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Entertainment

Simona Kinderytė

People Feel Scammed After Buying These 50 Products In Deceptive Packaging (New Pics)

Costco KFC

Trips to the grocery store can be pretty frustrating for many people these days. If you’re not dealing with a blatant case of sneakflation, you’re faced with misleading product packaging that may make you curse the heavens for the existence of corporate consumerism.

Hyperbole aside, you can also snap photos for the internet to see, much like what these people did. The following images may evoke a mix of laughter, despair, and disappointment – all at the same time.

Scroll through and feel free to join in the conversation by sharing photos of your own if you have any.

#1 My Expectations Were Low, But Holy Cow

#2 Standard Misleading Packaging

Misleading packaging to make the wrap look longer than it is.

#3 Contains Vitamins B3, B6, B12, And Zinc, Except It Doesn't Contain Those

There are several ways companies deceive consumers through their packaging. Researchers from Kiel University in Germany found that it also happens through the color of packages.

According to their findings, products with a lighter color are more likely to be perceived as “healthier” but with “less taste.” This supposed tactic has a significant influence on a consumer’s decision to make a purchase.

#4 Is Anyone Else Bothered By Deceptive Packaging Like This?

#5 A New Low From Colgate. This Tube Came In This Box! I Feel Done Over

#6 This Battery Company Has Started Changing The Packaging To Make You Think You're Getting Two Free Batteries, They Normally Come In An 8 Pack Anyways

Companies really need to stop doing this.

Deceptive packaging is a form of false advertising, which is both illegal and unethical. Yet, why do companies resort to this tactic? According to author and entrepreneur Amanda Arthur Krill, competitive pressure tends to push corporations into this direction.

“The long-term repercussions may prove detrimental, eventually resulting in lost credibility and consumer trust,” Krill wrote.

#7 Huge Foam Block Inside Pack Of Kids Necklace Bead

#8 Feeling Scammed. Oh, Boy. Does It Feel Like Bad Design, Or Is There A Better Place To Post This?

#9 Where’s The Rest Of My Cookies? It Used To Be To The End

The next question would be how companies execute their misleading marketing practices. As Krill explains, they put out promotional materials that target a person’s FOMO, or appeal to their desires for beauty, approval, and success.

“Advertisers create an illusion where consumers believe purchasing their product will enable them to achieve something unattainable,” she stated.

#10 Misleading Packaging

#11 Coffee A Month Or So Apart

#12 This Slime Sold At Target

As consumers, falling victim to deceptive marketing tactics is inevitable. However, we can protect ourselves simply by having a basic understanding of these practices. According to the Chicago-based law firm Almeida Law Group, class action lawsuits are helpful but should be considered the last resort.

Being cautious of exaggerated claims would suffice. The firm also advises keeping records of transactions and communications, while being aware of common scams and fraudulent practices.

#13 Roll Of Tape Is Quite A Bit Smaller Than Depicted (I Checked Several Boxes, They All Are Like That)

#14 Something Stinks

Brand new/unopened stick of antiperspirant. Only 40%of the tube has product. This is typical for the brand.

I'd rather less plastics and more honesty, but I know that the boardroom fat-cats are incapable of responsible ideation.

#15 I Got The Last 12 Pack. Same Price

#16 Misleading Packaging. Less Than Half Full. Of Minis, No Less

#17 I’ve Been Annoyed About This For Weeks. 75% Air. My Hands Are Small, And I Could Hold All Of It In My Palm. What Do You Mean “Share Size”

#18 This Veet Packaging Designed To Make You Waste Product (And Buy More)

I was using this hair removal cream earlier today, and it stopped dispensing. Tried the usual tricks to get some to pump out, no dice. But it felt too heavy to be actually empty. So, I tried taking the top off, thinking there'd be a little in the bottom I could scoop out and use.

Got it open; it turns out the tube to the pump only goes about halfway down, and the cream is actually in a bag inside. The bag was connected to the opening, so I cut it to get the bag free.

#19 The Amount Of Air I Have To Squeeze Out Before Getting Any Glue Is Insane

#20 Cheese Balls Size Comparison

I love stuff like this. My family has saved cheese ball buckets for years, and finally, after cleaning out some stuff, I found some with significant expiration age gaps. We've been robbed. Take me back to 2010. It's absolutely ridiculous how they reduced the size and thought we wouldn't notice.

#21 Pop Tarts - Since Y'all Caught On About Frosting, Now They're Just Smaller

I thought a new one looked a bit small, so I compared it to a different box we've had for a while. The new ones are half an inch shorter than the old ones. At least the frosting is reasonable.

#22 New vs. Old Swiss Cake Rolls

New Swiss Cake Rolls on the left and the old ones on the right... Banana for science.

I found some old Little Debbie Swiss Cake Rolls in a lunch bag I forgot about... Pre-covid. Surprisingly enough, after several years at room temperature, they look edible.

#23 Seriously? All Stick. $6 For These

#24 Twizzler Hiding How Much Shorter Their Product Is With Extra Packaging

#25 Look, I Know I Ordered A “Small” KFC Popcorn Chicken, But This Is Hilarious

#26 Am I Crazy Or Did Pringles Get This Small Without Me Noticing? Especially When They Are Like 5 Bucks When Not On Sale

#27 My 8oz Bag Of Cheese Was Only 4oz

#28 Woolies Underweight Again. Other Tub Was 224g With Packaging So It’s Not My Scales

#29 A “Roll” Of Wrapping Paper At Target

One roll can only handle two or three presents now… Skip Target if you need gift wrap!

#30 The Cookie Inside This Wrapper Has No Chocolate At All

#31 The Deceptive Padding Beneath These Strawberries

#32 They’re Trying To Make It Look Like There’s A Lot More Nerf Darts Packaged

#33 Just Opened The Pack And Theres Not A Single Chocolate One

#34 Big Container, Not Much In It

Bought this from Walmart. I don’t have a weigh scale, and it doesn’t really matter. I’m guessing this really is 1.3 kg, but the powder only filled the container to about 1/4. Absolutely unreal. This is one way to waste packaging. And extremely deceptive. I’ll be buying from Dollarama from now on, as you at least get a nearly full container.

#35 Muddy Bites From Costco Were Hardly Filled With Peanut Butter Chocolate, Even Had Some With Zero Filling

#36 These Used To Be As Long As The Package

#37 KFC You Cannot Be Serious

#38 Oreos As Advertised In Their Commercials vs. What A Modern Oreo Really Looks Like

#39 Found This "Olive Oil" In My Parents' Pantry

#40 This Blatant Deception

#41 Pasta Sauce Getting 8% Smaller And Water Is Now First Ingredient vs. Tomatoes

Bonus: 450mg of potassium is now 13% of DV!
And since the ingredients are being changed that much, I’m not sure the nutrition facts are now accurate.

#42 We've Officially Entered Dark Times

I think this just happened. Opened pkg of Thomas' English muffins and was shocked to see how they are now unusably small. Looks like they have trimmed 3/8" diameter off them, making the king of breakfast sandwiches undersized for even an egg. Anyone else notice?

#43 Stupid Ingredient “List” For Liquid Detergent:

#44 Wyler’s Italian Ices, Last Year Versus This Year. Same Price

#45 These Cookies Always Had Three M&Ms On Every Cookie

I’ve been eating these since I was a kid, and each cookie always had three M&Ms, and now half of the package looks like this. They don’t even taste good anymore. Never buying these again.