The Incredible Shrinking Cookie

QUINNSCOMMENTARY · Post by **QUINNSCOMMENTARY** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:18 am

It used to be that each spring you could gain a pound or two by consuming a box of your favorite Girl Scout Cookie. I doubt that is true anymore. Of course the cookies are still available and in some new varieties too, but while the box seems to have stayed the same, the contents seem to have undergone a modest transition, they are smaller. I opened a box last night and immediately thought “where’s the beef” reminiscent of the old hamburger commercial. Each cookie was only slightly bigger than a quarter. Ok, perhaps that as slight exaggeration, but not by much. :rolleyes:

It appears that the Girl Scouts are just as smart as other manufacturers, keep the price stable, but shrink the product. The next time you buy a gallon of ice cream to go with your cookies take a close look at what you have. You can still get the gallon that contains 128 ounces, but not far from that container will be others that look similar, but contain a few less ounces. :-5

Retail marketers were a step ahead of bankers in figuring out that the average consumer is not smart enough to know that they are buying or getting for their money. Let’s hope there is no one out there using home equity to support their cookie habit. Do the Girl Scouts take credit cards?

In defense of the Scouts here is what they say on their website:

“Q: What are the sizes, quantities and prices of Girl Scout Cookies?

A: Girl Scout Cookies are sold by weight, not by size or number. The number and size of cookies may vary by variety. The national Girl Scout organization, Girl Scouts of the USA, monitors the weights of the cookies, which are set by contract.”

I stand corrected, it's not the size of the cookie that has shrunk, it’s their weight. So each cookie is now sized in direct proportion to its weight. I wonder if I would have noticed if there was one less cookie in the box of the same size and weight.

Gee, this is getting as complex as a credit default swap; can I have a glass of milk to wash this all down? :yh_rotfl

mikeinie · Post by **mikeinie** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:47 am

I use to love buying the Girl Guide cookies, it was a real treat. They don’t have them here in Ireland.

Same thing must go for the Big Mac as well, I have no evidence, but when I look at a Big Mac, it just doesn’t look that big to me anymore.

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 5:38 am

mikeinie;1159336 wrote: I use to love buying the Girl Guide cookies, it was a real treat. They don’t have them here in Ireland.

Same thing must go for the Big Mac as well, I have no evidence, but when I look at a Big Mac, it just doesn’t look that big to me anymore.

Over here on the Big Mac's they took the 2nd slice of cheese away:mad:

mikeinie · Post by **mikeinie** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 5:43 am

qsducks;1159353 wrote: Over here on the Big Mac's they took the 2nd slice of cheese away:mad:

Two small beef patties

A little special sauce

A small slice of cheese

Lettuce

Pickle

Onion

On a couple of bite size sesame seed buns

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 5:45 am

mikeinie;1159357 wrote: Two small beef patties

A little special sauce

A small slice of cheese

Lettuce

Pickle

Onion

On a couple of bite size sesame seed buns

They used to serve it with 2 slices but now charge the same price as before. At least you get full size cheese on the McMuffin.:rolleyes:

FUBAR · Post by **FUBAR** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 1:57 pm

Crisps (potato chips). Even worse than cookies. You used to get a full bag now it's 3/4 full of air 1/4 of crisps. And they even pressurize the bag so you can't tell how empty it is till you get it home and open it. I look forward to visiting the folks in Canada as here in the UK it is almost impossible to get large bags any more you have to buy multi packs and open about five bags. :-5:-5

I remember the old Half Lunes (chocolate for choice) pretty big when I was younger, now about half the size.......:-1

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 3:16 pm

FUBAR;1159611 wrote: Crisps (potato chips). Even worse than cookies. You used to get a full bag now it's 3/4 full of air 1/4 of crisps. And they even pressurize the bag so you can't tell how empty it is till you get it home and open it. I look forward to visiting the folks in Canada as here in the UK it is almost impossible to get large bags any more you have to buy multi packs and open about five bags. :-5:-5

I remember the old Half Lunes (chocolate for choice) pretty big when I was younger, now about half the size.......:-1

We still have large bags of potato chips and some are extra-big.

mikeinie · Post by **mikeinie** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:14 pm

FUBAR;1159611 wrote: Crisps (potato chips). Even worse than cookies. You used to get a full bag now it's 3/4 full of air 1/4 of crisps. And they even pressurize the bag so you can't tell how empty it is till you get it home and open it. I look forward to visiting the folks in Canada as here in the UK it is almost impossible to get large bags any more you have to buy multi packs and open about five bags. :-5:-5

I remember the old Half Lunes (chocolate for choice) pretty big when I was younger, now about half the size.......:-1

Ya, then you pay more to buy 'lite' crisps, and the only thing lite about them is they put less in the bag...:-5

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:52 pm

these changes have been changing for years now.

everything gets smaller and the price goes up.:-5:-5

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 7:34 pm

qsducks;1159353 wrote: Over here on the Big Mac's they took the 2nd slice of cheese away:mad:

That had to cut deep.