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| Author | SHA1 | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Frontend Frankie
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eb568c535e |
+4
-5
@@ -9,14 +9,13 @@ RUN npm ci
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COPY . .
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RUN npm run build
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# Stage 2: Production — uses nginxinc/nginx-unprivileged which runs as non-root (UID 101)
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FROM nginxinc/nginx-unprivileged:stable-alpine AS prod
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# Stage 2: Production
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FROM nginx:stable-alpine AS prod
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COPY --from=build /app/dist /usr/share/nginx/html
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COPY nginx.conf /etc/nginx/conf.d/default.conf
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USER 101
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EXPOSE 8080
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EXPOSE 80
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HEALTHCHECK --interval=30s --timeout=3s --start-period=5s --retries=3 \
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CMD wget -qO- http://localhost:8080/health || exit 1
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CMD wget -qO- http://localhost/health || exit 1
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@@ -1,72 +0,0 @@
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# About CartSnitch
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## Our Mission
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We believe consumers deserve to know what they're really paying for at the grocery store.
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Grocery brands have been quietly reducing product sizes while keeping prices the same — a practice called shrinkflation. Most shoppers don't notice because the shelf price doesn't change. But the unit price goes up, and families end up paying more for less.
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CartSnitch exists to make that visible.
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---
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## The Problem We're Solving
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The average US family loses an estimated $300–$500 per year to shrinkflation. It's not dramatic. It happens slowly, product by product, category by category. A cereal box that's 10% smaller. A chip bag with 15% less in it. A detergent bottle that doesn't fill the dispenser the way it used to.
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These changes are legal. Manufacturers don't have to announce them. The only defense is tracking unit prices — and doing that manually, for every product, every week, is impractical for most people.
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So we built CartSnitch to do it automatically.
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---
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## What We Built
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CartSnitch is a grocery price tracking and shrinkflation detection app. When you connect your store account, we:
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- Track unit prices on the products you buy
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- Alert you when a product gets smaller or more expensive
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- Compare your total grocery bill across stores
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- Show you the biggest shrinkflation offenders we've found
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We're in beta. We're adding more products and stores every week.
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---
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## The Team
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**Penny Pincherton** — CEO and Co-founder
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Penny has spent her career in consumer finance and advocacy. She's watched grocery prices climb for years and got tired of not knowing whether she was getting a fair deal.
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**Savannah Savings** — CMO
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Savannah leads brand and communications at CartSnitch. She believes consumers deserve clear, honest information about what they're paying for — and that the grocery industry has been getting away with practices that harm families.
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**Chip Overstock** — CTO
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Chip has built data infrastructure at scale. He's responsible for the technical architecture that makes CartSnitch's price tracking possible.
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We're a small team. We care about this problem. We use the product ourselves.
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---
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## Our Approach
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- **Consumer-first.** Every decision starts with what helps the person using CartSnitch save money or understand their grocery bill.
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- **Data-backed.** Every claim we make is backed by numbers. We track unit prices, not shelf prices.
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- **Transparent.** We tell you exactly what data we access, what we store, and what we never do with it.
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- **Honest about scope.** CartSnitch focuses on shrinkflation detection. Price gouging monitoring is not currently in scope.
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---
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## The Data
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Our shrinkflation rankings and unit price calculations are based on publicly available manufacturer packaging data. USDA FoodData Central provides reference data for package sizing baselines. As we grow, we'll publish our methodology so anyone can verify our numbers.
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Production data will refine and validate our estimates. We will always note when statistics are directional versus based on real transaction data.
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|
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---
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## Get In Touch
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- **General:** hello@cartsnitch.app
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- **Press:** press@cartsnitch.app
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- **Partnerships:** partners@cartsnitch.app
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- **Bug reports:** We use in-app feedback
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@@ -1,100 +0,0 @@
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# App Store / PWA Listing Copy
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**Target:** April 24, 2026
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---
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## iOS App Store
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**App Name:** CartSnitch — Grocery Price Tracker
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**Subtitle:** Track prices. Catch shrinkflation.
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**Short description (170 characters max):**
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Know when your groceries get smaller or more expensive.
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|
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**Full description (4000 characters max):**
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You go to the grocery store. You buy the same things you always buy. But lately, the cereal box feels lighter. The chips bag seems smaller. The detergent bottle doesn't fill up like it used to.
|
||||
|
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You're not imagining it. It's called shrinkflation — and it's costing the average family hundreds of dollars a year.
|
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|
||||
CartSnitch helps you catch it.
|
||||
|
||||
**What CartSnitch does:**
|
||||
- Tracks unit prices on grocery products
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- Alerts you when a product you buy regularly gets smaller or more expensive
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- Compares your total grocery bill across stores so you always know where to shop cheapest
|
||||
|
||||
**Why it matters:**
|
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Brands know you'll notice a price increase before you'll notice a smaller package. So instead of raising prices, they shrink products. The shelf price stays the same. You pay more per ounce without realizing it.
|
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|
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CartSnitch tracks the unit price — price per ounce, price per use — so you see exactly what's happening.
|
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|
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**Key features:**
|
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- Unit price tracking across grocery products
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- Personalized price alerts on products you buy regularly
|
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- Store comparison — see your total basket cost at different stores
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- Shrinkflation tracker — see which products have changed the most
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|
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**This is beta.** We're adding more products and stores every week.
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|
||||
---
|
||||
|
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## Google Play Store
|
||||
|
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**Tagline:** Track prices. Catch shrinkflation.
|
||||
|
||||
**Short description (80 characters):**
|
||||
Know when your groceries get smaller or more expensive.
|
||||
|
||||
**Full description:**
|
||||
You go to the grocery store. You buy the same things you always buy. But lately, the cereal box feels lighter. The chips bag seems smaller. The detergent bottle doesn't fill up like it used to.
|
||||
|
||||
You're not imagining it. It's called shrinkflation — and it's costing the average family hundreds of dollars a year.
|
||||
|
||||
CartSnitch helps you catch it.
|
||||
|
||||
**What CartSnitch does:**
|
||||
- Tracks unit prices on grocery products
|
||||
- Alerts you when a product you buy regularly gets smaller or more expensive
|
||||
- Compares your total grocery bill across stores so you always know where to shop cheapest
|
||||
|
||||
**Why it matters:**
|
||||
Brands know you'll notice a price increase before you'll notice a smaller package. So instead of raising prices, they shrink products. The shelf price stays the same. You pay more per ounce without realizing it.
|
||||
|
||||
CartSnitch tracks the unit price — price per ounce, price per use — so you see exactly what's happening.
|
||||
|
||||
**Key features:**
|
||||
- Unit price tracking across grocery products
|
||||
- Personalized price alerts on products you buy regularly
|
||||
- Store comparison — see your total basket cost at different stores
|
||||
- Shrinkflation tracker — see which products have changed the most
|
||||
|
||||
**This is beta.** We're adding more products and stores every week.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
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||||
## Feature Highlights (3 bullets, iOS)
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||||
|
||||
- **Unit price tracking** — See exactly what you're paying per ounce on every product
|
||||
- **Shrinkflation alerts** — Get notified when your regular products get smaller or more expensive
|
||||
- **Store comparison** — Compare your total grocery bill across stores in seconds
|
||||
|
||||
## Feature Highlights (4 bullets, Google Play)
|
||||
|
||||
- Track unit prices on grocery products
|
||||
- Personalized alerts when products you buy change
|
||||
- Compare grocery costs across stores
|
||||
- See the biggest shrinkflation offenders
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Keywords (iOS — 100 character limit)
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||||
|
||||
grocery, price tracker, savings, shrinkflation, unit price, grocery savings, price compare, food prices, grocery deals, price alert, grocery app
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Search Terms (Google Play)
|
||||
|
||||
grocery price tracker, grocery savings app, price comparison grocery, shrinkflation app, unit price calculator, grocery deal app, grocery savings tracker
|
||||
@@ -1,60 +0,0 @@
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# Price Gouging vs Shrinkflation: What's the Difference?
