With the ubiquity of inflation and shrinkflation, why aren't there more boycotts? When will people say enough is enough?
With the ubiquity of inflation and shrinkflation, why aren't there more boycotts? When will people say enough is enough?
Because boycotting food means you starve.
It doesn't matter, because boycotts are generally futile since they at best only address skin level symptoms (at worst, and almost always - you're just giving your money to a different scummy capitalist), they can't cure the cancer, which is precisely why they're touted as a wonderful solution (by capitalists trying to ensure the public don't take any meaningful action against them).
Boycotts work in luxury markets with strong competition. Necessity markets with highly concentrated monopolies? No chance. Without legislation to protect consumers, they are powerless to defend themselves against the greed and exploitation of corporate interests.
In my view, the issue is that most people are not willing to change their own patterns in the slightest.
It's always somebody else's responsibility to give things exactly how they want. Personal responsibility and decisions have no play.
"Fuck Nestle. Oh yeah but I needed water, what was I supposed to do, die? I had no choice but to purchase water in plastic, there was no other store around and I don't know how to plan for my needs in advance. There is simply no way to anticipate that I could have needed water and fill a reusable bottle before I leave the house."
"The price of fast food is insane. It does not occur to me that I don't need to purchase this, and I have no inherent right to get it at a cheap price. It has also never occurred to me to go to the grocery store. Oh wait, yes it actually did occur to me, but I really don't want to cook, I want somebody else to make the food for me and for it to be cheap."
Personally, I'm done with Sony, I'm done with Nestle, I'm done with Walmart, I'm done with fast food, I'm done with Netflix. I'm done with all the places that behave unethically, and it would not be fair of me to complain about them while also patronizing them. I don't think you'll find this attitude in general population.
It's a tough pill to swallow
But 150 years ago, folks were being given swaths of land, not knowing dick about that land, just for like... Fighting in wars.
Now, they let veterans starve and kill themselves.
Just saw a sad gif of a long line at the Costco rotisserie chicken stand.
People won't say enough is enough until they're hungry.
We're close.
The most lucrative positions are experiencing enormous layoffs.
2025-2030 is going to be WWIII and the greatest class war.of all time.
I just hope shit turns out okay for 2030 and beyond. Global warming ain't making that likely.
Sorry for doomer. But we either have a Renaissance era and burn or have an enslavement era and burn. I'm not loving the odds.
What I think could actually help would be to put into law that the per-weight price needs to be displayed just as prominently as the actual total price.
The problem right now is that largely people don't notice if the packaging is the same size but the weight is slightly lower and the price is the same. If the per-weight price was shown as prominently as the actual price, people might suddenly notice the price hike more easily.
Boycott Nestlé
Do this first, boycott other companies who make a profit with child-labor and exploiting the poor. Don't buy from companies that steal people's water. Destroy the rainforest or harm animals unnecessarily.
I think this is far more important. Feel free to boycott shrinkflation on top. I try to do all of that if I get that choice and can afford it and have the knowledge available to me. But those products are also still on the shelves.
We live in an apartment. I can't grow my own food. What do you expect us to eat? Do you have any idea how hard it is to actually avoid buying products that support one of these greedy brands? It's almost everything on the shelf.
I certainly have stoped buying a lot of things. Skipping our vacation this year as well. I’m never gonna spend $8 on a box of cereal, they can get fucked on that price point. Buying more in bulk at Costco. I already didn’t use Amazon.
When 'let them eat kellogs' becomes more of a reality
You see, were old poor. Were used to it. You need new poor to really get things going
It's so effective, but you just can't expect to get everyone on board sadly. Unfortunately it seems that there will always be those that value the convenience of Amazon, for example, over pushing for real change. Look at Bud Light, I hated the reasoning behind the boycott but it showed just how powerful collective action can be against corporations.
When Wendy's surge pricing kicks in?
I do wonder this.
I buy most of my groceries from Costco and Aldi. I'm sure it saves me a lot of $$ but I've not done any price comparisons recently.
Consumers need a union. Badly.
ETA: I have noticed that prices seem higher the few times I've been at the "normal" grocery store. I think some stores hold prices down more than others so I reward the stores that work harder in my interest. Except Walmart. Fuck Walmart.
I certainly have stoped buying a lot of things. Skipping our vacation this year as well. I’m never gonna spend $8 on a box of cereal, they can get fucked on that price point. Buying more in bulk at Costco. I already didn’t use Amazon.
When will politicians start muttering about price controls?
People are just not price sensitive to most things. It's also seen as bad to be thrifty, most people think of you as being cheap or stingy. Everything is about appearances now, people are more worried about what other people think than their own interests.
Companies have also figured out that they can make more profit by raising prices and shipping less product. They have to pay less in overhead and wages and get the same amount of money.
I have shrinkflation more than inflation. I have receipes that are all screwed up
