Do you remember last October when I wrote about how Walmart sells sneakily smaller packages for their “lower prices,” so that they often actually cost MORE while bragging that they cost less? I used the example of Luvs diapers, which Walmart packages 70 to a box while Target puts 80 in a box: it SEEMS like the Walmart box costs less—if you don’t happen to notice there are fewer diapers.
WELL. Reader Christine sent me another example:
I thought you would get a kick out of this one, please see the attached picture. I bought packs of Quilted Northern, 12 rolls each with identical packaging, one from each store. The roll on the left is Target, the one on the right is Wal Mart.
Pretty funny huh?
(photo by Christine)
Oh, this makes me so mad! I hate shady business practices, especially when said business is TAKING OVER THE WORLD, or at least trying to.
It makes me feel dirty!
I’ve always had the teeniest perception that things at wm are “cheaper” somehow… this kind of crap is reason enough to stop going there… I wish we had a target instead… it makes me mad that we’ll keep going there because it’s closest and easiest heh.
BASTARDS!
I am so glad I usually never shop there, this just strengthens my resolve to make that an actual NEVER.
I always felt dirty shopping there, but the prices! Plus I’m in a small town with the nearest Target 30 minutes away. Then I saw the documentary “The High Cost of Low Prices” and have not looked back. It was the kick I needed.
Actually, I read in Consumer Reports recently that Quilted Northern reduced their toilet roll size across the board because their costs were rising, and they didn’t want to raise their prices.
It might be that Christine happened on an older package at Target…or maybe Wal-M*rt is screwing us all on toilet paper.
Now I know why the last batch of TP they bought at work keeps falling off the holder! They got the short ones.
WalMart irks the ever-lovin’ cr*p outta me. I stopped shopping there a few years back and have not looked back.
That said, for those of you who are not near a store other than WalMart, try alice.com for some of your household goods. I’ve not bought anything from them yet, but their prices seem to be decent and the shipping is FREE! I just hope they don’t skimp on the products like WalMart.
Cindy- That may be—a lot of companies are reducing product sizes (see also: ice cream “half-gallons,” and peanut butter 18 oz jars). On the post I did about Luvs, a number of people said it was a packaging downsize, not a Walmart issue—but others said knew (for various reasons such as having a family member who worked for a company that deals with Walmart) that Walmart does in fact get their own (smaller) packaging sizes—not only for sneaky stuff like this, but also so that they don’t have to honor competitors’ prices with their price-matching policy (which doesn’t apply if packages are different sizes). And also, Target still has 80 Luvs to a pack, while Walmart still has 70.
ugh!
Bleh! I can’t believe this! I am a loyal Target customer and will continue to be.
You know what irks me? We did some party shopping for my 5 year olds bday party. Party City had a couple things Target didn’t. But, I ended up not using them, and went to return them. Lo and behold the receipt got lost or thrown away with stuff at the party. I go to return and they looked at me like I was trying to pull one over on them. I had to EXCHANGE for items of same value. So, I bought thank you cards, some xtra cake toppers and then some st pattys stuff to use up the money. Why does party city make it so hard, when Target can look up the item and match it to which card it was on?
Target forever rocks.
Oh, boo on you, Wal-Mart!
The companies that make the products all reduce their quantities, and this has been going on for years…look at bags of chips, Pop bottles, they all do it, it’s to reduce costs and make profit..so you’re always getting less for the same price or higher even…TP gets thicker, less on rolls, paper towels, diapers, wipes, all kinds of products do this…it’s not new.
Anonymous, while that is true, we are talking about instances when one store REQUIRES a company to create different-sized items in order to sell less for more. This is different than an across-the-board change. Whether the toilet paper is an example of this, I don’t know, but Swistle mentions other examples above.
It’s ok if Walmart’s practices don’t bother you, but most people don’t even realize this is occurring. Thus, the “sneaky” title.
Anonymous- I think you’ve missed the point. Of course all companies are changing their product sizes, but this is about ONLY WALMART changing the size—and in fact requiring the manufacturer to make a special smaller size just for them. See the comments on the first post for someone explaining what Walmart requires from her company. And in fact see both posts for specific examples about how Walmart’s size is smaller than another company’s—not simply smaller than before.