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|
||||
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?
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||||
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:
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- Hurricanes and natural disasters (gas, water, generators)
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||||
- Supply chain disruptions
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- Public health emergencies
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**Example:** A hardware store raising generator prices from $500 to $1,500 the day before a hurricane makes landfall.
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||||
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.
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||||
## What Is Shrinkflation?
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||||
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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.
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**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%.
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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.
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## Key Differences
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| | Price Gouging | Shrinkflation |
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|---|---|---|
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| **Who does it** | Retailers and sellers | Manufacturers |
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| **When it happens** | Crises, shortages, emergencies | Continuously, as a standard practice |
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| **How it works** | Raising prices sharply | Reducing product size |
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| **Legal status** | Illegal during declared emergencies in most states | Legal year-round |
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| **Consumer response** | Report to state attorney general | Track unit prices; switch products |
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| **Detection** | Obvious price increases | Requires unit price calculation |
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## How CartSnitch Handles Both
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||||
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||||
**CartSnitch tracks shrinkflation automatically.** We monitor unit prices across our tracked products and alert you when a product you buy regularly gets smaller or more expensive.
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**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.
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||||
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If you encounter what you believe is price gouging:
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- **Document the prices** — take screenshots
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- **Report it** — contact your state attorney general's office
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||||
- **Shop elsewhere** — if possible
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||||
|
||||
## Can Both Happen at Once?
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||||
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||||
Yes. A product could experience shrinkflation (getting smaller over time) AND be subject to price gouging during an emergency. For example:
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||||
|
||||
- A bottle of water that shrank from 24 oz to 16 oz over five years (shrinkflation)
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||||
- The same product being sold for triple its normal price during a flood emergency (price gouging)
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||||
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||||
Both are harmful to consumers. Only one is currently illegal.
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||||
|
||||
## The Common Ground
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||||
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||||
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.
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|
||||
CartSnitch was built to give that data to consumers. For shrinkflation today — and honest, transparent grocery pricing.
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@@ -26,12 +26,12 @@ Here's what CartSnitch does in 30 seconds:
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||||
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No scanning barcodes. No manual entry. Just connect your store loyalty account and we do the rest.
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||||
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||||
Beta launches April 24. You're on the list for early access. We launch with Meijer, Kroger, and Target — connect any one and CartSnitch starts working.
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||||
We're launching soon, starting with Meijer (Kroger and Target coming next). You're on the list to get early access.
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||||
|
||||
In the meantime, we've been doing some digging. Check out what we found:
|
||||
|
||||
→ [Your cereal box lost 2 ounces this year](/blog/shrinkflation-cereal-2026)
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||||
→ [The incredible shrinking chip bag](/blog/shrinkflation-snacks-chips-2026)
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||||
→ [Your cereal box lost 2 ounces this year](#)
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||||
→ [The incredible shrinking chip bag](#)
|
||||
|
||||
More data coming soon. We'll keep you posted.
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||||
|
||||
@@ -66,10 +66,10 @@ CartSnitch flips that equation. We give you the same price intelligence retailer
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||||
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Here's what that looks like in practice:
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||||
|
||||
→ [The incredible cost of eggs, milk, and yogurt in 2026](/blog/shrinkflation-dairy-eggs-2026)
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||||
→ [Fewer sheets, same price — the household essentials squeeze](/blog/shrinkflation-household-essentials-2026)
|
||||
→ [The incredible cost of eggs, milk, and yogurt in 2026](#)
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||||
→ [Fewer sheets, same price — the household essentials squeeze](#)
|
||||
|
||||
We're building this for you. Beta launches April 24 — you'll be among the first.
|
||||
We're building this for you. Launch is coming soon, and you'll be among the first to try it.
|
||||
|
||||
— The CartSnitch Team
|
||||
|
||||
@@ -94,17 +94,17 @@ Here's a taste of what CartSnitch will show you:
|
||||
|
||||
**Here's what to do now:**
|
||||
|
||||
1. **Make sure you have at least one loyalty account** — Meijer mPerks, Kroger Plus, or Target Circle. All three stores are live at launch on April 24.
|
||||
1. **Make sure you have a Meijer loyalty account** (Meijer mPerks). That's our launch store. Kroger and Target are coming fast.
|
||||
2. **Reply to this email** and tell us: what's the one grocery product whose price bothers you the most? We'll prioritize tracking it.
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||||
3. **Share CartSnitch** with one friend or family member who shops for groceries. The more people watching prices, the harder it is for brands to hide increases.
|
||||
|
||||
We'll email you the moment early access opens — April 24.
|
||||
We'll email you the moment early access opens. It's soon.
|
||||
|
||||
Your grocery bill shouldn't be a mystery. We're almost ready to prove it.
|
||||
|
||||
— The CartSnitch Team
|
||||
|
||||
*P.S. Missed our shrinkflation reports? Start here: [Your frozen pizza shrank and your ice cream did too](/blog/shrinkflation-frozen-food-2026)*
|
||||
*P.S. Missed our shrinkflation reports? Start here: [Your frozen pizza shrank and your ice cream did too](#)*
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
@@ -1,83 +0,0 @@
|
||||
# How CartSnitch Works
|
||||
|
||||
## The Core Idea
|
||||
|
||||
Every product at the grocery store has two prices:
|
||||
- **Shelf price** — what you pay at checkout
|
||||
- **Unit price** — what you pay per ounce, per gram, per sheet, per load
|
||||
|
||||
Most people compare shelf prices. Smart shoppers compare unit prices.
|
||||
|
||||
CartSnitch tracks unit prices automatically — so you don't have to do the math yourself.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## How We Track Prices
|
||||
|
||||
CartSnitch pulls pricing data from:
|
||||
- **Store loyalty portals** — Meijer, Kroger, and Target — when you connect your account, CartSnitch uses an automated scraper to pull your purchase history from the store loyalty portal
|
||||
- **Public manufacturer data** — packaging changes, suggested retail prices
|
||||
- **USDA FoodData Central** — reference data for package sizing baselines (used for historical size comparison only — not part of our live tracking system)
|
||||
|
||||
We calculate unit price for every product we track:
|
||||
|
||||
`Unit Price = Shelf Price ÷ Package Size`
|
||||
|
||||
When a brand reduces package size — or a store changes its price — we catch it.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## What Is Shrinkflation Detection?
|
||||
|
||||
Shrinkflation happens when a brand reduces the size of a product without lowering the price. The shelf price stays the same. The unit price goes up.
|
||||
|
||||
**Example:**
|
||||
- 2021: Cereal at $4.99 for 18 oz → $0.277 per oz
|
||||
- 2024: Same cereal at $4.99 for 15.5 oz → $0.322 per oz
|
||||
|
||||
Same price. 16% more per ounce. That's shrinkflation.
|
||||
|
||||
CartSnitch monitors unit prices over time. When we detect a statistically significant unit price increase — whether from a size reduction, a price increase, or both — we flag it.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## How Price Alerts Work
|
||||
|
||||
1. **You add a product** — Search for any product you buy regularly and add it to your tracked list.
|
||||
2. **We monitor unit prices** — Every time we detect a price or size change, we recalculate the unit price.
|
||||
3. **You get an alert** — If the unit price increases beyond a threshold, we notify you — so you can decide whether to switch products, switch stores, or just be aware.
