Hello All!

There has been mention before of the peculiar quantities in which things
are sold. I came across another one today at Trader Joes'. Their quite
good raspberry preserve (raspberry is the first ingredient but it does
contain corn syrup and pectin) contains 17.5 oz or 496g. Why they can't
supply 500g escapes me!

--


James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

James Silverton wrote:
>
> Hello All!
>
> There has been mention before of the peculiar quantities in which things
> are sold. I came across another one today at Trader Joes'. Their quite
> good raspberry preserve (raspberry is the first ingredient but it does
> contain corn syrup and pectin) contains 17.5 oz or 496g. Why they can't
> supply 500g escapes me!
>
> --
>
> James Silverton
> Potomac, Maryland
>
> E-mail, with obvious alterations:
> not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

I figure it's a way to stretch the bottom line to increase profit
margin(s)? Another example of shrinking quantities in larger packaging
whilst the MSRP (mfg. suggested retail price) remains the same or in
fact increases. IOW, just another way to make a buck! But, that's the
name of the game, right?

Sky

--
Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer!
Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice

Sky wrote on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 10:59:05 -0500:

> James Silverton wrote:
>>
>> Hello All!
>>
>> There has been mention before of the peculiar quantities in
>> which things are sold. I came across another one today at
>> Trader Joes'. Their quite good raspberry preserve (raspberry
>> is the first ingredient but it does contain corn syrup and
>> pectin) contains 17.5 oz or 496g. Why they can't supply 500g
>> escapes me!
>>
>> --
>>
>> James Silverton
>> Potomac, Maryland
>>
>> E-mail, with obvious alterations:
>> not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

> I figure it's a way to stretch the bottom line to increase
> profit margin(s)? Another example of shrinking quantities in
> larger packaging whilst the MSRP (mfg. suggested retail price)
> remains the same or in fact increases. IOW, just another way
> to make a buck! But, that's the name of the game, right?

It's just not what I associate with TJ's ;-)
--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

James Silverton wrote:
> Sky wrote on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 10:59:05 -0500:
>
>> James Silverton wrote:
>>>
>>> Hello All!
>>>
>>> There has been mention before of the peculiar quantities in
>>> which things are sold. I came across another one today at
>>> Trader Joes'. Their quite good raspberry preserve (raspberry is the
>>> first ingredient but it does contain corn syrup and
>>> pectin) contains 17.5 oz or 496g. Why they can't supply 500g escapes me!
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> James Silverton
>>> Potomac, Maryland
>>>
>>> E-mail, with obvious alterations:
>>> not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not
>
>> I figure it's a way to stretch the bottom line to increase
>> profit margin(s)? Another example of shrinking quantities in larger
>> packaging whilst the MSRP (mfg. suggested retail price)
>> remains the same or in fact increases. IOW, just another way to make
>> a buck! But, that's the name of the game, right?
>
> It's just not what I associate with TJ's ;-)
Look at commodities, used to buy sugar in five lb bags, now they're four
lbs. Coffee was in 16-ounce bags, now it's 12-ounce. Any number of food
items are in smaller containers but cost more. I guess next they will be
selling rice by the grain and corn by the kernel.

On Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:29:32 GMT, "James Silverton"
> wrote:

> Sky wrote on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 10:59:05 -0500:
>
>> James Silverton wrote:
>>>
>>> Hello All!
>>>
>>> There has been mention before of the peculiar quantities in
>>> which things are sold. I came across another one today at
>>> Trader Joes'. Their quite good raspberry preserve (raspberry
>>> is the first ingredient but it does contain corn syrup and
>>> pectin) contains 17.5 oz or 496g. Why they can't supply 500g
>>> escapes me!
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> James Silverton
>>> Potomac, Maryland
>>>
>>> E-mail, with obvious alterations:
>>> not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not
>
>> I figure it's a way to stretch the bottom line to increase
>> profit margin(s)? Another example of shrinking quantities in
>> larger packaging whilst the MSRP (mfg. suggested retail price)
>> remains the same or in fact increases. IOW, just another way
>> to make a buck! But, that's the name of the game, right?
>
>It's just not what I associate with TJ's ;-)

You don't associate profit margins with TJ's??? They're the best at
it.

Lou

Lou wrote on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:10:44 -0500:

>> Sky wrote on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 10:59:05 -0500:
>>
>>> James Silverton wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Hello All!
>>>>
>>>> There has been mention before of the peculiar quantities in
>>>> which things are sold. I came across another one today at
>>>> Trader Joes'. Their quite good raspberry preserve
>>>> (raspberry is the first ingredient but it does contain corn
>>>> syrup and pectin) contains 17.5 oz or 496g. Why they can't
>>>> supply 500g escapes me!
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>>
>>>> James Silverton
>>>> Potomac, Maryland
>>>>
>>>> E-mail, with obvious alterations:
>>>> not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not
>>
>>> I figure it's a way to stretch the bottom line to increase
>>> profit margin(s)? Another example of shrinking quantities
>>> in larger packaging whilst the MSRP (mfg. suggested retail
>>> price) remains the same or in fact increases. IOW, just
>>> another way to make a buck! But, that's the name of the
>>> game, right?
>>
>> It's just not what I associate with TJ's ;-)

> You don't associate profit margins with TJ's??? They're the
> best at it.