One more reason to avoid Wal-Mart at all costs.
Yuck! Reprehensible!
I’ve never liked Wal-Mart, and only go when I really need to. I had a friend who used to buy stuff she didn’t need or want there because the prices were so good! I check the products carefully before I buy. I hadn’t realized about the packaging because I don’t buy much, but I will certainly check it out.
Good example of how people only believe what they want to and love to hate Walmart. Someone just told you why the t.p. was different sizes and you completely disregard it. Have any of you ever considered that Walmart goes through a ton more stock than Target and will run out of the older, larger roll sizes sooner? I love how you guys all “know for a fact” what Walmart does with it’s suppliers.
Anonymous- WHO completely disregarded it? We’re saying that MAY BE SO but that Walmart DOES IN FACT order smaller packages of many things—as in the Luvs diapers, in which case it’s not a matter of a package resizing or old product. We have this information from Walmart employees and from manufacturers who work with Walmart. You haven’t yet given us your sources for how you know these people are lying.
Also, can I just say how much I LOVVVVVVVE that I can look at IP addresses now? It is AWESOME. Anonymous is anonymous no more! Hiya, “Anonymous”!
I was sent here thanks to the recommendation of a friend on FB. Interesting entry and comments.
Part of the reason why I detest Walmart and WILL NOT buy anything there. Forcing other companies to make lower quality products isn’t fair to those companies or the customers. Nor is it fair that other companies have had to jump through hoops, lose profits and possibly go out of business because Walmart will do ANYTHING to offer the lowest price. True, it may be capitalism…but it also isn’t right.
guys, we need to stop being unfair to poor ol’ walmart! we’re so MEAN! and believing rumors, despite the fact that we have proof and pictures!
sneaky sneaky walmart. glad we can unsneak some of their policies here :-)
Wow, that totally stinks! Love this post and the one from Oct.
Honor
(sorry, couldn’t get my Google acct to load)
I knew it! More ammunition against my mother-in-law’s insistence that Walmart is cheaper than Target.
You know this is the kind of thing that really rubs me wrong (hahaa). The question is does that 1/2 inch of tissue width impact the wipe quality???
Holy cow! I can’t believe this, it’s disgusting on many levels.
I wish I lived near a Target, because then I’d never shop at hellmart. Unfortunately, the nearest Target is an hour and a half drive from here. Walmart is pretty much the only available store here, though I NEVER buy meat, frozen food, or produce from them. I do local grocery stores that get their meat and produce from local farmers (I live in a farming area). It’s cheaper and way better quality. When I took economics in college we had to watch a special documentary about how Hellmart operates their business. It seriously makes me SICK.
but even their toy prices are better by as much as $5.00 are their toys smaller too
as for te diper thing have gone many places for diapes and found that you always see dfferent ct boxes walmart does not package the dipers they simply purchase them from a dealer beside last i checked by me luvs weei fact 1.20 or so cheaper at target, need a little more proof there are just to mny wal haters, besides if only have a certain amount of money
the cheaper boxisthe cheper box no matter what the count
Another notch for my Don’t Shop At Wal-Mart stick! But it’s a luxury to be able to avoid Wal-Mart: my family in my hometown has no choice. There’s nowhere else to get things. Which is why the Cancerous Nature of Wal-Mart is the deepest notch in my stick.
I have to agree w/ Cindy here. I also saw the same article, which is funny b/c I noticed it w/ our toilet paper before reading it. I don’t shop at Walmart (except for a random Rx here or there if I call around and it’s cheaper). But we buy Charmin 12 packs and at the time I bought a new package b/c the old one was almost out. Then when I switched the last old roll w/ the new roll I noticed the cardboard was about a half of an inch shorter than the old one, like Christine’s picture.
I don’t doubt that Walmart has sneaky practices, but I think this might just be part of the new downsizing of sizes due to the economy.
I don’t care for Wal-Mart’s practices of package resizing or price changing. I’m aware of them, and I don’t like them. I still love Wal-mart, and I still shop there. Because I live in a small town.
And, in defense of Wal-Mart, they provide a huge number of jobs and shopping convenience to small town (under 10K-people) areas of our country. Target doesn’t do that (and I love Target, too). Good thing it’s a free country and we can all choose where we shop.
