The mid-Atlantic Coca-Cola bottling group in the US has downsized the Minute-Maid orange juice bottles. They were originally marked:

16 FL OZ
473 mL

Now they are marked:

450mL
15.2 FL OZ

This along with NO reduction in price. I have called to complain, and still have not reached the woman in charge of Consumer Affairs. I will update when more becomes available.

The disease is evidently spreading

Sarsa-Cola ?

How can you complain about the price? Complain about the metrication, not the price. A company can charge whatever they want, and raising a price is no grounds to complain. But if you say you're against the metric units, and would prefer imperial, they may listen. Price has nothing to do with it.

I'd say this to them:

Dear Sir/Madam

Unlike most of your customers (probably) I have noticed your 5% increase in price.

Thank you

I am in a minority but I think that everyone should be forced to use metric.

Metre Man
(The Rt Hon Richard Slicker)
HM Asylum for the socially deprived
Peerless Wing
Aberystwyth
Wales

.....you did a joke!

"How can you complain about the price? Complain about the metrication, not the price. A company can charge whatever they want, and raising a price is no grounds to complain. But if you say you're against the metric units, and would prefer imperial, they may listen. Price has nothing to do with it."

There goes another one of BWMA's arguments, and the truth about their pro-imperial dogma is revealed. If they have a problem with short measure, unfair price reductions etc. then blame them on the capitalist system and not on metrication.

I do not understand metric and I cannot take a joke.

Steve Humphreys
HM Asylum for the mentally deprived
Humourless Wing
Aba, Abber, Abar, ...
Somewhere in Wales

You scary boy! Using my full name in order to intimidate!

Desist or I will get truly worried as you hide behind your meter stick!

Ok Steve I shouldn't have used your full name, I apologise for that.

But equally your previous post was uncalled for.

If you want to keep your exchanges civil then don't provoke hostility.

So come on then!
How do you know my name?

Come on SteveH, don't be silly ! You're mentioned in a UKIP web page on the activities of ARM.

e.g. http://www.ukipberkshire.org/arm.html
(search: "Steve Humphreys")

--> High Wycombe - Frogmore Distance to road width restriction in metres Amended to read in yards by the Council as a result of written representations by STEVE HUMPHREYS"

Surely you didn't vote UKIP ?

....blimey!

(famous at last!)

How could someone work out my real name from "SteveH" ????

I'm sure if you search "SteveH" you'll get millions of results (haven't tried by the way).

Nah! I think it may be more sinister than that!

You have obviously forgotten that you revealed it yourself on a previous occasion on one of these forums.

I looked in on one of these bulletin board some time ago, can't remember when exactly, last year I think.

Nothing sinister I can assure you.

hmmm backpeddling or truth?

no matter, I must desist in "revealing myself" so much!

I've noticed this trend in other Coca-Cola products.

They also replaced their 20 oz. soda six-packs with half-liter bottles; no decrease in price. Pepsi responded by upgrading their 20 oz. six-packs to 24 oz.

Minute Maid is marketing a new brand of orange juice called Simply Orange in a 1.75l bottle (with an odd shape, to make you think it's a half gallon). It costs $3.29. Right next to it in the supermarket is a full half-gallon of Florida's Natural juice, of exactly the same quality, for $2.99.

They're going to put themselves out of business.

What is half a US Gallon in litres?

1/2 US gallon = 1.8925 litres

Actually, it's *exactly* 1.892705892 L, because the U.S. gallon holds 4 liquid quarts or exactly 3.785 411 784 liters


(1000 mL)(1 in./16.387064 mL)(1 gal./231 cu.in.)*2
=0.2641720524 gallons
Thus 1 Liter = 1.892705892 Gallons

Would you be cheering them if they had raised the amount to 500 mL? Did it ever occur to you that they may re required to use rational metric sizing in some of their markets and thought it more economical to make all their markets have the same size?

The reason they are not going to respond to you is because they think you are a crank. As long as their sales are good, they will continue to ignore you. As do most companies when people complain about metrication.

"Tesco"

"Morrisons"

Anybody else want to join in the "name the supermarket chain" game?

Re: 16 does not equal 15.2 June 8 2003, 9:48 PM

I've noticed this trend in other Coca-Cola products.

They also replaced their 20 oz. soda six-packs with half-liter bottles; no decrease in price. Pepsi responded by upgrading their 20 oz. six-packs to 24 oz.

