Consumer advice center and BILD unveil: - Deceptive Packaging: Uncovering the Latest Tricks
### 📦 Tricks in Packaging That Cost You More
Some companies use trickery in their packaging to make their products appear more valuable or cheaper than they actually are. However, these tricks can result in consumers paying more than they should.
📦 The Pretend-Full Packaging Trick
In one instance, a shampoo packaging from L'Oreal Germany has been found to be misleading. The product was advertised as having a 100-milliliter content, but upon purchase, customers discovered that the packaging was only filled to two-thirds. This misrepresentation of the actual content violates the Weights and Measures Act and can deceive consumers. The German Consumer Center filed a lawsuit after their warning was ignored, and now the Federal Court of Justice has overturned a previous dismissal.
📦 The More-Less Trick
Another deceitful practice is where the content is slightly reduced, resulting in less value for the customer. Armin Valet from the Hamburg Consumer Center points out that while the increases in hidden price hikes are not as significant as last year, there are still numerous cases of these sneaky tactics. The average increase in all published hidden price increases in 2023 was 24%, while in 2024, it's currently 19%. Most often, these deceptive practices are seen in sweets and snacks. Manufacturers and dealers exploit the fact that customers are less price-sensitive in these product categories.
📦 The Bargain Trick
Sometimes, a product's sales price seems to have dropped, making it appear to be cheaper. Yet, the content has been reduced so much that the net cost per unit has actually increased.
📦 The Fruit Juice Trick
A recent cunning tactic popularized this year is the fruit juice trick. Many fruit juices have been reformulated to contain less fruit juice and more sugary water.
Example 1: Granini Drinking Enjoyment Orange is no longer a fruit juice but a nectar. It now only has 50% orange juice instead of the previous 100%. The sugar content has also increased from 8.8% to 9.2%. The price has remained the same, so you're effectively paying double for the fruit juice content you would have received before.
Example 2: Capri-Sun Orange now has 5% orange juice instead of the previous 7%. That's about two teaspoons (!) of actual orange juice in a normal 200-milliliter drinking pouch. The fruit juice content in the package has also decreased, from 12% to 10%, which means your drink is mainly made up of water and sugar.
Be mindful of these packaging tricks to ensure you're getting the best value for your money.
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