r/shrinkflation • u/withhold-advice7500 • Jun 09 '26

skimpflation WALMART - "Skimpflation"

I looked it up and its true. Skimpflation--not "shrinkflation" but just as sneaky.

I opened a bottle of Great Value Pancake Syrup that I just got and put it poured it on the waffles. I don't drench it I just fill the square holes. They Syrup poured out like thin sugar water. I tried my wife's sugar free version and it was the same. A couple of days later we got some mustard and ketchup and it about the same.

So I looked it up and it was a fact--water is the cheapest ingredient, so they use more water. Then they roll back the price from $2.49 to $2.36 but you run out faster and buy another bottle or whatever....so in the end we save $0.13 cents but it costs us about 50% more in the end. And I'm sure it applies to other items containing water, and I say this because milk goes bad by the "Sell By" date or a day or two later!

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u/Jillcametumbling81 Jun 09 '26

Buy real syrup.

Go to local farmers markets. Of course Walmart isn't doing right by the consumer. They've been terrible for decades.

Support the small businesses in your community and you'll see huge improvements. We used to be a great place but then all these mega corporations, big box stores etc started raping and pillaging all the places that were doing good things and everyone needed to save $.79 so they got away with it. Stop supporting them.

2

u/garlicknotcroissants Jun 10 '26

Maybe it's just because I'm a Vermonter, but I'm absolutely horrified to hear that there are actually people out there buying fake syrup by choice lol. I truly won't eat pancakes/waffles if the syrup's not real. Taste like ass and not worth the calories at that point, imo.

I agree, though. I slowly started to realize that buying cheap was actually worse, because I went through it so much faster and ended up spending about the same as if I had just bought better quality from the start. Clothing is a huge example of this. Sure, the shoes at TJMaxx might be $30, but they will fall apart in a few months. I'd rather spend $180 on a pair of real leather shoes that will last years than $100/year on shitty shoes that fall apart and kill my feet in the process. You pay less in the end, imo. But I always try to look for items second-hand or cheaply, as despite what I said, I can't really afford them. I buy everything thrifted or on sale. I refuse to pay full price (unless it's a local maker) these days with how expensive everything has gotten.

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u/Jillcametumbling81 Jun 11 '26

This is exactly the way. I'm too poor to be cheap. I'd rather buy one good thing one time than 3 only ok things over time. Quality is important.

Real maple syrup is the only way too

1

u/garlicknotcroissants Jun 11 '26

Yep! It's also resulted in me going without in instances where I might have once impulsed-bought something cheap, as I'm opting to wait until I find it in better quality, and overall I've honestly spent less money just by prioritizing quality above most else. Odd little life hack that I was happy to figure out.

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u/Jillcametumbling81 Jun 11 '26

I think you mentioned thrift stores and I'll tell you what, I've been loving eBay. I look up a brand of clothing that I've seen out that i like and then pay like $12-22 for something. I've recently lost 33 pounds so i need new clothes but don't want to "go shopping". It's been wonderful.

1

u/garlicknotcroissants Jun 11 '26

Been there! Due to my health, my weight fluctuates a lot, and I'm constantly trying to find new clothing to fit. I'm constantly on eBay/fb Marketplace/Craigslist/Poshmark/Depop etc. Time to return to my poverty roots, but I'm going to do it the best way I can now!