I’m off to Wal-Mart now… ;)
Anonymous- Yes. And Target has the cheaper per-diaper box.
Bethtastic- I do some shopping at Walmart too.
doesn’t this inspire you all to start calculating cost/item (or oz, or TP sheet)? this seems pretty simple. then you won’t be “conned” by walmart.
we all live in a capitalist society. you enjoy the fruits of the market system, and yet you complain about it? walmart is out to make money, not hold your hand and whisper sweet nothings in your ear.
What is with the people leaping to Walmart’s defense? This is NUTS. Yes, yes, POOR SAD LITTLE WALMART. I am playing a new drinking game where I take a shot for every assy anonymous comment, and I am getting kind of tipsy here.
C.- Er, yes? I mean, that IS what I did. I calculated cost per diaper, so now I am not getting conned by Walmart.
I also find this phenomenon of “smaller-sized packaging” at dollar stores. I avoid them for exactly that reason. I never know if I am getting a deal or getting ripped off.
Thanks for posting about this topic. It is important that we stay atuned to these practices since our dollars only go so far these days.
TracyB
I’m going to hide in the corner and pretend I don’t work at WalMart now…
Before we moved out to the boonies away from any other store besides WM we would shop at Win Co. I just don’t have the energy to go to five different stores to get what I need. I know, I know I’m a terrible person.
Here Swistle I’ll deflect some anger from you to me…
I WORK FOR THE DEVIL WAL MART. AND I SHOP THERE ALL THE TIME. (Please, badger me now!)
Wow. Just . . . wow.
Iheartporkchops- I shop at Walmart sometimes too. I’m not saying they’re the devil or that a person has to be terrible to shop there, but I am saying they’re sneaky and deceptive and that it’s good for people who have choices to know what they’re choosing.
But does that 1/2 inch of width actually impact the wipe quality or total cleanliness? Do you use more of the not-as-wide paper than normal? Does scented or multi-ply play any real role in rolls? Clearly, studies must be undertaken here, to determine optimal tissue sizing parameters.
Damn, and I HAVE to go to Wal-Mart today b/c, like many other people have mentioned, I live in a small, small town & have almost NO other options for household stuff. Damn. I’m going to be grumpy my whole shopping trip now.
My husband works for a supplier of a product WalMart uses and I can say he has told me of firsthand knowledge things his company has had to do to keep WalMart placing orders with them, and let me tell you, it’s hell. Different packaging, different labeling, different sizes of product (though my husband’s specific product isn’t something that can be downsized by typical methods like TP or a few less diapers in the box), different shipping requirements, all in an effort to appear to have the same thing other stores have for less money. The fact is, some products WM carries are the same size for less and some aren’t. Let the buyer beware…
And for the sake of total disclosure, I shop at WalMart just as often as I shop at Target.
Note that they are not doing this without the collusion of the manufacturers. Who do you think packages the stuff for Walmart? Aware consumers (such as the blogger) are not fooled by their petty deceptions.
Oh no! I’m sorry, I wasn’t trying to put words in your mouth. Just from some of the comments, it seems like a lot of people think that WM is the devil and is destroying America. Which might be true.
I just hope no one really honestly takes it out on you. Or anyone else. I forget that our “voices” don’t translate so well through the internet.
I honestly really like the WM that I work at. I might have been slipped some kool aide at some point in time. But it’s in a small community, and the people that work with me are for the most part pleasant people. And I just wanted to let people know that even though the “company” might be doing shady business, we at the registers, or the doors have nothing to do with it. And at times had no other recourse but to work at WM. So don’t take it out on us when you have to shop there!
Okay I’m done, I hope I didn’t come off as trying to hijack your comments!
@randaroopoo (twitter)
(Disclaimer – I live in a place where there are more Targets then WMs, plus large supermarket chains and fantastic locally-owned grocery stores).
I’m a Target shopper. I LOVE Target, even though the ones around don’t have grocery products. But when a new Super WM opened near by I was excited, partly because I had heard of WMs expansion of organic food brands and bying from local farms. I gave that WM a really good chance – I did all my grocery/household shopping there for over 6 months. They never lived up to their advertising of more organics – I could find more options from a single brand i.e. more flavors of Stonyfield yogurt, for similar or lower prices at the major supermarket. I found that their produce went bad very quickly and after just a few months the brand new store was just, just…dirty.
