Grocery store ripoff, maybe.

So, in an effort to stretch the dollar at the grocery store, my wife and I check out the Managers Special in the meat dept every time we go in. Yesterday they were putting 5lb "family" packs of ground beef in there, so I grabbed 2 of them.

After getting home I decided to split the "10lbs" of ground beef into 5 2lb freezer packs, something we've done in the past. Well, start on package one. pull down the food scale, put 2lbs on it, put it in the vacuum sealer bag, next 2lbs, repeat. Last 1 lb, but it's not 1 lb, it's just shy of 13 oz (12.5ish, not a digital scale). hmm, i think maybe the 5 lbs includes the packaging, which it SHOULD NOT. So I put the packaging on the scale (complete with the little absorbent pad they put under to catch the blood). Maybe just a tad over an ounce.

So now I think, I'll just weigh the next one without opening, nope, my scale stops at 4lbs

So I repeat the process, 2lbs and 2lbs as close as I can get them. Last 1lb i left in the container, this should be 1lb spot on, nope 14oz exactly.

So now I'm what 4.5oz short over 10 lbs of meat? While not a lot, while trying to stretch every dollar it adds up.

Not sure if a complaint to the store manager will do any good or not. Been wanting a digital scale for the kitchen, may get one and start weighing all my meat. Or find a better source of it.

 

Nothing new, except you just cannot see the butcher's thumb on the scale.

Recently noticed a package of cookies I normally purchase seemed a bit light. Since I open this item up each time and place the prepacked cookies into airtight jars I saw that each stack was now missing one cookie!

Note this is one cookie from each roll of 3.

Normally the stack is 8, now seven. What was a 4 day supply in each jar, 2 cookies a day, is now a 3.5 day supply. You do the match. Not theft but just a bummer.

The cookies are hydroscopic, the reason I place them in jars to preserve their texture and taste.

A dog here needs medicine each morning so the cookies, soaked in coffee, and a portion of the medicated cookie is shared with the dog each day, otherwise I doubt I would have noticed.

Price for package is the same but the 12%(M0rL) loss just marks up the product each time you purchase.

Yet another reason to check all supplies as you rotate your preps. Don't be caught short!

 

Sorry, as much as I hate any regulation control authority, I'd file a complaint with the state weights and measures board. After all that is what we pay some of our taxes for.

I had a like problem with finding brown hamburger meat inside "Fresh Packed" store meat. Of course this means they had old meat and wrapped it with fresh red meat.

Dwelled on it a bit and then called the state health department.

Fixed!

YMMV

 

I can't count the number of times I'd open up a pack of ground beef the same day I bought it and find the only thing pink was the outer layer. Never thought about calling a regulatory agency or even the manager. Just took my $$ to someone I trust not to gyp me.

 

There is also the possibility that you own scale is off just a bit, and you may have just a bit extra in each package. This would ALSO account for the shortage.....

 

yup , thought about that. It's been spot on for years, though it could have been off. Which is why I may just get a new scale and verify purchases for a while.

On a package of meat the 5lbs should be 5lbs. I know on other good that are sold by "weight" and the package doesn't get filled up.

 

@ditch witch yup, they were with the styrofoam packaging when i weighed it.

 

The packages were for the 5 lbs, not on a per pound basis, labeled as 5 lbs. So maybe there is some "leeway" on the weight, +/- x% that is acceptable.

 

LOL yeah I deleted that two seconds after I posted it, remembered you just said you weighed it with the diaper. You're too quick for me!

 

Scales, if set up properly, are zeroed with the diaper and container as part of the zero function.

But even 3oz of addded water, if that is the case, is a bit much.

Remember, most sections of a retail operation, be it butcher, deli etc. are watched for their abilty to make money.

 

@BTPost , funny you mention that. The city of Memphis just quit checking the gas pumps and will instead let the state examiner do it. The difference between the 2? The city inspector would check each pump at the station before putting the little sticker on it. The state inspector will check ONE pump the certify all pumps.
It was also reported that 1 in 5 gas pumps failed to dispense the proper amount during the city's inspection.

 

Have you seen the 12oz. 'Pound' of bacon at your local store yet?
the bacon you normally buy. Packaging is of the same physical size, but it's marked 12 oz .. and you pay about the same as you did before. You just got a 25% less for the same price. Grocers trick that has been sneaking up on us for years.

 

Wait until the meat packer uses Carbon Monoxide to fill the sealed package with. The meat can spoil and still look nice and fresh until you open it and smell the spoilage. Nom Nom Nom.