HISTORICAL FACTS: Misleading packaging design examples | History Defined

Johnson explained to Bored Panda how deceptive product packaging can have negative repercussions on a company's reputation in the long term.

"Deceptive product packaging might boost short-term profits, but it’s a risky game that can undermine consumer trust—the bedrock of long-term brand loyalty. When customers feel misled, it sparks a sense of betrayal, which can ripple through word-of-mouth and online reviews, tarnishing a brand's reputation," he said.

He stressed the fact that the fallout isn't just emotional, it's also financial. "The cost of regaining trust often outweighs any initial savings, as brands must invest heavily in rebranding or damage control."

We were curious about where the line between frugality and cheapness lies with regard to business. According to Johnson, this line is defined by transparency.

"Frugality is about smart, cost-effective decisions that don’t compromise value or honesty, while cheapness signals cutting corners at the customer’s expense. The best brands understand that consumers value authenticity as much as affordability, and a short-term win through deception risks a long-term loss that no amount of clever marketing can undo," the marketing psychology expert said.

Bored Panda was also interested in the things that the customers themselves can do to push back against deceptive practices like shrinkflation and skimpflation. Johnson noted that we aren't as powerless as we might seem.

"Shrinkflation and skimpflation—when products shrink or their quality diminishes without a corresponding drop in price—can feel frustrating, but consumers hold more power than they might realize. One of the best ways to push back is to vote with your wallet. Opt for brands that maintain transparency and value, even if it means exploring lesser-known or store-brand alternatives," he said.

"Social media is another powerful tool; calling out misleading practices can create public pressure on brands to be more accountable. Consumer advocacy groups and platforms like Consumer Reports also offer ways to amplify concerns and demand change collectively. Additionally, being a vigilant shopper—reading labels, comparing unit prices, and keeping tabs on subtle changes—can help you make informed decisions," Johnson told Bored Panda.

"When consumers collectively prioritize value and transparency, they nudge the market toward fairer practices. Brands that respect their customers tend to win in the long run."

To be completely blunt, if you constantly lie to your loyal customer base, you’ll push them away. Nobody enjoys feeling like they’re being taken advantage of. And as a consumer, if you’re willing to do a bit of research, there are always better, more consumer-friendly alternatives for you to find.

Besides, it’s a very human feeling to want to get back at a person or organization that constantly lies to everyone. For example, someone might start posting about those deceptive practices on social media, and it can go viral, damaging the business’s reputation and—perhaps more importantly—profit margins.

The World Economic Forum explains that shrinkflation is the phenomenon where consumer products get smaller in size, but their price doesn’t change accordingly. A similar phenomenon is so-called skimpflation, where companies reduce the quality of their product or service while keeping the price the same.

When it comes to shrinkflation and skimpflation, you’re paying the same amount of money as before for less quantity or quality, respectively. Or, to flip that around, you end up paying more than before per measure of quantity or quality. In short, your purchasing power and overall satisfaction go down.

With so many sales happening during every holiday season, companies can rack up a massive profit if they suddenly decide to use up fewer resources to put out more products. It’s an ever-present temptation to go beyond the impact of inflation.

CNN reports that American consumers spent a jaw-dropping $13.3 billion on Cyber Monday in 2024, a spike of 7.3% compared to a year ago. It’s hard to resist ‘last call’ deals. Especially if you’re still looking for holiday gifts for your loved ones, decide to treat yourself, or you realize that you can save a ton of money on big purchases you would’ve made in the near future anyway.

As per Adobe Analytics, the total amount spent in the US by consumers this year during the 5-day holiday stretch from Thanksgiving reached a whopping $41.1 billion.

“While Cyber Monday remained the season’s and year’s biggest online shopping day, year-over-year growth was stronger on both Thanksgiving and Black Friday,” says Adobe Digital Insights lead analyst Vivek Pandya.

According to Adobe, holiday spending in the US for November 1 through December 31 is likely to go above $240 billion, a rise of 8.4% compared to 2023.

According to LendingTree, 71% of Americans have noticed at least one incident of shrinkflation in the past year, while 57% said they’ve experienced multiple incidents. As per LendingTree’s analysis of 98 commonly used consumer products, a third have shrunk. “Household paper products—toilet paper and paper towels—saw the highest rate of change via fewer sheets per roll.”

Meanwhile, “seven of the 16 (or 43.8%) breakfast items analyzed have been downsized since 2019 or 2020. Family-size Frosted Flakes dropped 9.6% from 24.0 ounces to 21.7, leading to a 40.0% price increase per ounce. Of the 13 candy items, five (38.5%) changed size. Meanwhile, six of 22 (27.3%) snacks analyzed underwent size reductions.”

As it turns out, the price isn’t the only important thing. “Consumers don’t just look at prices, and they prefer price bumps over shrinking products. 89% of Americans always or sometimes compare brands’ product sizes or quantities when shopping. Many Americans would prefer that companies raise prices (38%) rather than reduce sizes (28%).”

Shrinkflation and skimpflation hurt your wallet, the quality of your life, your potential savings, and, in the long run, can affect your lifestyle, because you can’t afford what you used to and need to cut back.

That’s on top of the sinking feeling that your hard-earned wage isn’t as valuable as it was in the past. You then have a few options. First of all, you can look for cheaper alternatives, potentially sacrificing some product quality in the process.

Sure, there are cheaper chocolates available if your favorite brand has embraced shrinkflation. However, the alternatives might taste different or use cheaper ingredients. It’s not the end of the world, but it’s not quite what you’re looking for. Hardly anyone enjoys making lifestyle changes when they don’t have to. It feels nice to have some basic comforts you can rely on in your life.

Another thing to consider is that not every alternative to your fave products is going to be available in your local shops. You might need to walk or drive further or even rely on deliveries. This can eat into your time due to a longer commute, or your cash due to more fuel use or added delivery costs.

You can also decide to focus on bringing home more money so that you can afford the same standard of living you got used to. This might mean talking to your boss about that overdue raise or promotion, applying to new jobs at your company or other businesses, or working longer hours for overtime.

Or you might even feel pressured to pick up a side hustle or two just to maintain your and your family’s lifestyle and reputation in your local community. Public perception and the desire to be admired and respected are phenomenal sources of anxiety if you let them run wild.

Which of these examples of misleading designs made your blood boil? Have you noticed any examples of shrinkflation in your local shops over the past few years? What is the most recent case of deceptive product packaging you’ve stumbled across?

Would you rather companies raise prices or reduce the amount (or quality) of the products and services you get? Let us know in the comments!