
#131 Shrinkflation Part 2: The Double Dip
Jason and John are back for Episode #131 of I Shower After Work , following up on the cost-of-living talk with Shrinkflation Part 2 . 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. John brings in research on major companies like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Procter & 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. 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. 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. 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. Question for the Showerheads: What product finally crossed the line for you — smaller package, higher price, worse value — and made you stop buying it? 00:00 Ice and Old Man Aches 00:16 Podcast Welcome and Housekeeping 03:06 Part Two Setup Shrinkflation 04:41 Research Framework and Caveats 06:03 Retail Pricing and Delivery Apps 08:47 Companies Under the Microscope 11:12 Pandemic Window and Frustration 13:43 Coca Cola Numbers and CEO Pay 23:02 Tyson Hershey and Margin Debate 25:15 Wages Housing and Being Priced In 30:27 Toilet Paper Double Dip 31:55 Dryer Sheets and Using Less 35:24 Commercials Overuse Scam 36:48 Is It All Profiteering 37:14 Companies Don’t Care 38:34 Boycotts and Buying Power 40:10 Shrinkflation Double Dip 50:21 CEO Pay and Profits 54:23 Oreo Tangent and Weird Flavors 59:44 Prices Never Come Down 01:02:17 Profiteering vs Greed 01:06:05 Needs vs Wants Reality 01:11:08 Consumer Tips and Wrap Up Check out everything ISAW: Website: https://isawpodcast.com/ Be a Guest: https://isawpodcast.com/be-a-guest Support the Show / Buy Us a Beer: https://buymeacoffee.com/isaw Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isawpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/isawpodcast/ Threads: @isawpodcast Call or text the show: 507-607-4729 Your Work Keeps the World Working. #IShowerAfterWork #ISAWPodcast #Shrinkflation #Inflation #CostOfLiving #CorporateGreed #Profiteering #BlueCollarPodcast #TradesPodcast #SkilledTrades #ElectricianPodcast #ConstructionLife #FoodPrices #GroceryPrices #CEOCompensation #ConsumerPower #Oreos #Doritos #CocaCola #PepsiCo #ProcterAndGamble #TysonFoods #TradeLife #YourWorkKeepsTheWorldWorking • BLS — How shrinkflation affects inflation measurements https://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-12/measuring-shrinkflation-and-its-impact-on-inflation.htm • FRED — Construction-worker average hourly earnings https://fred.stlouisfed.org/data/CES2000000003 • Mouse Print — Documented shrinkflation examples https://www.mouseprint.org/2024/04/15/here-we-shrink-again-spring-2024/ • P&G — 2025 financial highlights https://us.pg.com/annualreport2025/financial-highlights/