Plus, I found that when I was REALLY watching my budget and writing down prices as I shopped (to keep my final bill in check) that every. single. time. there were price errors at check out. Something marked $2.89 on the shelf would ring up at $2.99. It never amounted to more then a $1 on a total bill, but were’re talking about 4 weeks in a row with at least 3 mistakes. Then you have to go do battle with the cranky people at customer service who sigh and roll their eyes when you ask for a $0.70 price adjustment.
And buying from local farms? Their idea of “local” was within 600 miles, which doesn’t mesh with my idea of local.
When I switched back to a combo of Target + regional supermarket chain I noticed that not only did my weekly expenses not waver, but most products were sized slightly larger. A bottle of ranch dressing would be 2 oz larger at the grocery store. A box of cereal would be 4 oz. heavier. I also found that while I still track shelf pricing vs. check-out pricing the errors have been few and far between, and more often then not they are in my favor (and I do point those out to the checker).
I think some people miss the point here. The point is not that slightly narrower toilet paper will not wipe your ass as effectively. The point here is not that all companies are making smaller toilet paper. The point here is not capitalism and blah blah blah. The POINT IS that some of us would be perfectly fine with slightly smaller toilet paper as long as you said “Hey! Look, I can make this toilet paper a little bit smaller and it will still wipe your ass just as effectively AND I can sell it to you for a lot cheaper! How about them apples!” It’s perfectly possible to do good business AND be trustworthy.
At least that’s my take on it.
I’ve noticed that at Walmart, one brand of frozen pizza is elliptical, not circular. (I think it’s Freschetta, but I may be remembering wrong.) It’s like they shave a bit off two sides or stretch it. It’s been that way for more than a year. Doesn’t happen at the local grocery store. Those are round. That would save about 8-10% of the dough, maybe some cheese. I don’t know if it’s on purpose, but if so, it’s sort of sneaky.
Wow, good catch. There should be some kind of community website where people submit their particular stories like this, kind of like fail blog. Why Walmart Suck dot com or something.
Also, I’m in awe of you and your ip sleuthing skills. I’m going to have to look into that, or make my husband, but blogger is so difficult with that.
Well, I had no idea there were such strong opinions on the matter. What a pot you have stirred!
I don’t shop at Walmart because the aisles are crowded and I feel claustrophobic and anxious when I am in there. That’s the only reason.
However, I too think it is important to be mindful of what you are buying and what you are receiving at what cost, which, I believe, was the point.
Nellyru just made me laugh out loud.
Walmart has also recently reduced the number of diapers per box of their ‘house brand.’ Those of use who store outgrown kids’ clothing in the old boxes noticed the change, Walmart! :)
Yup, I agree with Nellyru. I don’t have a problem with smaller sizes if that helps keep the price down, but being sneaky about it just feels like an insult. “We’re going to make the size smaller and reduce the price not quite as much so that it seems like it’s a much better price than it really is. Oh, and we think you’re too dumb and/or lazy to figure it out, so we’re going to act like you’re getting a Huge Dramatic Savings.” How about some respect for the consumer?
Good lord, why are we defending walmart! Even IF the tp company decided to downsize their tp rolls, Walmart shouldn’t go on advertising that they have CHEAPER tp than their competitors, because it’s apples and oranges. So, walmart still sucks rocks there.
I’m dying to know who exactly this “anonymous” is. Swistle, no hints?
Walmart lovers/defenders/skeptics: here’s a well researched article… one of many that I’ve read about Walmart’s business practices:
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html
For a more personal account about how Walmart treats its employees, I recommend reading “Nickled and Dimed”- the author- a writer- went undercover and worked at several lower-income jobs around the country- one of which was Walmart. She then wrote about how hard it was to get ahead on a lower-income. Here’s a link for the book:
http://www.amazon.com/Nickel-Dimed-Not-Getting-America/dp/0805063897
If a manufacturer wants to be competitive, they have to be able to sell at Wal-mart to be profitable. Walmart doesn’t care how big the toilet paper roll is or the diaper pack. It is not a mandate from walmart for the manufacturer to skimp. Walmart merely agrees to sell product at a specific price… if the manufacturer can’t hack it, a competitor will. Walmart does not need to put out a disclosure that toliet paper got smaller, or diapers are being sold in smaller packages. Really, I do not see any dishonesty here.
