Latest news with #Dworsky
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Shrinkflation may be returning for 2025
(WHTM) — After months of rising costs, you may notice some grocery store prices holding steady. But, we may still be paying more. Remember shrinkflation, that trending term a few years ago when it seemed every grocery product was getting smaller? Well, for 2025, it's back. Just when it seemed manufacturers had taken a breather from shrinking their products, it seems they have found some new ways to give us less. The site Consumer World shared photos of the latest items to downsize, including Simply Orange, which it claims recently shrunk from 52 to 46 ounces. Others include: Crystal Light: from six packets to four; Bounty Paper Towels: Consumer World says their triple rolls have shrunk from 135 sheets to 123; Ruffles Potato Chips: Consumer World says they were nine ounces but are now eight and a half, though the site says the amount of air inside the bag looks to be the same. And, from the 'Doesn't That Stink' file, the fact that manufacturers continue to find new ways to shrink products that have already been downsized, according to Consumer World's Ed Dworsky. 'There's almost no product category, except eggs maybe, that hasn't been downsized over the past few years,' Dworsky said. Despite the run up in egg prices the past year, he points out that you still get a dozen in a carton, but shrinking to ten eggs is always a possibility. Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV devices The good news is that we have been seeing less shrinkflation this year, possibly because so many items are already so small. Find more stories on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kroger has been overcharging grocery customers for years, report alleges
Kroger has been accused of overcharging customers for basic groceries that were advertised as discounted at its stores across the country, according to a three-month-long investigation conducted by Consumer Reports. After Kroger workers in Colorado alleged the company had widespread price errors and were aware, Consumer Reports sent people to shop at Kroger-owned stores such as Harris Teeter, Ralphs, Fry's and more to determine if the company had overcharged. The report discovered that at 26 stores across 14 states and the District of Columbia, customers were overcharged for more than 150 basic items due to expired sale labels. On average, customers paid $1.70 more than needed for everyday items such as cereal, cold and flu medication, instant coffee, meat and more. A spokesperson for Kroger denied the breadth of the problem, saying, 'The Consumer Reports allegations boil down to misinformation, reviewing a handful of discrete issues from billions of daily transactions.' 'It in no way reflects the seriousness with which we take our transparent and affordable pricing,' the spokesperson added. Kroger is the nation's largest supermarket chain by revenue. It has operations in 35 states. Consumer Reports alleges their investigation found that one-third of sales tags on items were expired by at least 10 days, and at least five products had sales tags expired by 90 days. 'People should pay the price that is being advertised, that's the law,' Edgar Dworsky, the founder of Consumer World, told Consumer Reports. 'The issue here is that shoppers can't rely on the shelf price being accurate, and that's a big problem,' Dworsky added. The pricing mistake was not found at every Kroger store. Fears about consumer prices going up have spread across the country as economists have warned that President Donald Trump's tariffs could cause higher inflation. The Consumer Price Index found that prices rose by 0.2 percent last month, but inflation overall remains the lowest it's been in four years. But that hasn't stopped consumers from worrying about price increases. Customers who had complained told Consumer Reports that Kroger employees were quick to correct pricing errors after they were revealed. Kroger said it's 'committed to affordable and accurate pricing' and that the characterization of widespread pricing was 'patently false.' 'Kroger's 'Make It Right' policy ensures associates can create a customer experience and addresses any situation when we unintentionally fall short of a customer's expectations,' a Kroger spokesperson said. 'Connecting regular technology upgrades and our 'Make It Right' policy to price accuracy is incorrect.'
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Even with rollercoaster prices, you can get your eggs for FREE
Rollercoaster prices for eggs over the last few years have many of us looking for a bargain. But there are a few ways to get your eggs for free. Between the pandemic, bird flu, and the spike in egg prices, more people in the Boston area are raising their own hens. The Doherty family in Franklin knows that when they hear the right squawk, one of their 14 hens will leave them a present. On average, they say they get 10 eggs every single day, dozens each week! 'The first time egg prices really started to surge. I made a joking comment, you know, with the money we're spending on eggs, we might just want to build a coop and get our own chickens,' Sean Doherty told Boston 25. The Coop Route He built a smaller coop, then decided to make a bigger one and post the original online. Before they family knew it, they had dozens of people asking for co-ops of their own. Eventually, Sean left his job in the mortgage sector to build co-ops for other local families full time. Island Custom Coops has such a big social media following, the family is considering bringing on more employees to keep up with the demand. 'The interest has definitely increased with the price in eggs going up,' Doherty says. Doherty explained upfront costs can be steep, averaging thousands of dollars, depending the size and detail of the coop you want. 'It's a big initial investment. But after that, they pretty much pay for themselves,' Doherty said. The family says they sell enough of their excess eggs to cover the cost of the feed. They said the chickens are actually very low maintenance – easier to care for than their dog, according to Glauci Doherty. And she says they even eat backyard bugs. 'Having chickens brought so much in our lives, not only just like the eggs, but the lifestyle, the food that we eat. We became a lot more aware of what is in our food,' Glauci said. Supermarket Saavy Not everyone has the time space or desire to raise their own chickens, but supermarket shoppers can get their eggs for free, too. 'I try not to pay for eggs. How in the world do you do that?' quipped founder Edgar Dworsky. Dworksy helped draft the Massachusetts Item Pricing Law that makes sure you're not overpaying. 'With egg prices rising so quickly, some stores are not very good about putting new price signs on the shelves. So double check the price. Take the eggs up to the aisle scanner. See what they scan. And if it's a higher price than the shelf label, buy it and you'll get it for nothing!' explained Dworsky. Arguing your case at checkout may not be the easiest thing to do, especially if a bunch of shoppers are lined up behind you. But Dworsky says, it's your right to pay the price that's posted, so you shouldn't shy away. Think Outside the Box He says supermarkets aren't the only option either. 'You don't think of buying eggs at CVS, but if they have a 40% off coupon, use that 40% offer on the eggs,' explained Dworsky. Whether it's the aisle or your backyard, buying eggs doesn't have to break the bank. 'You know it's always a great feeling opening up the nesting box and seeing, you know, six, 12, 18 eggs if we haven't collected in a day. And. Just being able to know that we've always got that, that steady food source,' Sean Doherty said. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
