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Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Dear Honey Maid:

I know you think you're pretty slick.  You're betting that people won't realize that the nice, thick graham crackers that they've been buying for years are being replaced by thinner, less quality crackers.  I mean, the box is the same, right?  And, hey - what about those prices?  You all must be chortling up a storm on your way to the bank, making us pay more for less and less.


Well, laugh while you can.  S'more season is coming up and let me tell you - those wimpy crackers won't fool anyone.  Why, even now, when you open the package, you don't get one - not ONE - whole cracker.  Every single one is broken.  And that is not going to make campers happy.  No sireebob.


My sheep (and llama) and I are on the hunt for a better, thicker, more reasonably priced graham cracker.  I know they are out there, they are just not going to be yours.


Enjoy your profits while you can.

35 comments:

Mama Pea said...

I hear ya, sister! I can understand the need for manufacturers to down-size the quantity we're getting in a box or bag or jar of whatever (the cost of their raw ingredients is going up, up, up), but it really frosts me when the QUALITY is significantly lower. Makes me work harder (and it does take w-o-r-k) to make everything I can in my home kitchen. At least I know the quality of the ingredients is the best I can get.

Ed said...

I hadn't noticed that but now that you mention it, I do know the last box we bought was full of broken crackers. However in our case they were slated for a pie crust so it wasn't a deal breaker.

Theresa said...

Try Annies or Erewhon. Trader Joe's might have a nice one too.

jaz@octoberfarm said...

i hate it when companies do this. it's why i try to make my own stuff as much as possible. my homemade graham crackers are much better than honey maid's!

Susan said...

I couldn't believe it - the price had gone up almost a dollar a box! And because the box is the same size but the crackers are much thinner, there's a lot of room for the separate packages of crackers to bounce around inside the box - ergo, crumbs. It's a crime!

Susan said...

It still counts as bad, since the prices go up. It cheeses me off.

Theresa Y said...

Mama Peas is right. You don't get a gallon of ice cream, you don't get 32 oz of mayo etc. You're better off doing it yourself if you can. It will at least taste better.

Susan said...

I hadn't thought of Trader Joe's. I find that Aldi's has quality for a lower price, too. Of course, they own TJ's so that makes sense.

DFW said...

I was going to suggest Trader Joe's or Aldi.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

I know! That's a favourite trick of manufacturers, isn't it -- I recently bought a box of my fave protein bars and instead of there being 5 bars in the box, there was only 4! Same price though, the bastards.

Cindie said...

Trader Joe's does have great ones - I can't remember how much they are but they're super yummy and great for smores.

Goatldi said...

Ladies I could not agree with you more! And Smore season last all year long at my house because when the grand girls are here in the winter we make them over the fire in the fireplace so we give them lots of business… Change that to gave.

let me know if you find a suitable replacement I also like them because they were pretty clean as far as ingredients I'm having a hard time finding a replacement. Often the organic don't taste quite the same just aren't quite there so if you get one that you think it's really great post it in a hurry please .

Goatldi said...

Theresa

I don't ever remember seeing them at Trader Joe's I have had the Emmys and for me they just don't quite get there the other one that you named off I don't remember seeing out here on the West Coast. However Trader Joe's does make incredible marshmallows that are much cleaner on the ingredient list then those were used to come to love as a child back in the day.

Tewshooz said...

They changed their recipe years ago. The crackers were harder and tasted differently....that's when I stopped buying them. They downsize everything and charge more. Remember when sugar came in 5 lb sacks? Now, 4 lbs. They think we are stupid..and a lot of us are.

Susan said...

I'm on it!

Susan said...

If I lived closer, I'd give you my graham business. However, if I lived closer to you, I'd be camping out on your doorstep and I'd weigh 400 lbs. But I'd be happy. :)

Susan said...

When I retire, I will bake graham crackers for the sheep and llama. In the meantime, they will have to be procured elseywhere.

Susan said...

I'm thinking Aldi's, as they are closer and easier to get to.

Susan said...

Bastards, indeed! It does seem that the world is based totally on greed.

Susan said...

I will have to send my sisters on a mission, when they go to their respective TJs!

Susan said...

Aldi's is a great store - they are based out of Germany and are a no-frills grocery chain with an outstanding line of GF products and organic line, too. They are divided into North and South (two brothers, I think) and one of them (North?) owns Trader Joe's.

Charade said...

The same goes for many products. I prefer Kleenex tissues with no added lotions or aromas. I used to pay $0.79 for a square box of 100. Then the price started going up and up. Then the number in the box started going down. Now there are 75 in a box, and it's hard to find one for less than $1.12 - and I'm not fooled!

wisps of words said...

Good for you!!!!

Refuse the "crap-o-la"!

Find a good graham cracker!

Susan said...

I really wish that I didn't have to be so vigilant on every single thing that I buy. But you really do have to. Producers are not honest and do not have your best interest at heart - not by a long shot. If they can use cheaper ingredients, shrink it, cut it, or otherwise give you less, they'll do it in a heartbeat. The only thing they don't cut back on is profit. On a side note - I did buy a bag of sugar from Aldi's and then, on a whim, weighed it. It was just under 4#! I contacted them and they were horrified - had a rep call me, replaced it, etc. Turns out, it's illegal to sell something that is less than the weight on the package. We need a Quality Patrol!

Susan said...

It's outrageous!

Susan said...

That's my plan!

tpals said...

I wish I had taken a picture of the difference in a modern roll of toilet paper next to one from my stockpile. Not just smaller diameter, but at least 25% shorter as well.

Nancy In Boise said...

right on

wisps of words said...

Thank you so much, for your Happy Birthday wishes to me....

Florida Farm Girl said...

Good luck with that graham cracker search. Not only are the crackers smaller and thinner, there's fewer in each package and they are at least a half inch smaller all around than before. Who do they think they're kidding? But, I guess its us, because we still buy them. Hate that tactic.

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

I don't know much about graham crackers, but I can tell you that bacon is sliced thinner and you don't get as much in a package. And when I was a kid and was fed all kinds of junk, Wagonwheels were MUCH bigger. Don't know if you know what those are. -Jenn

ElaineChicago said...

I hope you have Aldi Stores reasonable close to you. Fantastic food at fantastic prices!

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

Just discovered your blog, we have a lot in common! And there are many products they are skimping us on nowadays - even toilet paper and paper towel rolls. Even Oreos are thinner than they used to be...

Sandy Livesay said...

Susan,

Socket it to them!!!! Everything food wise is changing in size and becoming more pricey.

Hugs,
Sandy

Unknown said...

What Honey Maid did with there box of Gram Crackers is remove one full package from the same size box! This same box use to contain 4 packages of crackers and now only contains 3 packages. They just rotated the packages 90 degrees (edge to edge instead of them laying flat to each other.) Don't believe me? Open a new box, measure the width of a package and place all 3 packages then measure the space left. One package width will fit perfectly. So we are paying the same cost (or more) for 25% less product!