Gotchas or Inflation by Deflation
Last week, I ordered four boxes of checks. Each box contained 120 checks. I remember when a box was 200 checks. I received 150 checks on my previous order a year and half ago. The mailing rate for a letter is 49¢ if you use a stamp but only 48¢ if a meter. The Postal Service considers self-printed stamps to be a meter but the self-service machines in the post office print 49¢ stamps and not 48¢ stamps for the standard letter rate. The little tin can of sardines I buy says that it has more than 2 portions and the label on a four pack of blueberry donuts says it has 7.5 servings. The “bargain” rate for many new magazine subscriptions includes, in fine print, a delivery charge of $4.00 or some similar extra charge. Prices are being increased by the size being decreased or disguised extra charges.
Everywhere I turn, there is a “Gotcha.”
There is more.
Air flight arrival times do not include the time on the ground waiting to get to the gate or time it takes to get off the plane. EPA mileage ratings are a myth; business office square footage includes the hallways, lobby areas and rest rooms obscuring the usable space and the grand prize for the lottery is before discounting for a cash payout. Some professionals have “hours” that are only 45 minutes. A two-hour movie made for televisionis less than an hour and half running time without the commercials.
My tooth paste, soap, paper towels, orange juice, bottled water sizes look the same but the contents are shrinking. Many pre wrapped, bulk “bargain” packages cost more per unit than if separately purchased.
At least a dozen roses is still 12 and many bagel places still give 13 bagels when you order a dozen!
If prices stay the same and size is reduced, we are hit with stealth inflation on many essentials.
All I can say is we have to become more careful consumers, make sure we are getting what we pay for and have a better understanding ofour costs.
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