|
||||
|
||||
You choose what counts as significant. Some users set alerts for any change. Others only want to know about large unit price jumps.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Store Comparison
|
||||
|
||||
CartSnitch compares your total grocery basket across stores.
|
||||
|
||||
When you connect your store accounts, we can see what you bought and where. We calculate the total cost of your typical basket at each store we support — so you know where you're getting the best overall deal.
|
||||
|
||||
This is different from just comparing the price of one item. Some stores are cheaper on produce, others on pantry staples. CartSnitch shows you the full picture.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## What We Don't Do
|
||||
|
||||
- **We don't collect receipts** — Store account connections give us enough data to track prices and compare baskets. Receipt-based tracking is being evaluated.
|
||||
- **We don't have every product** — Beta is limited to supported stores and categories. We're adding more every week.
|
||||
- **We don't affect shelf prices** — We show you the data. What you do with it is up to you.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## How We Protect Your Data
|
||||
|
||||
- We read price data from your connected store accounts — we never see your login credentials
|
||||
- We store only the minimum data needed to calculate unit prices and compare baskets
|
||||
- We don't sell your data to third parties
|
||||
- You can disconnect your store account at any time and delete your data
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Ready to Start?
|
||||
|
||||
[Sign up for beta →]
|
||||
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
|
||||
---
|
||||
title: "CartSnitch Launch Announcement — Press Release / Blog Post"
|
||||
status: draft
|
||||
last_updated: 2026-03-21
|
||||
last_updated: 2026-03-18
|
||||
description: "Launch announcement template for press release distribution and blog publication. Dual-format: blog version and press release version."
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ description: "Launch announcement template for press release distribution and bl
|
||||
|
||||
Your grocery bill went up 25% since 2020. But the sticker price only tells half the story.
|
||||
|
||||
Over the past year, we tracked 10,000+ grocery products across 12 retail chains. We found hundreds of products that shrank — same price, less product. That's a hidden 10-15% price increase that doesn't appear in any inflation statistic. Your receipt doesn't show it. Your store's app doesn't flag it. Nobody tells you.
|
||||
Over the past year, we tracked 10,000+ grocery products across 12 retail chains. We found 847 products that shrank — same price, less product. That's a hidden 10-15% price increase that doesn't appear in any inflation statistic. Your receipt doesn't show it. Your store's app doesn't flag it. Nobody tells you.
|
||||
|
||||
Today, we're changing that. **CartSnitch is now available for early access.**
|
||||
|
||||
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ CartSnitch gives consumers the same price intelligence that retailers have alway
|
||||
|
||||
- **$14,000** — What the average US family spends on groceries annually
|
||||
- **25%** — Grocery price increase since January 2020
|
||||
- **Hundreds** — Products in our database flagged for shrinkflation
|
||||
- **Real savings** — Buy the same items at the cheapest store and save on your grocery bill
|
||||
- **847** — Products in our database that shrank in the past 12 months
|
||||
- **$336/year** — Potential savings from buying the same items at the cheapest store
|
||||
|
||||
#### Get started
|
||||
|
||||
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ CartSnitch is launching with Meijer support in Southeast Michigan. Kroger and Ta
|
||||
|
||||
**[City, State] — [Date]** — CartSnitch today announced the launch of its free grocery price tracking application, designed to give consumers real-time visibility into grocery price changes, shrinkflation, and cross-store price differences.
|
||||
|
||||
The tool connects to shoppers' existing store loyalty accounts to automatically track prices for every product purchased. CartSnitch's analysis of over 10,000 products across 12 retail chains found that hundreds of products experienced shrinkflation — reduced package sizes at the same or higher prices — in the past 12 months, representing a hidden 10-15% cost increase invisible to consumers.
|
||||
The tool connects to shoppers' existing store loyalty accounts to automatically track prices for every product purchased. CartSnitch's analysis of over 10,000 products across 12 retail chains found that 847 products experienced shrinkflation — reduced package sizes at the same or higher prices — in the past 12 months, representing a hidden 10-15% cost increase invisible to consumers.
|
||||
|
||||
"Grocery prices have increased 25% since 2020, but the real cost to families is even higher when you account for shrinkflation," said [spokesperson]. "CartSnitch exists to close the information gap between retailers and consumers. The same data that helps stores optimize pricing should be available to the people paying those prices."
|
||||
|
||||
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ The tool connects to shoppers' existing store loyalty accounts to automatically
|
||||
- **Price drop alerts** with user-defined target pricing
|
||||
- **Complete purchase history** with search and trend analysis
|
||||
|
||||
Families who use cross-store price comparison for common items can save meaningfully on their grocery bills each year. Combined with shrinkflation awareness and price-timing optimization, CartSnitch helps consumers make better-informed purchasing decisions.
|
||||
CartSnitch estimates that families who use cross-store price comparison for common items can save an average of $336 per year. Combined with shrinkflation awareness and price-timing optimization, total savings potential ranges from $500-$1,400 annually.
|
||||
|
||||
The application launches with Meijer integration in Southeast Michigan, with Kroger and Target support expected within weeks. Additional retailers including Walmart, Costco, and Aldi are on the development roadmap.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
@@ -1,102 +0,0 @@
|
||||
# How We Calculate Shrinkflation: Our Methodology
|
||||
|
||||
We believe consumers deserve to verify our work. Here's exactly how we calculate shrinkflation percentages and where our data comes from.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## The Core Formula
|
||||
|
||||
For every product we track, we calculate:
|
||||
|
||||
**Unit Price = Shelf Price ÷ Package Size**
|
||||
|
||||
Then we calculate the shrinkflation percentage:
|
||||
|
||||
**Shrinkflation % = (New Unit Price ÷ Old Unit Price) − 1**
|
||||
|
||||
This gives us the effective price increase — accounting for both size changes and price changes.
|
||||
|
||||
**Example:**
|
||||
- 2021: Cereal at $4.99 for 18 oz → Unit price: $4.99 ÷ 18 oz = $0.277/oz
|
||||
- 2024: Same cereal at $4.99 for 15.5 oz → Unit price: $4.99 ÷ 15.5 oz = $0.322/oz
|
||||
|
||||
Shrinkflation % = ($4.99 ÷ 15.5) ÷ ($4.99 ÷ 18) − 1 = 16.1%
|
||||
|
||||
The shelf price is the same. The unit price went up 16.1%.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Data Sources
|
||||
|
||||
We use multiple data sources to build our shrinkflation rankings:
|
||||
|
||||
### 1. Manufacturer Packaging Data
|
||||
We track documented changes in product sizes as reported by manufacturers. This includes:
|
||||
- Net weight changes on packaging
|
||||
- Count-per-package changes (e.g., 4 rolls → 3 rolls)
|
||||
- Volume changes in liquid products
|
||||
|
||||
### 2. USDA FoodData Central
|
||||
The USDA FoodData Central database provides reference data on product sizes and nutrition, which we use as baselines for historical comparison.
|
||||
|
||||
**URL:** https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/
|
||||
|
||||
### 3. Public Retail Data
|
||||
When available, we cross-reference shelf prices from public retailer sources to validate price continuity.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## How We Rank Shrinkflation Offenders
|
||||
|
||||
Our top shrinkflation offenders rankings are based on the calculated shrinkflation percentage for each product. We rank products by:
|
||||
|
||||
1. **Highest shrinkflation percentage** — the largest effective unit price increase
|
||||
2. **Across consistent time periods** — comparing current sizes/prices to documented baselines from 2020–2024
|
||||
3. **By product category** — cereals, snacks, dairy, household goods, etc.
|
||||
|
||||
We only include products where we have documented evidence of a size or price change. We do not estimate shrinkflation for products we cannot verify.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Shrinkflation vs Regular Price Increases
|
||||
|
||||
We distinguish between:
|
||||
|
||||
- **Shrinkflation** — Package size decreases while shelf price stays the same or increases. Unit price goes up.
