On 5/25/2012 10:57 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> On Fri, 25 May 2012 16:58:08 -0800, Mark >
> wrote:
>
>>
>> Granted the cups and coffee are free, but it does
>> seem like a sneaky way to reduce costs -- the sort
>> of thing I expect from Safeway but not a good store
>> like Trader Joe's. A store that cares about its
>> customers and doesn't try to shave a little cost
>> at every opportunity. I hope this is not a harbinger
>> of things to come. That would ruin Trader Joe's.
>
>
> What is sneaky about it? Should they announce that our free coffee is
> now smaller?
>

Exactly, free sample sizes are certainly up to the discretion of
whomever is offering them. I guess someone could demand their money back
if they were upset.

> Sneaky is when you charge the same price and reduce the volume, like
> the 57 ounce OJ, the smaller jars of mayo, etc.

I see a lot of 16 oz canned goods are now down to 14.5 ounces. I
sometimes buy canned tomatoes with chili peppers. I thought it was my
imagination that the cans looked small when I saw a display on an end
cap. I read a label and saw that the 16 oz can was now 10.5 ounces.

>
> A store that cares about is customer watches costs so they can
> continue to offer good service. Nothing is "free", but wrapped into
> the costs that all customers pay. That little old lady in line behind
> you paid a portion of your free coffee.