The problem is that manufacturers are attempting to be competitive at Wal-mart and are cutting corners to get their items on the shelf.
Plus as far as diapers are concerned… we’ve tried them all, and the walmart brand ‘Parent’s Choice’ are actually the best ones around imho, price not even taken into account.
Also, as far as Walmart buying more “local”… I cry FALSE. Last summer, our walmart had a big produce display right as you walk in- it’s made of green signage that touts “Minnesota Grown!” and adorable pictures depicting the “local farmers”. The green “local” bins are overflowing with all different kinds of produce. However, NOTHING in those bins are actually grown in MN, save for one teensy tiny corner of the green display.
So the consumer (rushed, with a couple of cranky kids tagging along) thinks SCORE I’m buying local. FINALLY Walmart is cleaning up its act.
But, no.
I gotta tell you, I am *amazed* at the comments in this section. lmfao.
Drink up, Swistle. omg.
I don’t know about you – but I compare items in apples to apples fashion. Meaning if something costs $.30 an ounce and something else is $5/lb I convert the lb item to oz. I do the same for TP – except its square ft. Should be simple, if you care.
Jay- Sure! No dishonesty here! Just because Walmart says their prices are lower but they’re not, that doesn’t mean there’s any dishonesty!
Anonymous- Oh clearly! If we’ve benefited in ANY WAY from capitalism, then we have NO RIGHT to argue with ANYONE’S deceptive practices! No, no, we must REMAIN SILENT AND ACCEPTING!
Anonymous- Me too. But hardly anyone else does that.
Wow, I’ve been sniveling about the shorter roll by Quilted Northern for the past week – don’t remember where I bought it, but it is TOO NARROW for our TP holders, and 5 out of 6 times it falls off (we have the spring-loaded holders on the right and left, no bar to go through the roll). So sanitary.
I wonder if in THIS instance the manufacturer shortened it for all stores, ’cause I don’t remember being in Walmart lately.
Will bring tape measure with me next time I shop. Just on emore thing to think about.
Assy comment.
Have one on me, Swistle. :)
I don’t shop at WalMart because there isn’t one close by and I like Target better anyway. Plus, they seem to have pretty bad standard ways of dealing with their employees. I also have a new reason to dislike them: short toilet paper.
I’ll tell you (and yes, I do still shop at Walmart, I can’t help it sometimes)… I worked for a company that sold souvenir items to Walmart stores across North America. I worked in the order entry/customer service/credit issuing department as the department head.
Walmart has horrendous bill-paying practices. This is a known thing in the retail industries. However, companies can’t NOT be in Walmart stores, so they let Walmart walk all over them. Walmart stores (many, maybe not ALL, but many) actually tell their receivers to claim “short shipments” and request credit from the supplier — to see who they can get away with it with — and then they begin to claim shortages/damages/whatever ALL THE TIME. (This was told to our Head of Sales in the US by a Walmart receiver).
I had about 20 new Walmart credit requests on my desk EVERY DAY. Sure, they bought from us — but my GOD, they did not ever pay a bill in full.
I’m not a big Walmart fan, and after your article from October and this, even less so.
I despise Wal-Mart because as a company they are slimy. I won’t go into all the ways I know this, but it’s a fact. Maybe not EVERY employee is treated badly but from the top down Wal-Mart lies, cheats and bullies. They are the Mafia of the retail world. They get none of my money.
I’ve also noticed that Target has some items that are packaged just for them, mainly I’ve seen this in toys. But it is a known fact that Wal-Mart forces its suppliers to package sizes specifically for them. So the TP and diapers arguments are indeed sound. This is not an across the board shorting by the manufacturer, it’s Wal-Mart being deceptive again.
Swistle, you better put down the liquor because the assy comments are just going to keep coming.