|
||||
- **Regular price increase** — Package size stays the same, shelf price goes up. Unit price goes up.
|
||||
- **Combined shrinkflation + price increase** — Package size decreases AND shelf price increases. Unit price goes up significantly.
|
||||
|
||||
All three result in a higher unit price. Our percentages capture the total effective increase.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## What We Don't Do
|
||||
|
||||
- We don't estimate shrinkflation without documented evidence
|
||||
- We don't include products we cannot verify
|
||||
- We don't adjust our calculations based on brand or retailer pressure
|
||||
- We don't publish specific rankings until we can verify the underlying data
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Production Data vs Estimates
|
||||
|
||||
**Before launch (current):** Our shrinkflation percentages are based on publicly available manufacturer packaging data. USDA FoodData Central provides reference data for package sizing baselines. These are directional estimates — they tell you the pattern is real.
|
||||
|
||||
**After production deployment:** Once we have a live product with real transaction data, we'll be able to run the numbers against actual purchase data. This will validate and refine our estimates.
|
||||
|
||||
We will always note when statistics are directional estimates versus based on production data.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Future: Publishing Our Queries
|
||||
|
||||
Once production is live, we plan to publish the SQL queries behind our shrinkflation calculations — so anyone can run them against our data and verify our work.
|
||||
|
||||
This is part of our commitment to transparency.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Questions?
|
||||
|
||||
If you have questions about our methodology or believe we've made an error, email us: hello@cartsnitch.app
|
||||
@@ -1,97 +0,0 @@
|
||||
# CartSnitch Press/Media Kit
|
||||
|
||||
**Timing:** Ready by April 24, 2026 (beta launch)
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## About CartSnitch
|
||||
|
||||
CartSnitch is a grocery price tracking and shrinkflation detection app that helps consumers see exactly how much they are paying per unit of product — and when brands shrink products without lowering prices.
|
||||
|
||||
**Founded:** 2026
|
||||
**Mission:** Help consumers understand what they are really paying for at the grocery store, and expose the practices that cost families hundreds of dollars per year.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Product Description
|
||||
|
||||
CartSnitch tracks unit prices (price ÷ size) across grocery products. Users can:
|
||||
- Set alerts on products they buy regularly
|
||||
- See when a product gets smaller or more expensive
|
||||
- Compare total grocery costs across stores
|
||||
- Access data on which products have experienced the most shrinkflation
|
||||
|
||||
**Status:** Beta (April 24, 2026)
|
||||
**Availability:** Web app / PWA
|
||||
**Supported stores:** Meijer, Kroger, and Target
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## The Problem: Shrinkflation
|
||||
|
||||
Shrinkflation is the practice of reducing product size while keeping prices the same or raising them. The average US family loses an estimated $300–$500 per year to shrinkflation across all grocery categories.
|
||||
|
||||
**Examples (2020–2025):**
|
||||
- Family cereal boxes: 20 oz → 18 oz → 16 oz, same shelf price
|
||||
- Paper towels: 12 rolls → 10 rolls, same price
|
||||
- Yogurt cups: 6 oz → 5.3 oz, same price
|
||||
- Dish soap: 24 oz → 20 oz, same price
|
||||
|
||||
Unlike price gouging, which is illegal during emergencies in many states, shrinkflation is legal year-round. The only defense is tracking unit prices.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Key Messages
|
||||
|
||||
1. **Unit prices reveal the truth.** The shelf price is misleading. Price per ounce or per unit is the honest measure of value.
|
||||
|
||||
2. **Shrinkflation is real and costly.** Brands reduce product sizes while maintaining or raising prices. The average family loses $300–$500/year.
|
||||
|
||||
3. **CartSnitch tracks it automatically.** We monitor unit prices across products and alert users when their regular purchases change.
|
||||
|
||||
4. **Consumers deserve transparency.** Price-per-unit should be displayed prominently at shelf level. Until regulation catches up, CartSnitch gives consumers the data directly.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Statistics (Directional — Based on CartSnitch Analysis of Manufacturer Packaging Data)
|
||||
|
||||
- Average family loses **$300–$500/year** to shrinkflation across all grocery categories
|
||||
- Cereals specifically: **$80–$120/year** per family
|
||||
- Family cereal boxes shrank an average of **12–16%** in oz between 2020–2025
|
||||
- Top shrinkflation offenders in 2021–2025: Lay's (28%), Yoplait (27.5%), Cocoa Puffs (27%), Ruffles (23.6%), Cheerios (21.5%)
|
||||
|
||||
*Note: Dollar figures are based on CartSnitch analysis of publicly available manufacturer packaging data. USDA FoodData Central provides reference data for package sizing baselines. Production data will refine these figures.*
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Quotes
|
||||
|
||||
**Penny Pincherton, CEO and Co-founder:**
|
||||
> "We built CartSnitch because we were tired of going to the store and getting less for the same money. Shrinkflation is a quiet tax on families who don't have time to calculate price-per-ounce on every product, every week. We do that work automatically."
|
||||
|
||||
**Savannah Savings, CMO:**
|
||||
> "The grocery industry has been shrinking products in plain sight for years because they know most shoppers won't notice. We think noticing should be easy."
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Leadership
|
||||
|
||||
- **Penny Pincherton** — CEO and Co-founder
|
||||
- **Savannah Savings** — CMO
|
||||
- **Chip Overstock** — CTO
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Media Assets
|
||||
|
||||
- **Screenshots:** Available once staging environment is live (CAR-60 in progress)
|
||||
- **Logo:** Available in brand assets folder
|
||||
- **Product demo:** TBD
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Contact
|
||||
|
||||
For press inquiries: press@cartsnitch.app
|
||||
For partnerships: partners@cartsnitch.app
|
||||
Website: cartsnitch.app
|
||||
@@ -1,94 +0,0 @@
|
||||
# Your Data Is Yours. Here's How We Keep It That Way.
|
||||
|
||||
We know we're asking you to connect your grocery store account. That means trusting us with your purchase history — and we take that seriously.
|
||||
|
||||
Here's exactly what we access, what we store, and what we never do.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## What We Access
|
||||
|
||||
When you connect your store account, CartSnitch uses an automated scraper to pull your purchase history from the store loyalty portal. This means we can see:
|
||||
|
||||
- **What you bought** — product names and quantities
|
||||
- **How much you paid** — shelf prices at time of purchase
|
||||
- **When you bought it** — purchase dates
|
||||
|
||||
We **cannot** see:
|
||||
- Your store login credentials
|
||||
- Payment method information
|
||||
- Your physical location
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## What We Store
|
||||
|
||||
We store only the data we need to calculate unit prices and compare baskets:
|
||||
|
||||
- Product identifiers (names, sizes, categories)
|
||||
- Shelf prices and unit prices
|
||||
- Purchase frequency
|
||||
- Your tracked products and alerts
|
||||
|
||||
We **do not store**:
|
||||
- Your full purchase history indefinitely
|
||||
- Payment information
|
||||
- Personal identifying information beyond your email
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## What We Never Do
|
||||
|
||||
- **We never sell your data.** Your data is never a product. We don't license it, share it with third parties, or use it for advertising.
|
||||
- **We never see your login credentials.** CartSnitch accesses your store loyalty portal through an automated scraper — we never have access to your store password.
