News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Mars Bar from 1991 found – and it's 20g bigger than today's by jagraff on Monday August 10, 2026 @05:09PM (#49249773)
I suspect shrinkflation happens because, when prices go up, consumers will prefer to buy a similarly priced (but smaller) candy bar rather than a higher priced, same size bar; that is, consumers prefer shrinkflation to price inflation, even if they are the same rise in price-per-gram
Re:Mars Bar from 1991 found – and it's 20g bigger than today's by gaze on Monday August 10, 2026 @05:15PM (#49249858)
Why not simultaneously shrink at the rate the market will bear AND increase the price to what the market will bear AND decrease the cocoa to what the market will bear
Re:Mars Bar from 1991 found – and it's 20g bigger than today's by jonplackett on Monday August 10, 2026 @07:24PM (#49251246)
People are missing the commentary that this is exactly what happened…
Re:Mars Bar from 1991 found – and it's 20g bigger than today's by SV_BubbleTime on Monday August 10, 2026 @07:07PM (#49251120)
Well… for one, your competitors would have an instant marketable advantage over you.

What “the market will bear” isn’t what you think it is. Mars and Hersey and … idk is there another candy company?… don’t meet in a smoke filled room figuring how best to make you poor and fat. “What the market will bear” in a free market much more means what you can offer as a value before you introduce a opportunity more competition or an alternative to your product.

If your industry does meet in a smoke filled room, that is neither capitalism nor a free market.

I suggest everyone read Sowell’s Basic Economics at least once as an adult.

Re:Mars Bar from 1991 found – and it's 20g bigger than today's by anon48293 on Wednesday August 12, 2026 @01:37AM (#49268177)
> Mars and Hersey and … idk is there another candy company?… don’t meet in a smoke filled room figuring how best to make you poor and fat.

That’s exactly what they do.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/mars-nestle-hershey-accus...

> If your industry does meet in a smoke filled room, that is neither capitalism nor a free market.

Yes it is, which is why you need regulation and law enforcement.

Re:Mars Bar from 1991 found – and it's 20g bigger than today's by gaze on Wednesday August 12, 2026 @09:08PM (#49280627)
Who said anything about trying to make anyone poor and/or fat? I’m saying they try to maximize profits. Why does the room have to have smoke in it? They meet in a room — and now you’re doing “no true Scotsman”
Re:Mars Bar from 1991 found – and it's 20g bigger than today's by elil17 on Tuesday August 11, 2026 @05:16AM (#49255302)
Prefer is a strong word. People are more likely to be fooled by shrinkflation than inflation. If they noticed they'd be just as unhappy.