The Grocery Shrink Ray quietly removes almost imperceptible bits of our packaged goods, gradually shrinking some products over time so manufacturers can avoid raising prices. Once you’re aware of it, you begin to notice it every time you buy a slightly smaller replacement for a product that you use regularly. Two readers who bought bread and deodorant noticed exactly that. [More]
deodorant
Google Receives Patent For Wearable “Odor Removal Device”
By 2.18.15
When you think of companies that specialize in deodorant, names like Old Spice, Suave, Axe, Dove and maybe Febreze spring to mind. But according to recently awarded patents, there’s a surprise player with a nose for the odor-removing business: Google. [More]
Could Aerosol Deodorants Catch On Again In The United States?
By 11.12.14
Do you have difficulty applying your deodorant and/or antiperspirant without getting it on your clothes? Unilever thinks that you do. After spray-on personal care products applied to the armpits faded from the United States market in the ’80s when aerosol propellants were shown to be harmful to the planet. They’re still on the market, but Americans prefer our gels and sticks. For now. [More]
Right Guard Shrink Rays Aerosol Can By 15%
By 3.28.14
Bob currently works in China, and stocks up on his favorite deodorant, one that he isn’t allergic to, during his visits to the United States. Historically, a can of the stuff has lasted him a year. That’s not going to be the case anymore, since each 10-ounce can has lost 1.5 ounces. [More]
Personal Grooming Is Easy, But Math Is Difficult
By 3.26.14
Usually, buying in bulk saves you money. Buying a larger container or multi-pack boosts sales numbers and lowers prices for consumers. This makes perfect sense…until it doesn’t. Just ask these readers, who had to give a few seconds of serious thought to the pricing of their personal care items while shopping recently. [More]
Shrink Ray Blasts Old Spice Deodorant, Leading To Stench And Sadness
By 4.8.13
Andrew is a regular user of Old Spice deodorant, so he noticed when a packaging change also meant a sizing change. And no, it was not the same brand/fragrance scramble that led another Old Spice user to think that his deodorant, too, had fallen prey to the shrink ray. Nope. This is the same product. [More]
Fight Sweat Stains
By 5.11.11
As the temps turn up, so do the faucets located in your armpits. This can lead to unsightly and embarrassing sweat stains that can ruin your life, or so I’ve been led to believe by those Sure commercials. So how do you ward off and fight the sweat stains? [More]
Want Prettier Armpits? New Dove Deodorant Can Help
By 3.31.11
.Ladies of Consumerist, have you ever been concerned about how attractive your armpits are? Yeah, me either. But someone out there apparently does, and Unilever’s Dove brand now has a deodorant/antiperspirant for her. One that includes moisturizers that give you a “piticure,” and give women one more body part that apparently is never pretty enough. One ad for the product declares that “nearly 100% of women” find their underarms unattractive. [More]
Grocery Illusion Ray Altered The Packaging On Deodorant
By 8.31.10
Reader Ben seems to have identified a phenomenon that could be called the Grocery Illusion Ray with 3 oz. Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal at Walmart. The pricing and content are the same but the newer packaging is wider, with a larger roll-on ball, giving the impression that you’re getting more odor-eating goodness for your dollar. [More]
Unilever's Insensitive Solutions For Customers With Sensitive Skin
By 8.11.10
Unilever is a massive conglomerate that sells a huge variety of products, but you can’t get that big and successful without listening to your customers’ needs. Right? Alissa tells Consumerist that she recently learned how close attention the company pays to customer complaints when she complained about the sudden addition of fragrance to a product marketed to people with sensitive skin. The company took two days to send a response that might as well have been written by a robot, and made it clear that no one even read her complaint–let alone cared about it. [More]
Dial Says It Will Replace My Leaky Antiperspirant, Sends Measly Coupon Instead
By 7.29.10
Joe’s antiperspirant sprung more holes than WikiLeaks sources, so he called up the Dial Corporation to ask about a replacement. The customer service rep promised a coupon for a free replacement but sent him a lowball manufacturer’s coupon instead. He called back to complain and Dial passed the buck to the retailer. [More]
Walmart Deodorant Pricing Scheme Smells Off
By 6.15.10
Something is funky about how Walmart is pricing these two deodorants. [More]
Target's "Buy Two And Save" Speedstick Deodorant Deal Stinks
By 8.12.08
This is now our third, (yes, our third) post about “buy two and save” or “special value” deodorant two packs at Walmart and Target. This lovely example comes from Tucson, AZ.
Walmart's "Buy 2 And Save" Old Spice Deodorant Deal Stinks
By 8.10.08
Quick, what’s 2 x 2? Did you get 4.32? No? Then you should be able resist Walmart’s “Buy 2 And Save” Old Spice “special.”
It’s A Matter Of Degree. Of Bullpoopy
By 10.19.06
He wrote Unilever, inquiring why they can’t, “stick with the products that don’t suck donkey sack?”
Sure Deodorant Is The Same As Secret
By 10.10.06
Everyone knows that in armpit odor land, Sure is for boys, Secret is for girls.
