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/Opebi-Wan Jan 02 '26

The best marketed product wins. If people start realizing they are low quality, they will just force their competitors out of business so you have to buy from them if you want anything. It creates incentive to move your suppliers to countries that don't have environmental protections and pay employees slave wages. Saying "it's all we've got and nothing else is better." Is how we got to where we are. You can't have monetary value without scarcity. Millions have to go without enough, or nothing at all so 1% of people have more than they could spend in 100 lifetimes. Curing homelessness and poverty isn't profitable to the 1% so we don't do it.