Economy & Labor,SocietyMAR 16, 2026

“Anything To Save A Buck”: 97 Times People Felt Scammed By Companies (New Pics)

Evelina Šiukšterytė, Jonas Grinevičius and Mantas Kačerauskas

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Whether you realized it at the time or not, you’ve probably been a victim of shrinkflation. A combination of the words ‘shrink’ and ‘inflation,’ shrinkflation is what happens when companies reduce the size of their products, and either keep the same prices or raise them. And it feels like you’re being scammed.

The ‘Shrinkflation’ online community calls out the most brazen examples of this happening, shaming companies for ‘subtly’ shrinking their products in stores. We’ve collected some of the worst recent examples to show you how shockingly shameless it can look.

#41 No Context Needed

Partially covered graham cracker with noticeably reduced chocolate frosting illustrating obvious shrinkflation.

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10points

#42 The New John West Tuna Cans Are A Scam (79g vs. Advertised 102g)

Hand holding new smaller fish can, close-up of weight label, and bowl with weighed tuna showing obvious shrinkflation effects.

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10points

#43 There Is Room For 1 More If Not 2

Partially empty snack box showing obvious shrinkflation with fewer chocolate pretzels inside than expected.

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10points

#44 Yankee Candles Are Now Lighter, Have An Easier/Cheaper To Produce Jar And A Double Wick, Making It Burn Out Faster So You Buy More

Two Yankee Candle Christmas Eve jars showing obvious shrinkflation with reduced wax amounts in similar containers.

DrDinoDiplodocus

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10points

#45 Now “Large Size”

Two boxes of Great Grains cereal with identical 16oz weight highlighting shrinkflation in American products.

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10points

#46 KFC You Cannot Be Serious

Comparison of fast food chicken tenders showing obvious shrinkflation with much smaller portions in a takeout box.

jgwentworth-877

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9points

#47 $6 For Way Less Cookies

Girl Scouts Thin Mints box with partially empty cookie package showing obvious shrinkflation on wooden table.

paulruddssugarbaby

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9points

#48 Every Chocolate Chip Brand At Walmart Has Shrunk To Match Each Other

Shopping cart filled with various brands of chocolate chips illustrating shrinkflation in America products.

Fat_cat_syndicate

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9points

#49 I Have Been Telling My Boyfriend Jersey Mikes Doesn't Seem As Great As It Was Before So I Looked At An Old Picture And Damn. Both #9 With Chipotle, No Other Differences

Two sandwiches showing obvious shrinkflation with noticeably less meat and fillings than expected in America.

infiltrator_seven

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9points

#50 Half Full. All Of Them Are Like This And Its 2-3$ Each

Hand holding Grinch gummy candy tube with fewer gummies visible, illustrating obvious shrinkflation in product packaging.

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9points

#51 Thought I Was Restocking With The Bigger Container But I'm Down 15 "Actionpacs"

Two Cascade Platinum Plus dishwasher detergent containers showing shrinkflation with reduced pod count and changed packaging sizes.

anonthrowaway9283

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9points

#52 Old Rum Cake Recipe Once Called For An 18.5oz Box Of Cake Mix. Later We Noted The Recipe Still Worked Ok With A Shrinkflated 15.25oz. Now The Box Is 13.25oz. Same Brand As Always

Betty Crocker cake mix showing shrinkflation with reduced product weight clearly marked on the package and recipe card.

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8points

#53 64 To 59 To 56 To 49 And Now Just 46 - Just Leave Oj Alone

Bottles of Simply Orange juice showing shrinkflation with reduced liquid volume labeled as rich in vitamin C and no added sugar.

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8points

#54 Anything To Save A Buck I Guess

Partially unwrapped thin wafer chocolate bar held in hand, illustrating obvious shrinkflation in product size.

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8points

#55 Bic Pens Use White Ink Tubes Now Instead Of Clear So You Can’t See Ink Levels When Purchasing Or During Use

Bic pen refill showing shrinkflation in America with smaller size clear in new product packaging.

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8points

#56 This Is What Every Cookie Packaging Is Like

Bergen Obsession cream cookies with chocolate biscuit and vanilla filling showing shrinkflation in packaging and quantity.

soemthingblahblah123

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8points

#57 Costco Ziploc Sandwich Bag Amount Decreased By 25

Two Ziploc sandwich bag boxes showing obvious shrinkflation with reduced bag quantity on a kitchen stove.

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8points

#58 25 Percent More Granola, 50 Percent Less Of Everything Else

Post Honey Bunches of Oats cereal box showing shrinkflation with much less granola in the inner bag.

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8points

#59 More Stems Than Florets

Frozen broccoli pieces in a floral bowl, illustrating shrinkflation with visibly smaller vegetable portion sizes.

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8points

#60 Found A Packet In My Freezer From Last December Versus Buying Them Again This December And I Noticed A Change…

Two packs of cocktail sausages showing shrinkflation with reduced quantity in similar packaging side by side.

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8points

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Evelina ŠiukšterytėAuthor