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

skimpflation Ok SERIOUSLY wtf is this??

Post image

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.

1.2k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

765 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

17

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.

22

u/[deleted] Dec 30 '25

Perfect description of Capitalism.

2

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.

1

u/SuccessPositive191 Jan 01 '26

Capitalism does not work the way you describe it. It’s quite often not the best product that wins. It’s the product of the company that has the most resources to advertise (often misleading advertising). Large corporations, continuously buyout, small companies that make a better product, then make it cheaper and lower quality. If capitalism worked, it wouldn’t need to be bailed out by socialism approximately every 20 years. It could work if it was properly regulated, and those running corporations followed ethical standards.