No, it's this typing of cheese-paring that I don't associate with TJ's.
They don't normally reach the level of the world champions: Kelloggs!
TJ's usually has very competitive prices like for Keiller's marmalade at
least a dollar below the local supermarkets. Admittedly, the preserve
size is probably what the contracted manufacturer supplies.

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

On Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:25:59 GMT, "James Silverton"
> wrote:

>but it does
>contain corn syrup and pectin) contains 17.5 oz or 496g. Why they can't
>supply 500g escapes me!

It's all marketing. They KNEW you would miss the 4 grams and that
would force you to buy another container so your recipe wouldn't
become altered.

In article <bIQ5k.43266$Xu2.16151@trnddc04>,
"James Silverton" > wrote:

> Hello All!
>
> There has been mention before of the peculiar quantities in which things
> are sold. I came across another one today at Trader Joes'. Their quite
> good raspberry preserve (raspberry is the first ingredient but it does
> contain corn syrup and pectin) contains 17.5 oz or 496g. Why they can't
> supply 500g escapes me!

I'd guess that it is 500 grams and they rounded to 17.5 ounces so
non-metric people would have a clue, and the math would work out for the
clever ones.

leo

Leonard Blaisdell wrote:
>
> I'd guess that it is 500 grams and they rounded to 17.5 ounces so
> non-metric people would have a clue, and the math would work out
> for the clever ones.

I'd guess the opposite -- that the target is 17.5 oz,
and 496 grams is what they calculated from converting
to metric.

In article >,
Mark Thorson > wrote:

> I'd guess the opposite -- that the target is 17.5 oz,
> and 496 grams is what they calculated from converting
> to metric.

I'd guess that a half kilo is more standard than 17.5 ounces around the
world. But what do I know? People here post recipes that call for 500
grams. I don't see too many for 17.5 ounces. Just my two cents.

leo

Leonard Blaisdell wrote:
>
> In article >,
> Mark Thorson > wrote:
>
> > I'd guess the opposite -- that the target is 17.5 oz,
> > and 496 grams is what they calculated from converting
> > to metric.
>
> I'd guess that a half kilo is more standard than 17.5 ounces around the
> world. But what do I know? People here post recipes that call for 500
> grams. I don't see too many for 17.5 ounces. Just my two cents.

I've got a container of Morton Lite Salt which
is 11 oz (311 g). A can of Swanson Chicken Broth
is 14 oz (396 g). A can of Trader Joe's Whole
Kernel Corn is 8 oz (227 g) drained weight,
15.25 oz (432 g) net weight.

In the U.S., it seems to be standard practice
to specify the product in ounces, and the grams
are just whatever falls out when you do the
conversion.

"James Silverton" > wrote in message
news:bIQ5k.43266$Xu2.16151@trnddc04...
> Hello All!
>
> There has been mention before of the peculiar quantities in which things
> are sold. I came across another one today at Trader Joes'. Their quite
> good raspberry preserve (raspberry is the first ingredient but it does
> contain corn syrup and pectin) contains 17.5 oz or 496g. Why they can't
> supply 500g escapes me!
>
> --

But then it would be 17.63 ounces and you'd wonder why then can't make it
17.5 or 18. .
It is also possible that other 4 grams won't fit in the jar and allow for
expansion when processing.

"George Shirley" > wrote in message
> Look at commodities, used to buy sugar in five lb bags, now they're four
> lbs.

I'm curious where you live. Maybe it is a regional thing as I've never seen
the 4 pound bags of sugar many of you talk about. I still buy 5 or 10 pound
bags.

On Tue 17 Jun 2008 07:41:37p, Edwin Pawlowski told us...

>
> "George Shirley" > wrote in message
>> Look at commodities, used to buy sugar in five lb bags, now they're
>> four lbs.
>
> I'm curious where you live. Maybe it is a regional thing as I've never
> seen the 4 pound bags of sugar many of you talk about. I still buy 5 or
> 10 pound bags.

Both 4 and 5 pound bags, as well as 10 pound bags, are available in the
Phoenix area. It depends largely on the brand you buy. IIRC, most of the
4 pound bags are beet sugar, the other cane sugar.


