Overpacking, shrinkflation may mean you get less for your money for Valentine's Day gifts this year

That heart-shaped container of chocolates whitethorn beryllium lone fractional afloat this Valentine's Day.

It is not the effect of a manufacturing glitch. Instead, it is an effort by definite brands to usage bigger boxes to punctual consumers to deliberation they are getting more for their money than they truly are, according to Edgar Dworsky, laminitis of Consumer World.

"This is astir 'overpackaging,'" helium said.

The contented was brought to Dworsky's attraction this week erstwhile a scholar who bought a container of chocolates wrote to explicit his outrage astir the contents.

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Upon further investigation, Dworsky recovered Russell Stover and Whitman's Sampler chocolates, which merchantability for astir $7.99, lone contained betwixt 9 and 11 candy pieces, successful the 9-inch-by-10-inch-size box.

That leaves astir two-thirds of the container seemingly empty, according to Dworsky.

"I conscionable find it troubling that consumers tin beryllium misled successful this way," helium said.

Whitman's and Russell Stover brands are sold by the Russell Stover Chocolates company, which did not instantly respond to a petition for comment.

The easiest mode to spot these issues earlier you bargain is to look astatine the nett value connected the packaging, Dworsky said. The brand's boxes were 5.1 ounces.

A national "slack fill" instrumentality makes it amerciable for companies to usage larger packages than necessary, helium said. Nevertheless, immoderate companies whitethorn experimentation with packaging successful a bid to chopped costs, which successful immoderate cases has led to lawsuits.

Companies whitethorn besides crook to shrinkflation, wherever a product's quantity is downsized but the terms stays the same.

"Candy is 1 of the categories that tends to beryllium downsized periodically," Dworsky said.

The apical items that thin to get downsized, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, see household insubstantial products, snacks, and pastries, including saccharine rolls, java cakes and donuts.

A Morning Consult poll conducted successful August recovered much than fractional of adults — 54% — person seen, work oregon heard astir shrinkflation, portion astir two-thirds — 64% — are disquieted astir it.

"When you announcement that the bundle is smaller oregon you're getting little for the aforesaid price, it's particularly frustrating," Emily Moquin, nutrient and beverage expert astatine Morning Consult, previously told CNBC.com.

But determination is inactive immoderate bully quality this Valentine's Day. In fact, 1 of the astir accepted gifts isn't taxable to shrinkflation.

"A twelve roses, convey God, is inactive 12," Dworsky quipped.