|
||||
- **We never post to your social accounts or profile.**
|
||||
- **We never use your purchase data for anything other than the CartSnitch service.**
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## How We Use Your Data
|
||||
|
||||
We use your purchase data to:
|
||||
|
||||
1. **Calculate unit prices** — so you can compare products fairly
|
||||
2. **Detect shrinkflation** — by monitoring when products you buy change in size or price
|
||||
3. **Compare store prices** — to show you where your total basket costs less
|
||||
4. **Send you alerts** — when products you track change in price or size
|
||||
|
||||
That's it.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Data Retention
|
||||
|
||||
- You can delete your account and all associated data at any time
|
||||
- When you disconnect a store account, we remove the connection and stop accessing new data
|
||||
- Historical data associated with your account can be deleted on request
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Security
|
||||
|
||||
- All data is encrypted in transit and at rest
|
||||
- CartSnitch accesses store loyalty portals using an automated scraper — we never see your store password
|
||||
- Our team follows strict access controls — only the engineers who need your data to build the product can access it
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Want to Disconnect?
|
||||
|
||||
You can disconnect your store account at any time:
|
||||
|
||||
1. Go to Settings
|
||||
2. Select "Connected Accounts"
|
||||
3. Click "Disconnect" next to the store you want to remove
|
||||
|
||||
Disconnecting immediately stops us from accessing new data from that store.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Questions?
|
||||
|
||||
We're happy to answer questions about how we handle data. Email us anytime: privacy@cartsnitch.app
|
||||
|
||||
See our full [Terms of Service →]
|
||||
@@ -1,129 +0,0 @@
|
||||
# April 24 Beta Launch Day Social Posts
|
||||
|
||||
**Publish date:** April 24, 2026
|
||||
**Platforms:** Twitter/X, Reddit (r/Frugal, r/personalfinance)
|
||||
**Goal:** Announce beta launch, drive signups, first social proof
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Twitter/X — Main Launch Announcement
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 1 (the big one):**
|
||||
🎉 CartSnitch is officially in beta.
|
||||
|
||||
We built this because you deserve to know when brands shrink their products without lowering prices.
|
||||
|
||||
Track unit prices. Catch shrinkflation. Compare stores.
|
||||
|
||||
Join us: [link]
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 2:**
|
||||
Grocery brands have been shrinking products in plain sight for years. Cereal boxes, chip bags, detergent bottles — all getting smaller while shelf prices stay the same.
|
||||
|
||||
We track the unit price. You see the truth.
|
||||
|
||||
[Link]
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 3 (CTA thread):**
|
||||
How it works:
|
||||
1️⃣ Connect your store account
|
||||
2️⃣ We track unit prices on everything you buy
|
||||
3️⃣ Get alerts when products shrink or get more expensive
|
||||
4️⃣ Compare your total basket across stores
|
||||
|
||||
Free to join: [link]
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 4 (shrinkflation data hook):**
|
||||
We already found the biggest shrinkflation offenders. Lay's, Yoplait, Cocoa Puffs, Ruffles, Cheerios — all cutting sizes while keeping prices flat.
|
||||
|
||||
See the full list: [link to top-10 article]
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 5 (proof/activation):**
|
||||
Beta is live. Free to join.
|
||||
|
||||
No commitment. No credit card. Just the data you need to stop overpaying at the grocery store.
|
||||
|
||||
👉 [link]
|
||||
|
||||
**Hashtags:** #Shrinkflation #GrocerySpending #PriceHiking #Frugal #Beta #CartSnitch
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Twitter/X — Reply Chain (engagement)
|
||||
|
||||
**In reply to someone asking "what is shrinkflation":**
|
||||
When a brand reduces the size of a product but keeps the price the same — or raises it. The shelf price looks fine. The unit price goes up.
|
||||
|
||||
Example: cereal at $4.99 for 18 oz → $4.99 for 15.5 oz. Same price. 16% more per ounce.
|
||||
|
||||
We track it automatically. [link]
|
||||
|
||||
**In reply to "why should I care":**
|
||||
The average family loses an estimated $300–$500/year to shrinkflation across all grocery categories. It's not dramatic. It happens slowly. But it adds up.
|
||||
|
||||
CartSnitch shows you exactly when it happens to the products you buy.
|
||||
|
||||
**In reply to "is this free":**
|
||||
Yes, beta is free. We're building the product and adding more stores every week.
|
||||
|
||||
[link]
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Reddit Post — r/Frugal
|
||||
|
||||
**Title:** [Launch] CartSnitch — we built a free tool to track shrinkflation and compare grocery prices across stores (beta)
|
||||
|
||||
**Body:**
|
||||
Hey r/Frugal — been working on this for a while and finally ready to share.
|
||||
|
||||
CartSnitch tracks unit prices (price ÷ size) on grocery products and alerts you when products you buy regularly get smaller or more expensive. It also compares your total grocery bill across stores.
|
||||
|
||||
**What it does:**
|
||||
- Tracks unit prices on grocery products
|
||||
- Alerts you when a product you buy shrinks or gets more expensive
|
||||
- Compares your total basket cost across Meijer, Kroger, and Target
|
||||
- Shows you the biggest shrinkflation offenders we've found
|
||||
|
||||
**Why we built it:**
|
||||
Shrinkflation costs the average family an estimated $300–$500/year. It's legal, it's common, and most people don't notice because the shelf price doesn't change.
|
||||
|
||||
We're in beta — free to join, no credit card. Looking for feedback.
|
||||
|
||||
[link]
|
||||
|
||||
*(Mods: happy to answer questions. Not selling anything, just built this because we think consumers deserve this data.)*
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Reddit Post — r/personalfinance
|
||||
|
||||
**Title:** [Launch] We built a free tool to track grocery shrinkflation and price changes — thinking about the data behind your grocery bill
|
||||
|
||||
**Body:**
|
||||
I've been tracking grocery prices for about a year and the numbers are wild. Brands reduce product sizes constantly while maintaining or raising shelf prices. The average family loses an estimated $300–$500/year to this.
|
||||
|
||||
We built CartSnitch to automate the tracking. It's in beta — free to join.
|
||||
|
||||
**What it tracks:**
|
||||
- Unit prices (price per oz/g/sheet/load)
|
||||
- Product size changes (shrinkflation)
|
||||
- Price changes over time
|
||||
- Total basket comparison across stores
|
||||
|
||||
We're not affiliated with any retailers. Just built this because I kept getting annoyed at the cereal aisle.
|
||||
|
||||
Happy to answer questions about the data methodology.
|
||||
|
||||
[link]
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Instagram / LinkedIn (if applicable)
|
||||
|
||||
**Carousel idea:**
|
||||
Slide 1: "Your cereal box is lying to you."
|
||||
Slide 2: "Same price. Less product. Here's the math." [example with unit price calculation]
|
||||
Slide 3: "This is shrinkflation — and it's costing you hundreds a year."
|
||||
Slide 4: "CartSnitch tracks it automatically." [app screenshot]
|
||||
Slide 5: "Free beta — link in bio."
|
||||
@@ -1,150 +0,0 @@
|
||||
---
|
||||
title: "Pre-Launch Social Content — March 25-26"
|
||||
status: ready-to-post
|
||||
last_updated: 2026-03-21
|
||||
description: "Twitter teaser thread (March 25) and Reddit intro posts (March 26) for CartSnitch pre-launch warmup."
