An interesting site, mouseprint.org, reports on numerous examples of shrinkflation, the shrinking of product size/volume/weight without lowering their price or changing the look and feel of their packaging. Essentially, companies reduce how much they are including in their product but they charge you the same.
Some say this is a way for them to control costs and not contribute to inflation. That’s fine. But then they should be transparent about the reduction in what we’re purchasing by either A) calling it out in the packaging or B) lowering their price.
In my book, A Christian Theology of Business Ownership, I wrote this about products and services:
“Healthy economic transactions are fully voluntary and meet the needs and interests of both parties. This doesn’t mean we do away with self-interest; it merely means we disclose enough information to make the transaction truly voluntary. In addition, we do not use deception in our negotiations. Voluntary transactions must have a proper disclosure of truthful information flowing both ways. To do otherwise is sin.” (Chapter 8, God’s Purposes for Business)
Shrinkflation is a form of lying. It is a form of moving an ancient boundary stone (Proverbs 23.10-11). There is no call-out about the reduction in volume or size or weight of the product in shrinkflation. Legally, the packaging is truthful. Ethically, it doesn’t pass the smell test.
Christian Business Owners should not engage in shrinkflation. If we need to reduce the product size – for whatever reason – then we should either lower our pricing or add a delimiter to the product—such as “econo-size”—something to indicate to the consumer that what they are purchasing is different than what they were purchasing before.
All I’m suggesting is that the manufacturers be fully truthful with the market and let consumers decide what they want. Only by having *fully* voluntary transactions can God’s purposes for business achieved.
Bill English, Publisher
Bible and Business
