Applied to products, size matters

Size does matter.

Aha, I know what you were thinking. No I have not been watching too many infomercials. This is to address the issue of what I consider deceptive packaging in a preponderance of products today.

It becomes irksome when opening various containers purportedly containing a full measure of the item inside only to discover that the vessel contains only about one half or less of the product. I know the reasons exploited by the marketing departments of the manufacturing companies to entice the gullible consumer into purchasing the product, but it still ticks me off. The number of deceptive appearing packaging is numerous and would overwhelm the average person, but my biggest complaints currently are cereal, potato chips and medicine.

The frustration of sitting down to watch the big game after elaborately setting up of all the accoutrement necessary to enjoy the game (i.e. large size of salsa, a six pack or two in ice and an extra large bag of dipping chips), only to find when you open the bag of chips that it's only half full. It will require two or possibly three bags to get through the Superbowl.

Instead of a fun, relaxing and overindulgent afternoon, you either have to cut back on everything or make an emergency run to the store. Heartburn, here I come.

While at the store, you recognize you are going to require some heartburn relief so you purchase the overpriced, large-size, supposedly instant, cure-all heartburn medication. Right, you open the bottle while driving home and there is no way this small amount of tablets is going to cure the volcano of acid building up in your stomach. Man, they haven't even kicked off yet.

It is a fact that larger containers cost more money to produce, ship and print. Therefore, they consume more natural resources than the correct size would. Why do these companies who proclaim to be green and eco-friendly continue these wasteful, aggravating, deceptive practices?

They believe the average consumer will be drawn to the bigger size and they may be right. It still does not make it right to deceive consumers. Hopefully the average consumer is becoming more container savvy and stops buying half-rationed packaging.

A question I have, and maybe I will do a little research on this issue is, does the weight on the bag, box or carton include the weight of the container? Interesting question right?

This brings an entirely new slant on the issue of deception in packaging. Wow! If they are getting away with including the packaging weight in the total weight, they must be laughing all the way to the bank. No wonder those packages might be so large.

This is not only an issue of deception regarding packaging but also about wasting natural resources. In addition to the depletion of natural resources, envision the increase in the tonnage put into our landfills just from Superbowl Sunday, without any consideration for the previous twenty or so weeks of professional football games. I am a strong advocate for business being more pro-active in regards to greening by business. Making the containers actually fit the product I believe the consumer will gain respect for the company and continue being a loyal client.

I think the old adage is "bigger is not always better." This is an ideal time to implement this concept.