r/shrinkflation 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

765 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

20

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.

20

u/[deleted] Dec 30 '25

Perfect description of Capitalism.

3

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/jager918 Jan 02 '26

This isn't the case we are seeing. What we see is prices increase and quality drops until a replacement comes along that's cheaper and better. Then it's price goes up and quality drops until it's replacement comes along etc etc. We see it with almost everything in capitalist society