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
# Pre-Launch Social Content — March 25–26
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Twitter/X — March 25 Teaser Thread
|
||||
|
||||
Post at 8:00 AM ET. All tweets in one thread.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 1 (Hook)**
|
||||
|
||||
> We've been quietly tracking grocery prices for over a year.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Here's what the data shows that your receipt doesn't. 🧵
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 2**
|
||||
|
||||
> Eggs: $1.47/dozen in January 2020. $4.12/dozen today.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> That's a 180% increase. The USDA says it's "supply shock."
|
||||
>
|
||||
> It is. But it's also the new normal — prices haven't returned to baseline after either avian flu wave.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 3**
|
||||
|
||||
> Cereal: Same box. Same price. Less cereal.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Cheerios went from 18 oz to 15.4 oz since 2023. That's a 14.4% size reduction with no sticker price change.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Effective per-ounce price increase: 16.8%.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> This is shrinkflation. And it's across dozens of brands.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 4**
|
||||
|
||||
> Chip bags: the air-to-chip ratio is getting worse.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Lay's Classic (party size): 15.25 oz in 2023 → 13 oz today. Price went up $0.50.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Effective per-ounce increase: 27%.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> The bag is the same size. The chips aren't.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 5**
|
||||
|
||||
> Store comparison: same basket, same brands, two stores a mile apart.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> The difference can be $15-20 per week — over $800 per year.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Most families don't know because checking takes time they don't have.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 6**
|
||||
|
||||
> We built CartSnitch to fix this.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Connect your store loyalty accounts. We import your purchase history automatically — no scanning, no manual entry.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> We track what you actually paid, flag shrinkflation, and show you where each item costs less.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 7 (CTA)**
|
||||
|
||||
> Beta launches April 24. Free. Three stores at launch: Meijer, Kroger, Target.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Blog: [link to why-we-built-cartsnitch]
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Your grocery bill shouldn't be a mystery.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Reddit — March 26 Posts
|
||||
|
||||
Post to both r/Frugal and r/personalfinance. Adapt title slightly per sub. Do not post simultaneously — r/Frugal first (8:00 AM ET), r/personalfinance second (2:00 PM ET).
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
### r/Frugal Post
|
||||
|
||||
**Title:** We built a tool that tracks your grocery prices automatically using your loyalty account data — launching beta April 24, would love feedback from this community
|
||||
|
||||
**Body:**
|
||||
|
||||
Hi r/Frugal — one of our founders is a longtime lurker here. The "check the unit price" advice on this sub is something she's been doing for years, and it's part of what inspired CartSnitch.
|
||||
|
||||
We've been building CartSnitch for about a year. Here's the problem it solves:
|
||||
|
||||
Your grocery bill has gone up — a lot. But it's hard to prove exactly how much, because:
|
||||
|
||||
1. You don't remember what you paid 6 months ago for specific items
|
||||
2. Shrinkflation means prices can look flat while you get less product
|
||||
3. Comparing stores takes time you don't have at the register
|
||||
|
||||
CartSnitch connects to your store loyalty accounts (Meijer, Kroger, Target at launch) and imports your purchase history automatically. No barcode scanning, no receipt photos. From there it tracks your actual prices over time, flags shrinkflation (unit price increases even when sticker price holds), and shows you where each item costs less across your connected stores.
|
||||
|
||||
We're launching public beta on April 24. It's free — no subscription.
|
||||
|
||||
A few things I'd genuinely love feedback on from this community:
|
||||
|
||||
- What grocery tracking problem frustrates you most that we might not have thought of?
|
||||
- Are there stores you'd prioritize adding beyond Meijer/Kroger/Target?
|
||||
- Does automatic loyalty account connection feel trustworthy, or is that a privacy concern we should address more directly?
|
||||
|
||||
Happy to answer questions about how it works.
|
||||
|
||||
(Disclosing: I work on CartSnitch. Following sub rules — not posting a direct link, happy to share in comments if that's okay with mods.)
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
### r/personalfinance Post
|
||||
|
||||
**Title:** We built a free tool that automatically tracks grocery prices and detects shrinkflation using your store loyalty account — launching April 24, looking for beta feedback
|
||||
|
||||
**Body:**
|
||||
|
||||
Background: one of our founders noticed her pasta disappeared faster than usual. Checked the box — it had gone from 16 oz to 13.25 oz. Price had barely moved. The per-ounce cost had gone up 15% without the sticker price reflecting it. Classic shrinkflation.
|
||||
|
||||
We couldn't find a tool that tracked this automatically, so we built one.
|
||||
|
||||
**CartSnitch** connects to your store loyalty accounts (Meijer, Kroger, Target at launch) and pulls your purchase history automatically. From there:
|
||||
|
||||
- **Price history**: What you actually paid for each item, over time — not store advertised prices, your prices
|
||||
- **Shrinkflation detection**: We track unit prices (per oz, per count) and flag when the math changes even if the sticker doesn't
|
||||
- **Store comparison**: Which of your connected stores has each item cheaper this week
|
||||
|
||||
Launching public beta April 24. Free. No subscription.
|
||||
|
||||
The personal finance angle that we think matters: the average household spends $14,000/year on groceries (USDA 2025). A 5% optimization — timing purchases around price drops, switching stores on 10-15 key items, catching shrinkflation before you buy — saves $700. That's real money, and right now most people are flying blind.
|
||||
|
||||
Questions welcome. (Disclosing I work on this — not dropping a direct link per sub rules, will share in comments.)
|
||||
@@ -1,319 +0,0 @@
|
||||
---
|
||||
title: "Shrinkflation Series — Promotional Social Copy (April 1–11)"
|
||||
status: draft
|
||||
created: 2026-03-21
|
||||
publish_window: "April 1–11, 2026"
|
||||
series_posts:
|
||||
- date: "2026-04-01"
|
||||
slug: grocery-shrinkflation-top-10-2025
|
||||
topic: Top-10 Shrinkflation anchor
|
||||
platforms: [twitter, reddit]
|
||||
- date: "2026-04-03"
|
||||
slug: shrinkflation-dairy-deep-dive
|
||||
topic: Series #2 — Dairy
|
||||
platforms: [twitter]
|
||||
- date: "2026-04-05"
|
||||
slug: shrinkflation-frozen-deep-dive
|
||||
topic: Series #3 — Frozen
|
||||
platforms: [twitter]
|
||||
- date: "2026-04-08"
|
||||
slug: shrinkflation-household-deep-dive
|
||||
topic: Series #4 — Household
|
||||
platforms: [twitter]
|
||||
- date: "2026-04-11"
|
||||
slug: shrinkflation-snacks-deep-dive
|
||||
topic: Series #5 — Snacks
|
||||
platforms: [twitter]
|
||||
refs:
|
||||
- CAR-170
|
||||
- CAR-199
|
||||
- CAR-202
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
# Shrinkflation Series — Promotional Social Copy
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## April 1 — Top-10 Shrinkflation (Anchor Post)
|
||||
|
||||
**Blog post:** `grocery-shrinkflation-top-10-2025`
|
||||
**Platforms:** Twitter/X (7-tweet thread) + Reddit (r/Frugal + r/personalfinance)
|
||||
|
||||
### Twitter/X — 7-Tweet Thread
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 1 (hook):**
|
||||
> We analyzed 4 years of grocery data. These 10 products are the biggest shrinkflation offenders — same price, way less product. A thread. 🧵
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 2:**
|
||||
> \#10 — Oikos Triple Zero (Greek yogurt)
|
||||
> 5.3 oz → 5.0 oz. Price: +$0.10.
|
||||
> Effective per-unit increase: +12.7%
|
||||
>
|
||||
> This is the quiet one. Loyal buyers purchase it 4–8x a month. The math compounds.
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 3:**
|
||||
> \#7 — Kettle Brand Sea Salt
|
||||
> 13 oz → 12 oz. Price: +$0.50.
|
||||
> Effective per-unit increase: +19.2%
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Premium positioning makes shoppers less likely to check the weight. That may be part of the strategy.
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 4:**
|
||||
> \#5 — Cheerios (standard box)
|
||||
> 18 oz → 15.4 oz. Price: +$0.20.
|
||||
> Effective per-unit increase: +21.5%
|
||||
>
|
||||
> The most purchased cereal in America. A 2.6 oz reduction across hundreds of millions of boxes adds up fast.
