#131 Shrinkflation Part 2: The Double Dip

<p>Jason and John are back for Episode #131 of <em>I Shower After Work</em>, following up on the cost-of-living talk with <strong>Shrinkflation Part 2</strong>.</p><p>Last time, the guys covered the consumer side: groceries, gas, smaller packages, food delivery apps, convenience spending, and how people are trying to make their money stretch. This time, they move to the business side.</p><p>John brings in research on major companies like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Procter &amp; Gamble, Hershey, Tyson, Keurig Dr Pepper, and Mondelez — the parent company behind Oreos, Ritz, and Chips Ahoy. The guys talk revenue changes, profits, margins, package sizes, price-per-ounce changes, shareholder expectations, CEO compensation, and the difference between making money and squeezing customers because they can.</p><p>Jason and John get into the double-dip problem: companies giving customers less product while also charging more. They talk Gatorade bottle changes, Coke 12-pack increases, Angel Soft Mega Rolls dropping sheet counts, Doritos party-size bags not feeling very “party” anymore, and why hiding smaller quantities behind familiar packaging feels like profiteering.</p><p>They also talk CEO pay, profit sharing, shareholder dividends, corporate greed, customer loyalty, and whether companies ever care until people stop buying. Jason draws his line with Oreos. He loves them, but says he’s done until the value makes sense again.</p><p>Because it’s ISAW, the conversation finds room for side roads: old-man back pain, podcast anniversary plans, Greg the fact checker, the hunting shack, specialty Oreos, chicken-and-waffle cookies, torn dryer sheets, detergent sheets, tipping screens, overcooked steak, service industry respect, and why you should never send food back unless something is wrong.</p><p><em><strong>Question for the Showerheads:</strong></em></p><p>What product finally crossed the line for you — smaller package, higher price, worse value — and made you stop buying it?</p><p><br></p><p>00:00 Ice and Old Man Aches</p><p>00:16 Podcast Welcome and Housekeeping</p><p>03:06 Part Two Setup Shrinkflation</p><p>04:41 Research Framework and Caveats</p><p>06:03 Retail Pricing and Delivery Apps</p><p>08:47 Companies Under the Microscope</p><p>11:12 Pandemic Window and Frustration</p><p>13:43 Coca Cola Numbers and CEO Pay</p><p>23:02 Tyson Hershey and Margin Debate</p><p>25:15 Wages Housing and Being Priced In</p><p>30:27 Toilet Paper Double Dip</p><p>31:55 Dryer Sheets and Using