I’m so glad to see that poor little Walmart has such vehement supporters to defend it against Swistle and her mean ol’ commenters. I mean, how DARE we question their business practices?!
Well. I for one would NOT like to see the more scantily-wiped bums of Walmart shoppers. I’m sticking with Target. And that popcorn they sell at the store cafe. Yum, unnaturally yellow snack food.
Oh WalMart how I hate thee. It doesn’t surprise me that they have dirty business practices. To anonymous–yes, their toys are cheap, but their toys are CHEAP. Someone bought my son a pack of matchbox cars for christmas. The pack was labeled for WalMart and only sold at WalMart and you could tell the cars were CHEAPLY CONSTRUCTED. Cheaper than just the regular matchbox car.
This has little to do with Wal-mart but I thought I would share another tid bit about companies trying to fool their customers. My husband works in a local cheese factory, (not in CA) but he puts California Cheese labels on the cheese he makes there and the milk comes from local farmers (not in CA either) Yet you see comercials on TV about how their cows are happier, and make better cheese products. My husband also puts off brand labels on the same cheese… It is all the same product but people will pay more for a name..
How hard is it to type ‘because’ instead of ‘b/c’? Yeesh.
Walmart has started the precedent of requiring manufacturers to decrease packaging to help the environment. Many companies are jumping on the bandwagon and it may be difficult for manufacturers to comply but who hasn’t opened a package and complained about all the wasted material? Walmart wants to eliminate double packaging, i.e. a bag inside a box, and excess packaging i.e. half full boxes. They are forcing manufacturers to make smaller packages, not packages with less in them. They are also one of the top national companies for employing women. Look into some actual facts from manufacturing resources and quit relying on chain emails for your information. You don’t like Walmart don’t shop there but keep your facts straight. I agree with the above poster – Walmart started as a one man operation like everyone else and grew to a huge company, they won at capitalism. Everyone else has the same chance they did but if they aren’t as successful “Oh boo hoo, big ol’ Walmart hurt my business” Well, you couldn’t keep up.
And I sign anonymous because I don’t want to register with anything, I couldn’t care less if you can look up the ip address.
Anonymous-
(1) Leaving your name doesn’t require any registration. I will explain it to you: choose “Name/URL,” fill in your name, don’t fill in a URL. There! Easy!
(2) Are you asking me to PRAISE Walmart for putting less PRODUCT in their boxes? I’ve seen no evidence of less PACKAGING, only less product for the same or higher price per unit.
(3) I have never seen a chain email about Walmart.
(4) We have actual information from people who work at Walmart and for manufacturers who deal with Walmart, and from our own eyes as we price-compare. What’s YOUR stake/source?
(5) So because they’re capitalists we can’t complain that they’re deceptive? We are not talking here about putting mom-and-pop businesses out of business, we are only talking about deceptiveness and cheating the consumer. Perhaps you could join the conversation we are having, rather than the one you’re imagining?
Oh, I am able to list my resources too. The information about women in the company came from a More magazine article rating large corporations on their hiring/payment of women and the manufacturing information comes from Food Processing magazine which is an independent industry magazine about the business side of food production.
You posted that while I was typing my resources. Every argument about Walmart always gets around to them putting mom and pop out of business eventually, it was a preemptive comment, and someone brought it up earlier about capitalism. I’m not imagining anything.
OHMYGOD I am so glad that Wal-Mart has an army of loyal blog commenters. Are you locked in the store after hours and not paid overtime? Oh! Wait!
Anonymous- None of your points have anything to do with what we’re discussing. We’re discussing less product in the boxes and pretending that means lower prices when it doesn’t. Feel free to join that discussion whenevs.
What cracks me up is that folks are acting like this is such a scandal! a shock! a surprise! Wal-Mart has done this for YEARS. Damned good marketing, you have to give them credit for that. Their silly little “Aw, shucks!” jingles with the Cowboy Hat Wearing Faux-Pacman character make you think they are cheaper, when they are not..
Not only do I read labels of food, I read labels of most of my other purchases as well – be it volume, weight, or square footage of paper products (paper towels are just as confusing!)
Thanks for the entertainment Swistle. I was in need of a fresh comment controversy.
Incidentally, I googled and found this, which speaks of the same experience, and the Quilted Northern Website, which references a smaller roll corresponding to their new 3-ply product.