--
Wayne Boatwright
-------------------------------------------
Tuesday, 06(VI)/17(XVII)/08(MMVIII)
-------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
Meekness is uncommon patience in
planning a worthwhile revenge.
-------------------------------------------

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
> "George Shirley" > wrote in message
>> Look at commodities, used to buy sugar in five lb bags, now they're four
>> lbs.
>
> I'm curious where you live. Maybe it is a regional thing as I've never seen
> the 4 pound bags of sugar many of you talk about. I still buy 5 or 10 pound
> bags.
>
>


In our area (Denver) th name brands still come in 5 and 10 pound bags,
but some house brands are in 2 or 4 pound bags. I recall the reduction
to four pounds happening back maybe 10 years ago when the price of sugar
suddenly soared. It has come back down but is rising again, like
everything else.

gloria p

On Jun 17, 10:39*pm, "Edwin Pawlowski" > wrote:
> "James Silverton" > wrote in message
>
> news:bIQ5k.43266$Xu2.16151@trnddc04...
>
> > Hello All!
>
> > There has been mention before of the peculiar quantities in which things
> > are sold. I came across another one today at Trader Joes'. Their quite
> > good raspberry preserve (raspberry is the first ingredient but it does
> > contain corn syrup and pectin) contains 17.5 oz or 496g. Why they can't
> > supply 500g escapes me!
>
> > --
>
> But then it would be 17.63 ounces and you'd wonder why then can't make it
> 17.5 or 18. .
> It is also possible that other 4 grams won't fit in the jar and allow for
> expansion when processing.

I wonder what the error on packing the jar is. Maybe they aim for 500
grams, but
it's plus-or-minus 4 grams, so they say 496.

Cindy Hamilton

On Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:10:44 -0500, Lou Decruss >
wrote:

>On Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:29:32 GMT, "James Silverton"
> wrote:
>
>> Sky wrote on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 10:59:05 -0500:
>>
>>> James Silverton wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Hello All!
>>>>
>>>> There has been mention before of the peculiar quantities in
>>>> which things are sold. I came across another one today at
>>>> Trader Joes'. Their quite good raspberry preserve (raspberry
>>>> is the first ingredient but it does contain corn syrup and
>>>> pectin) contains 17.5 oz or 496g. Why they can't supply 500g
>>>> escapes me!
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>>
>>>> James Silverton
>>>> Potomac, Maryland
>>>>
>>>> E-mail, with obvious alterations:
>>>> not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not
>>
>>> I figure it's a way to stretch the bottom line to increase
>>> profit margin(s)? Another example of shrinking quantities in
>>> larger packaging whilst the MSRP (mfg. suggested retail price)
>>> remains the same or in fact increases. IOW, just another way
>>> to make a buck! But, that's the name of the game, right?
>>
>>It's just not what I associate with TJ's ;-)
>
>You don't associate profit margins with TJ's??? They're the best at
>it.
>
>Lou

but shorting you four grams out of five hundred doesn't exactly seem
like price-gouging.

your pal,
blake

On Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:51:56 GMT, blake murphy
> wrote:

>>>It's just not what I associate with TJ's ;-)
>>
>>You don't associate profit margins with TJ's??? They're the best at
>>it.
>>
>>Lou
>
>but shorting you four grams out of five hundred doesn't exactly seem
>like price-gouging.

Depends on what the four grams were. Could be a couple hundred bucks.

Lou

On Wed 18 Jun 2008 08:33:24a, Lou Decruss told us...

> On Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:51:56 GMT, blake murphy
> > wrote:
>
>>>>It's just not what I associate with TJ's ;-)
>>>
>>>You don't associate profit margins with TJ's??? They're the best at
>>>it.
>>>
>>>Lou
>>
>>but shorting you four grams out of five hundred doesn't exactly seem
>>like price-gouging.
>
> Depends on what the four grams were. Could be a couple hundred bucks.
>
> Lou
>

Yep, could have been 4 grams of edible gold leaf.

--
Wayne Boatwright
-------------------------------------------
Wednesday, 06(VI)/18(XVIII)/08(MMVIII)
-------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
Life is fragile, handle with prayer.
-------------------------------------------

"Gloria P" > wrote in message
. ..
> Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
>> "George Shirley" > wrote in message
>>> Look at commodities, used to buy sugar in five lb bags, now they're four
>>> lbs.
>>
>> I'm curious where you live. Maybe it is a regional thing as I've never
>> seen the 4 pound bags of sugar many of you talk about. I still buy 5 or
>> 10 pound bags.
>
>
> In our area (Denver) th name brands still come in 5 and 10 pound bags, but
> some house brands are in 2 or 4 pound bags. I recall the reduction to
> four pounds happening back maybe 10 years ago when the price of sugar
> suddenly soared. It has come back down but is rising again, like
> everything else.
>
My stepson brought home a 2 lb. box of sugar when he moved back from college
a few weeks ago. It's packaged in a container that resembles a 1/2 gallon
milk carton. I've used it a few times and like the convenience of the
packaging. Easy to pour from and handle. I always seem to spill a little
sugar when taking from a 5 lb. bag.

Jon