Files

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Barcode Betty 52e89ec236 Fix content issues flagged by CEO and QA (PR #42 review)

Critical fixes:
- stores.md: Correct supported retailers to Meijer, Kroger, Target.
  Remove Safeway (never scoped). Replace named Coming Soon list with
  generic demand-based evaluation language.
- privacy.md: Replace all OAuth/API claims with accurate language
  describing read-only headless browser access to loyalty portals.
- about.md: Remove "price gouging on our roadmap" claim.
  Clarify USDA FoodData Central is reference data only, not a source
  of price data.
- blog/price-gouging-vs-shrinkflation.md: Remove roadmap claim.
  Remove implication that price gouging detection is coming.
- methodology.md: Fix cereal example math — 16.2% → 16.1%.
  Use raw values per the stated formula. Clarify USDA FoodData
  Central role for package sizing baselines only.
- how-it-works.md: Correct retailers. Remove "(yet)" from receipt
  claim. Clarify USDA FoodData Central is reference data.

Important fixes:
- press-kit.md: Correct supported stores. Remove USDA FoodData Central
  from dollar-cost attribution — reattribute to CartSnitch analysis of
  manufacturer packaging data.
- app-store-listing.md: Remove "thousands of products" claims
  (pre-launch beta, quantity unverified).
- social/launch-day-posts.md: Remove "thousands of products" claim.
  Correct retailer list.

Co-Authored-By: Paperclip <noreply@paperclip.ing>

2026-03-28 03:28:42 +00:00

3.3 KiB

Raw Blame History

Price Gouging vs Shrinkflation: What's the Difference?

You hear both terms used when grocery prices feel unfair. But they are not the same thing — and understanding the difference helps you know what to do about each one.

What Is Price Gouging?

Price gouging is when retailers or sellers dramatically raise prices during a crisis, shortage, or period of high demand. It is most commonly associated with:

Hurricanes and natural disasters (gas, water, generators)
Supply chain disruptions
Public health emergencies

Example: A hardware store raising generator prices from $500 to $1,500 the day before a hurricane makes landfall.

Price gouging is illegal in many states during declared emergencies. Most states have consumer protection laws that prohibit excessive price increases when a state of emergency has been declared.

What Is Shrinkflation?

Shrinkflation is when manufacturers reduce the size or quantity of a product while keeping the price the same — or raising it. The per-unit cost increases without the packaging change being obvious at first glance.

Example: A cereal brand reducing its box from 18 oz to 15.5 oz while keeping the price at $4.99. The shelf price did not change. The unit price went up 16%.

Shrinkflation is legal in the US. Manufacturers are required to disclose net weight, but they do not need to announce when a product gets smaller.

Key Differences

	Price Gouging	Shrinkflation
Who does it	Retailers and sellers	Manufacturers
When it happens	Crises, shortages, emergencies	Continuously, as a standard practice
How it works	Raising prices sharply	Reducing product size
Legal status	Illegal during declared emergencies in most states	Legal year-round
Consumer response	Report to state attorney general	Track unit prices; switch products
Detection	Obvious price increases	Requires unit price calculation

How CartSnitch Handles Both

CartSnitch tracks shrinkflation automatically. We monitor unit prices across thousands of products and alert you when a product you buy regularly gets smaller or more expensive.

Price gouging is different. CartSnitch does not currently detect price gouging — it requires monitoring retail prices during specific time periods and comparing against pre-crisis baselines, which is outside our current scope.

If you encounter what you believe is price gouging:

Document the prices — take screenshots
Report it — contact your state attorney general's office
Shop elsewhere — if possible

Can Both Happen at Once?

Yes. A product could experience shrinkflation (getting smaller over time) AND be subject to price gouging during an emergency. For example:

A bottle of water that shrank from 24 oz to 16 oz over five years (shrinkflation)
The same product being sold for triple its normal price during a flood emergency (price gouging)

Both are harmful to consumers. Only one is currently illegal.

The Common Ground

Both price gouging and shrinkflation share a common feature: they exploit the fact that most consumers don't have access to real-time price data.

CartSnitch was built to give that data to consumers. For shrinkflation today — and honest, transparent grocery pricing.

3.3 KiB Raw Blame History