Not that I’m trying to justify Walmart’s slimy practices elsewhere, but this may be a Quilted Northern Issue instead of a Walmart issue.
My 2 year old son collects “thomas the tank engine” Train toys and nic nacs. We have a local toy store, a mom & pop shop we always buy them at because they have a great selection, and have sales. He recently recieved a train “Burt” as a gift. It looked Legit and came in packaging practically identical to the other trains he has. Once we got the train out of the package I quickly noticed it was a much cheaper construction than the trains he already has and lasted him about 2 days. I asked my Mother-in-law and she said she had bought it at Wal-Mart. I wondered if “Thomas & Friends” toys were changing their manufacturing, but we have bought trains since that have been up to par. I am convinced that they are skimping on the materials for the trains that Wal-Mart sales. I won’t buy toys from Wal-Mart. (or much else for that matter)
Really, we the peeps just can’t get a break anymore. They are even f’ing with the tp. geez.
I believe this, Walmart is sneaky sneaky and in a bad way. BTW, I can’t comment from my phone because of the word verification. So I’m here, all up in your business but unable to verbally assault you as much as I want to…which sounds gross or wrong. Whatever. Hello! Walmart is bad! Target is awesome! Unless you are employed by them! Which is a whole post!
Just ask yourself: “Can Quilted Northern really afford to produce the same type of toilet rolls in different sizes at the same time?” They’d basically need to double their machinery just for Wal-Mart and for what? So they can sell less for more at one place? It doesn’t make sense. If they can make more money selling less for more, then they can do that everywhere.
Splint- And the explanation for the Luvs?
My husband is an industrial engineer at a consumer products company (but not toilet paper or diapers or anything like that) and I am pretty sure that even BIG HUGE EXPENSIVE machines are made and engineered so that they can be easily modified to suit various purposes. So while it seems that they would need two sets of machines to fill differing orders, it is very likely possible that there are a few minor adjustments that would make it entirely possible to run different sizes, amounts, etc. And I believe that if the order size is large (profitable) enough, they CAN AND WILL devote time and energy to changing machines for one company. And I imagine that Wal-Mart’s order size from the TP company is probably HUGE making it profitable for the TP company to have their business.
Man, oh man, Swistle! I bet you wish you had just posted something benign, like how horrible puppies are!
My absolute favourite spin on product cheapening is on chocolate milk in tetra packs. The box is the same size (8 oz) but it now contains 6 oz of liquid. The box is labeled, “Now with 20% fewer calories!” How awesome is that?
OMG. Is it bad that I sat here laughing hysterically reading these comments? Wal-Mart reminds me of Sen. Chuck Grassley. He seems harmless enough, but then he goes and makes comments about socialist medicine and pulling the plug on Grandma to a large group of people holding racist signs. That’s Wal-Mart to me. They’re like the older relative that’s gone a bit wonky.
Wow, I’m with a lot of other people here– wasn’t aware that people love Wal-Mart this much…
The point is, you pay less at Wal-Mart for LESS PRODUCT. That is the entirety of the point. End game. Nothing to argue about.
OMG!
I had to skip over to IE just to leave you a comment because Firefox hates me.
This whole thing is cracking me up. I read this post yesterday before there were more than a dozen comments and I thought “Yes, true, very intelligent, everyone knows Walmart sucks”, and then today I read again and lo and behold, everyone does NOT know Walmart sucks! Who knew?? Seriously. I had no idea.
It pains me to think of their broken little hearts crying over Walmart’s now-tarnished reputation.
Also – I’m not even on Twitter but I went and read your tweets from yesterday and laughed my ass off. Fantastico PSAs. Thank you.
This is why I love The Swistle.
HA HA HA HA HA. These comments are HYSTERICAL. Oh, Swis. Who are these Wal-Mart lovers? Who ARE they?
I’m with, um, Your Personal Troll. You pay less at Wal-Mart for less, and very oftentimes, inferior, product. THIS IS A KNOWN FACT. Why are people getting upset about this?
