Toilet Paper to Discontinued Items: 7 Ways Shrinkflation Has Come to Costco

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Costco, the giant warehouse retailer in the United States known for its bulk offerings and value, has seen some changes lately. You might have noticed that some products look a little different and even if they haven’t increased in price, they seem to be coming in smaller packages. This is called shrinkflation – where items shrink in size or quantity but the price stays the same or even goes up to keep a company’s bottom line and profit margins intact.

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Costco Shrinkflation: Quick Take

In order to avoid customer backlash some companies and major brand names go the route of releasing products in smaller packaging as opposed to drastically hiking up the prices. Essentially, you are paying the same price for less product. So if you have noticed drastically shrinking products, even when buying in bulk at Costco, you may have fallen victim to shrinkflation. 

7 Costco Items That Seem To Have Shrunk In Size

Not only has Costco reduced the size of products but you may also notice that even the packaging has changed. For example, the raw materials have switched and things that used to come in glass jars now are in cheaper plastic. Shrinkflation is a price increase per sales volume, without necessarily increasing the price. 

Here are eight examples of everyday items affected by shrinkflation at Costco:

1. Crest Toothpaste

Many tubes of Crest 3D White Advanced Toothpaste have noticeably dropped from 6 ounces to 5.2 ounces. 

2. Dixie Ultra Paper Plates

The Dixie Ultra 8.5-inch plates used to come in a pack of 285 and now that is reduced to 240. 

3. Dove Body Wash

A slight edit to the volume of your body wash shows Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash containing only 23 ounces as opposed to its former 24-ounce alternative. 

4. Gillette Mach3 Razor Cartridges

A good product to buy in bulk is definitely razor cartridges, however, Costco customers have noticed that Gillette is now only doing five four-packs of cartridges which is fewer than used to come in a package.

5. Kirkland Signature Organic Medium Salsa

Many customers have spotted that the Costco brand salsa now comes in 35-ounce jars as opposed to the former 38-ounce containers which gives you three ounces less of salsa per purchase.

6. Scott Shop Towels

If you’ve purchased paper products from Costco lately you may be getting a little less mileage. For example, Scot Shop Towels used to have 43.6 square feet per roll and newer rolls only hold 39.5 square feet.

7. Windex Glass Cleaner

Costco used to sell a spray bottle of Windex cleaner and a backup refill which would contain 208 fluid ounces all in. Now that same set comes with 201 fluid ounces.

8. Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream Bars

Though no direct indication on the packaging showing this item has shrunk many customers claim the ice cream bars are smaller and even not that the calorie count is lower per bar which would mean a smaller size if no ingredients have been altered. 

What To Look For If You’re Worried About Shrinkflation

There are some sneakier ways for companies to shrink their products without necessarily advertising what they are doing. Here are a few tips and tricks to consider so you aren’t wasting money on certain products. 

• Toilet paper rolls aren’t as plump: You might have noticed that the rolls of toilet paper at Costco aren’t as big as they used to be. They might still look the same on the outside, but take a closer look, and you’ll see fewer sheets per roll.
• Less cereal in the box: That big box of cereal you used to buy might not last as long as it used to. Some brands have reduced the amount of cereal inside while keeping the box size the same.
• Snack bags with fewer treats: Snack bags of chips or candies might seem like a good deal, but look closely, and you’ll find fewer snacks inside, making you go through them faster.
• Reduced quantity of frozen foods: Your favorite frozen meals or bags of vegetables might not fill you up as much anymore. Manufacturers have been cutting down on the amount of food inside while charging the same price.
• Smaller bottles of condiments: That big bottle of ketchup or mustard might not be so big anymore. Many condiments have downsized their containers, giving you less for the same price.
• Dwindling bizes of household cleaners: Cleaning products like laundry detergent or dish soap might come in smaller containers now. Even though the packaging looks similar, there’s less product inside.
• Shrinking meat portions: Even meat products haven’t been spared. Some packages of meat or poultry might contain less meat than they used to, but you’ll still be paying the same amount.
• Discontinued items: In some cases, Costco might stop carrying certain products altogether, leaving you with fewer options or forcing you to buy more expensive alternatives.

Final Take To GO 

The bottom line is that these changes might seem small individually, but they add up over time. While businesses often cite rising production costs or economic pressures for these adjustments, you need to be aware of these changes and make informed decisions when shopping. Keeping an eye on package sizes and unit prices can help you get the best value for your money, even in the face of shrinkflation at stores like Costco.

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