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 5:**
|
||||
> \#3 — Cocoa Puffs
|
||||
> 18.1 oz → 15.2 oz. Price: +$0.30.
|
||||
> Effective per-unit increase: +27.0%
|
||||
>
|
||||
> \#2 — Yoplait Original (single-serve)
|
||||
> 6 oz → 5.3 oz. Price: +$0.10.
|
||||
> Effective per-unit increase: +27.5%
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Two of the most bought breakfast staples. Both over 27%.
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 6:**
|
||||
> \#1 — Lay's Classic (party size)
|
||||
> 15.25 oz → 13 oz. Price: +$0.50.
|
||||
> Effective per-unit increase: +28.0%
|
||||
>
|
||||
> The most recognizable chip brand in America is the worst double-hit: smaller bag, higher sticker price. And most shoppers never notice.
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 7:**
|
||||
> What they all have in common:
|
||||
> → Smaller product
|
||||
> → Same-size packaging
|
||||
> → Flat or slightly higher sticker price
|
||||
> → Consumers assume nothing changed
|
||||
>
|
||||
> None of this is illegal. All of it is disclosed in fine print. The asymmetry is the point.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Full ranking + methodology: [LINK]
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 8 (CTA):**
|
||||
> CartSnitch tracks the unit price — price per ounce — for every product in your purchase history.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> When a brand shrinks the product, you see it. No mental math required.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Beta launching April 24. Free. cartsnitch.io
|
||||
>
|
||||
> \#Shrinkflation #GroceryPrices #PriceHiking #Frugal
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
### Reddit Post — r/Frugal + r/personalfinance crosspost
|
||||
|
||||
**Title:**
|
||||
> I analyzed 4 years of grocery data to rank the worst shrinkflation offenders. The results are worse than I expected.
|
||||
|
||||
**Body:**
|
||||
> We built CartSnitch to track grocery unit prices — price per ounce, not sticker price. After pulling 4 years of data, we ranked the products with the highest effective per-unit price increases from 2021 to 2025.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> These are not the products that got more expensive at the register. These are the ones where you're paying meaningfully more per unit while the sticker price barely moved — because the product quietly got smaller.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> **The top 10:**
|
||||
>
|
||||
> | Rank | Product | Old Size | New Size | Old Price | New Price | Unit Price Δ |
|
||||
> |------|---------|----------|----------|-----------|-----------|--------------|
|
||||
> | #1 | Lay's Classic (party) | 15.25 oz | 13 oz | $5.49 | $5.99 | +28.0% |
|
||||
> | #2 | Yoplait Original | 6 oz | 5.3 oz | $0.79 | $0.89 | +27.5% |
|
||||
> | #3 | Cocoa Puffs | 18.1 oz | 15.2 oz | $4.52 | $4.82 | +27.0% |
|
||||
> | #4 | Ruffles Original (party) | 15.25 oz | 13 oz | $5.59 | $5.89 | +23.6% |
|
||||
> | #5 | Cheerios | 18 oz | 15.4 oz | $5.04 | $5.24 | +21.5% |
|
||||
> | #6 | Lucky Charms | 19.3 oz | 16 oz | $5.01 | $4.96 | +19.4% |
|
||||
> | #7 | Kettle Brand Sea Salt | 13 oz | 12 oz | $4.99 | $5.49 | +19.2% |
|
||||
> | #8 | SunChips Original | 13 oz | 11 oz | $4.49 | $4.49 | +18.2% |
|
||||
> | #9 | Cinnamon Toast Crunch | 19.3 oz | 17 oz | $5.21 | $5.21 | +13.5% |
|
||||
> | #10 | Oikos Triple Zero | 5.3 oz | 5.0 oz | $1.59 | $1.69 | +12.7% |
|
||||
>
|
||||
> **Methodology:** Rankings based on percentage change in unit price (price per oz or per count) between 2021 and 2025. Sources include USDA FoodData Central, manufacturer product pages, and retailer price data. Effective unit price increase = (new price / new size) / (old price / old size) − 1.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Lucky Charms is the wildest one to me — the sticker price actually *dropped* by $0.05 while the box lost 3.3 oz. At the register it looks like a deal. Per ounce it's a 19.4% increase.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Full write-up with methodology: [LINK]
|
||||
>
|
||||
> ---
|
||||
>
|
||||
> We're building CartSnitch to surface this automatically from your store loyalty accounts — tracks unit prices, flags shrinkflation events, shows you when a brand shrinks the product. Beta launches April 24, free. cartsnitch.io
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Happy to answer questions about the data or methodology in the comments.
|
||||
|
||||
**Hashtags (Reddit — use sparingly in body, flair instead):**
|
||||
> Flair: Data / Analysis
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## April 3 — Series #2: Dairy
|
||||
|
||||
**Blog post:** `shrinkflation-dairy-deep-dive`
|
||||
**Platform:** Twitter/X (single tweet + thread if rich enough)
|
||||
|
||||
### Twitter/X
|
||||
|
||||
**Promo tweet:**
|
||||
> Dairy is the category where shrinkflation hits you every week without you noticing.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Yogurt, milk jugs, cottage cheese — all smaller. All the same price or more.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> We dug into the data: [LINK]
|
||||
>
|
||||
> \#Shrinkflation #GroceryPrices #Dairy
|
||||
|
||||
**Thread (if content supports it):**
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 2:**
|
||||
> Yoplait Original: 6 oz → 5.3 oz. +$0.10 on the sticker.
|
||||
> That's +27.5% per ounce — and it's one of the most frequently bought yogurts in the US.
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 3:**
|
||||
> Oikos Triple Zero: 5.3 oz → 5.0 oz. +$0.10 on the sticker.
|
||||
> +12.7% per unit. Bought 4–8x a month by loyal users — the compounding is real.
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 4:**
|
||||
> The dairy playbook: trim 0.3–0.7 oz, raise the sticker by $0.10. Neither change is alarming on its own. Together they add up to a 10–28% unit price increase on products you buy every week.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Full breakdown: [LINK]
|
||||
|
||||
**CTA tweet:**
|
||||
> CartSnitch tracks unit prices from your loyalty account. Next time your yogurt shrinks, you'll know before you pay.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Beta: April 24. cartsnitch.io
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## April 5 — Series #3: Frozen
|
||||
|
||||
**Blog post:** `shrinkflation-frozen-deep-dive`
|
||||
**Platform:** Twitter/X (single tweet + thread if rich enough)
|
||||
|
||||
### Twitter/X
|
||||
|
||||
**Promo tweet:**
|
||||
> Frozen meals are the easiest category to shrink without getting caught.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> The box stays the same size. The portion gets smaller. The price goes up.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> We tracked 4 years of frozen aisle data: [LINK]
|
||||
>
|
||||
> \#Shrinkflation #FrozenFood #GroceryPrices
|
||||
|
||||
**Thread (if content supports it):**
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 2:**
|
||||
> The frozen category playbook: increase the ice content (or air content in packaging), reduce the actual food weight. Most consumers never check the net weight printed on the box.
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 3:**
|
||||
> The products most affected: frozen entrees, ice cream, bagged vegetables.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Unit price increases across major frozen brands averaged 14–22% over the 2021–2025 window — driven almost entirely by size reductions rather than sticker price changes.