Do I *really* need to talk about the benefits of local economies and such to these asswipes? Jesus, people. Yes, it’s, um, capitalism (OMG), but Wal-Mart’s practices are proven to be bad to the environment (this is easily quantifiable), bad for LOCAL economies (also easily quantifiable) and now, we see, bad for local shoppers.
…Commence the Slow Clap for this comments section.
Splint, it does not matter if Quilted Northern can “afford” it or not. If they want to distribute their product in Walmart stores, they’ll do what Walmart wants. Walmart has a long, documented history of their control over suppliers. They were frequently used as case study material back in the early 90s when I was in B-School.
Again, this is not really “breaking news”, folks.
I am loving this thread. Who knew talking about Walmart would cause such an uproar!? I remember your post about the diapers a long time ago and was astounded by it. I hate Walmart, but every now and then, I’m sucked in to see if they’ve changed. They haven’t. I don’t know how it is for everyone else, but the Walmart near me is ALWAYS dirty (as in merchandise strewn about and actual DIRT-dirty). There are 97 lanes for possible checkout but I have never seen more than 5 open at once. Also, the lotion I buy (Aveeno) I thought I was getting it cheap (just under $8) there because my grocery store carries it for maybe 50 cents more, but Target…well, it’s the same size bottle at it’s TWO DOLLARS cheaper. That’s a HELL of a price difference!
Still a newbie but still loving this thread. SO glad that so many people hate Walmart as much as I do because it seems that everyone around me (Central FL – but I’m originally from NY) LOVES them to pieces.
Ick.
Whoever said they’re “Slimy”…YES, thank-you VERY much! I wish I had thought of that word in my first post. I agree completely.
For me it’s Whole Foods for produce and a few other items and Publix/Target for everything else. Winn Dixie and Albertson’s are both gone now…Publix ran ’em out of business. I won’t even step foot in a Walmart.
It never matters to me what they do or don’t do at Walmart, because I am married to a Labor Attorney and we never, ever shop there because he is disgusted with their unfair labor practices. Nothing surprises me about Walmart, which is too bad, because I think Sam Walton was a super great businessman and seemed to have a soul and great management ideas, and his children are devils.
the difference is between old vs. new product… no shadiness… relax, people.
Oh, THANK YOU, Anonymous, for explaining it to us! Now can you also explain the 70 diapers in a box instead of 80?
I’d like to thank you, Swistle, and all of your commenters for giving me the resolve to forgo Walmart once and for all. I stopped going for a really long time, but then when I had a baby and my grocery bill exploded, I went back. No more.
Every time I’m in Walmart, I hear my Dad’s voice saying, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.” True dat, friends.
I am going to send this to all my friends. Awesome.
umm, I hate to say this, but I bought target’s brand, & it is the small one, so I chose ‘scott’ brand over target’s
oh, one more thing – I would still shop target over walmart – the one in town is so dirty, & Target’s prices are better. Only, their TP size stinks! lol
NOT JUST WALMART…
It is the same for many grocery stores, their generic “cheaper” brand are really more expensive, because sometimes there’s only 15 plastic-seal bags in their package for $2.05 versus Zip Lock/Glad Lock bags that contain 30 for $2.99. BEWARE EVERYWHERE.
Oh for the love of all that is holy. Do you tear off a run of sheets that you fold over? Or do you tear off one at a time and wipe it side to side? A narrower roll saves paper. As for companies being ‘sneaky’, they are not hiding anything. The laws provide you with information on the outside of the packaging for you to figure out what you are paying for (size of sheets, how many, how thick), the problem is, the consumerist public is too lazy to take the time to evaluate this information. Shame on you for not paying attention in math class.
Why yes! That is EXACTLY how I want to use my education! Is to have to stand and spend my time CAREFULLY EVALUATING each f***ing TOILET PAPER expenditure I make!
Alas! I am just a lazy sloth! I would prefer to spend my time doing MY OWN JOB well and ethically as well as spending enjoyable time with my family! How completely shallow of me to be ANNOYED that I have to spend time keeping an eye on this kind of trivial BULLSHIT to be sure that I am not getting ripped off! OMFG.
This makes me want to STAB.
I always thought the TP was ‘different’ but I thought I was being judgemental because I HATE HATE HATE shopping at Walmart. Thanks for giving me the justification to drive 140 miles round trip to Target…