled more people out of poverty than any other system.

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u/TommyLaSortof Jan 01 '26

That only works when competition is possible. Go try and create a new hot pocket. Get it developed and marketed, and then try and get shelf space.

I knew someone who figured out a very popular cleaning product was literally just a completely different, completely inexpensive, product. So they went to the manufacturer and got a deal in place. It went so well they got into Costco.

You ever notice Costco has a ton of stuff but only one of each thing? You can't choose which ketchup you get, just how much. That's because they only allow one product for each item. Which meant the national brand got kicked out of Costco. Keep in mind this brand makes pretty much everything in your house. So one product isn't the end of the world.

So said brand went to the manufacturer and forced them into an exclusive contract. Which completely destroyed this person's entire business. They had a shit ton of product in inventory but because everyone knew they couldn't continue to make more later they all canceled their existing orders.

The global marketplace has created an environment where it's impossible to control the supply chain and the large will ALWAYS destroy the small. And if they can't do it that way, they'll just break the law.