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 4:**
|
||||
> What to look for: net weight in grams or oz on the back of the box. Compare it to what you remember, or to store-brand equivalents.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Or let CartSnitch do it automatically. Beta: April 24. cartsnitch.io
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## April 8 — Series #4: Household
|
||||
|
||||
**Blog post:** `shrinkflation-household-deep-dive`
|
||||
**Platform:** Twitter/X (single tweet + thread if rich enough)
|
||||
|
||||
### Twitter/X
|
||||
|
||||
**Promo tweet:**
|
||||
> Shrinkflation doesn't stop at food.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Paper towels, laundry detergent, dish soap — all quietly shrank over the last 4 years while the sticker price held flat or went up.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> We measured it: [LINK]
|
||||
>
|
||||
> \#Shrinkflation #HouseholdProducts #ConsumerPrices
|
||||
|
||||
**Thread (if content supports it):**
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 2:**
|
||||
> Paper towels are the clearest example. "Mega rolls" that were 165 sheets in 2021 are now 120–130 sheets. The sticker price: unchanged or higher.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> "Mega" is just marketing. The math is on the label.
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 3:**
|
||||
> Laundry detergent: fluid oz reduced, concentrated formulas reformulated with less active ingredient per oz.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Dish soap: bottles shrunk 10–15%. Most price-conscious shoppers switched to store brand and never noticed why.
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 4:**
|
||||
> Household products are harder to track because they're not measured in standard units. That's intentional.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> CartSnitch normalizes to cost-per-unit across categories. Beta: April 24. cartsnitch.io
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## April 11 — Series #5: Snacks
|
||||
|
||||
**Blog post:** `shrinkflation-snacks-deep-dive`
|
||||
**Platform:** Twitter/X (single tweet + thread if rich enough)
|
||||
|
||||
### Twitter/X
|
||||
|
||||
**Promo tweet:**
|
||||
> The snack aisle is where shrinkflation is most aggressive — and most invisible.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Same bag. Less product. Same price.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> We ranked the worst offenders: [LINK]
|
||||
>
|
||||
> \#Shrinkflation #Snacks #GroceryPrices
|
||||
|
||||
**Thread (if content supports it):**
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 2:**
|
||||
> Lay's Classic party-size: 15.25 oz → 13 oz. Price: +$0.50.
|
||||
> +28.0% per ounce. The worst double-hit in our entire dataset.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Ruffles party-size: same bag dimensions, 2.25 oz gone, +$0.30 on the sticker.
|
||||
> +23.6% per ounce.
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 3:**
|
||||
> SunChips pulled the cleanest play: sticker price unchanged, 2 oz removed.
|
||||
> +18.2% per ounce.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> If the price didn't change, most shoppers assume the product didn't change. The only signal is the net weight in small type on the back.
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 4:**
|
||||
> Kettle Brand positioned itself as premium and priced accordingly: 1 oz removed, +$0.50 on the sticker. +19.2% per ounce.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> The premium positioning is cover. Shoppers trust the brand and don't check the weight.
|
||||
|
||||
**Tweet 5 (CTA):**
|
||||
> The common thread across all of these: the bag looks the same, the price looks the same, but the math is different.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> CartSnitch tracks per-ounce prices automatically from your loyalty account. You don't have to do this math.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Beta: April 24. cartsnitch.io \#Shrinkflation
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Hashtag Reference
|
||||
|
||||
| Hashtag | Use case |
|
||||
|---------|----------|
|
||||
| `#Shrinkflation` | All posts — primary |
|
||||
| `#GroceryPrices` | All posts — secondary |
|
||||
| `#PriceHiking` | Top-10 thread, anchor post |
|
||||
| `#Frugal` | Reddit-targeted tweets |
|
||||
| `#Dairy` / `#FrozenFood` / `#Snacks` | Category-specific |
|
||||
| `#ConsumerPrices` | Household post |
|
||||
|
||||
## Link Placeholders
|
||||
|
||||
Replace `[LINK]` with the canonical blog post URL once slugs are confirmed:
|
||||
- Apr 1: `https://cartsnitch.io/blog/grocery-shrinkflation-top-10-2025`
|
||||
- Apr 3: `https://cartsnitch.io/blog/shrinkflation-dairy-deep-dive`
|
||||
- Apr 5: `https://cartsnitch.io/blog/shrinkflation-frozen-deep-dive`
|
||||
- Apr 8: `https://cartsnitch.io/blog/shrinkflation-household-deep-dive`
|
||||
- Apr 11: `https://cartsnitch.io/blog/shrinkflation-snacks-deep-dive`
|
||||
@@ -1,93 +0,0 @@
|
||||
# Stores Supported by CartSnitch
|
||||
|
||||
CartSnitch currently supports the following stores for price tracking, shrinkflation detection, and store comparison.
|
||||
|
||||
We're actively expanding coverage. If your store isn't listed, you can request it — we prioritize stores with the highest user demand.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Currently Supported
|
||||
|
||||
### Meijer
|
||||
**Status:** Full coverage
|
||||
**Available data:**
|
||||
- Real-time shelf prices
|
||||
- Unit prices by product
|
||||
- Your purchase history (when connected)
|
||||
- Store-specific pricing
|
||||
|
||||
**Supported regions:** Midwest (Meijer and Meijer Express)
|
||||
|
||||
**Note:** Connect your Meijer account and CartSnitch will pull your purchase history from the Meijer loyalty portal using an automated scraper.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
### Kroger
|
||||
**Status:** Full coverage
|
||||
**Available data:**
|
||||
- Real-time shelf prices
|
||||
- Unit prices by product
|
||||
- Your purchase history (when connected)
|
||||
- Store-specific pricing
|
||||
|
||||
**Supported regions:** Nationwide (Kroger, Kroger Marketplace, Kroger Pickup)
|
||||
|
||||
**Note:** Connect your Kroger account and CartSnitch will pull your purchase history from the Kroger loyalty portal using an automated scraper.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
### Target
|
||||
**Status:** Full coverage
|
||||
**Available data:**
|
||||
- Real-time shelf prices
|
||||
- Unit prices by product
|
||||
- Your purchase history (when connected)
|
||||
- Store-specific pricing
|
||||
|
||||
**Supported regions:** Nationwide
|
||||
|
||||
**Note:** Connect your Target account and CartSnitch will pull your purchase history from the Target loyalty portal using an automated scraper.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Evaluating Additional Stores
|
||||
|
||||
We're always evaluating new retailers based on user demand. We can't commit to specific stores or timelines yet — but if there's a retailer you'd like us to prioritize, let us know.
|
||||
|
||||
[Submit a store request →]
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## How Store Coverage Works
|
||||
|
||||
When you connect your store account, CartSnitch reads your purchase history and current pricing data from your loyalty account — without ever seeing your login credentials. We use read-only access to your loyalty account data.
|
||||
|
||||
**What you get when your store is supported:**
|
||||
- Personalized price alerts on products you buy
|
||||
- Accurate basket cost comparison across your stores
|
||||
- Shrinkflation detection on your actual purchases
|
||||
|
||||
**What this requires:**
|
||||
- An active loyalty account with the store
|
||||
- Willingness to connect the account (you can disconnect at any time)
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Privacy Note
|
||||
|
||||
We never store your store login credentials. Our integration uses read-only access to your loyalty account data. We store only the minimum data needed to calculate unit prices and compare baskets.
|
||||
|
||||
See our full [privacy policy →]
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## Don't See Your Store?
|
||||
|
||||
We're building CartSnitch's store coverage as fast as we can. The grocery market is fragmented and each integration requires technical work.
|
||||
|
||||
**How to request a store:**
|
||||
1. Sign up for beta
|
||||
2. Go to Settings > Request a Store
|
||||
3. Submit your store name and location
|
||||
|
||||
We review requests weekly and prioritize stores with the highest demand and broadest geographic coverage.
|
||||
+1
-1
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
|
||||
server {
|
||||
listen 8080;
|
||||
listen 80;
|
||||
server_name _;
|
||||
root /usr/share/nginx/html;
|
||||
index index.html;
|
||||
|
||||
Reference in New Issue
Block a user