Minute Maid is marketing a new brand of orange juice called Simply Orange in a 1.75l bottle (with an odd shape, to make you think it's a half gallon). It costs $3.29. Right next to it in the supermarket is a full half-gallon of Florida's Natural juice, of exactly the same quality, for $2.99.

They're going to put themselves out of business.

Get real! Most people don't even notice the change. And the 2 or 3 that do are no threat. But I agree it should not happen. As somebody already said don't blame metrication, blame capitalist greed.

"As somebody already said don't blame metrication, blame capitalist greed"

Indeed the state should own the means of production, the economy and the banks!

Same old red eric!

"They also replaced their 20 oz. soda six-packs with half-liter bottles; no decrease in price. Pepsi responded by upgrading their 20 oz. six-packs to 24 oz.

Minute Maid is marketing a new brand of orange juice called Simply Orange in a 1.75l bottle (with an odd shape, to make you think it's a half gallon). It costs $3.29. Right next to it in the supermarket is a full half-gallon of Florida's Natural juice, of exactly the same quality, for $2.99."

To understand all this I had to go through slavish conversions. If the law required everything to be priced in the same units, we would avoid this problem.

Hang on, it already does!

<<
If the law required everything to be priced in the same units, we would avoid this problem.

Hang on, it already does!
>>

UK law or US law?

Minute Maid is marketing a new brand of orange juice called Simply Orange in a 1.75l bottle (with an odd shape, to make you think it's a half gallon). It costs $3.29. Right next to it in the supermarket is a full half-gallon of Florida's Natural juice, of exactly the same quality, for $2.99.

Reply:

1.75 L is the standard size for hard liquor. If you think a 1.75 L is anything but 1.75 L, then you are not a smart shopper. Stop blaming marketing practices on metric. The system, nor the BIPM endorses sizes. Sizing is the choice of industry. Sizing choices in FFU can also be made where one size appears to look like the other. It is fraudulent on your part to insist this can only happen when metric is used.

Indeed flexible friendly units do tend to win outright here - and since you're asking - mine's a pint.

Cider please.

"UK law or US law?"

UK law.

Yes, that was a bit confusing.

<<UK law or US law?>>

In the US, the law varies from state to state, but many states (mine included) have unit pricing laws so various sizes of all "like" commodities must have unit pricing on the shelves in a common unit.

Also, these bottles are marked, as required by US law, in both English and metric units, apparently accurately, so it is hard to see how anyone is deceived unless one ignores both the package labelling and the unit price on the shelf.

<<
In the US, the law varies from state to state, but many states (mine included) have unit pricing laws so various sizes of all "like" commodities must have unit pricing on the shelves in a common unit.
>>

For the record, the labelling on anything that crosses state lines is governed by federal law, which supersedes state law. Therefore, labelling requirements are the same across the country. I am not sure if unit pricing is mandated by federal law also, but it seems to be in practice everywhere I've been.

For the record, that's not true, because the Interstate Commerce clause is not asserted as the basis for FPLA. The FPLA specifically excludes in its text certain consumer products which are left to the states to regulate. I recently provided considerable clarification of that in the "NIST & Metric" thread in International. But FPLA covers all food and drugs, and the items left to the States seem "less important" to me; a list is provided in the thread.

Unit pricing is state law, not Federal. I joke about "50 States, 50 Ways" but they are not actually constrained by law to find 50 unique solutions, although it seems like it. They can in fact borrow good ideas from each other, and only have 3-10 ways of doing anything, nationwide. (I'm sorry but I don't know how many states have unit pricing and how similar the laws are)

My goodness John you are just a plethora of very informative information. Thank You for coming to this site and setting the record straight. These people have been wallowing in their fantasies for so long, they actually believe most to be true.

I find your posts both interesting and exciting to read and respond to.

Gigathanks to you!

Hey, Bud

I just learned why all unit pricing laws look "kind of alike." I knew this was the mechanism for labelling of state regulated consumer commodities.

The NCWM has a model uniform unit pricing regulation, which many states adopt as is, or borrow from. It is the last item covered on this page.
http://lamar.colostate.edu/~hillger/laws/ncwm-uniform-laws.html

I think the fact the states make some effort (via NCWM, which they all participate in) to be uniform is the reason the Interstate Commerce clause is NOT asserted to regulate 100% of consumer commodities.

That's right, John. The federal government has the authority to regulate all consumer products, but it has chosen to leave out some of them. These are regulated by the states, which all have similar regulations due to the Uniform act.

<<Minute Maid is marketing a new brand of orange juice called Simply Orange in a 1.75l bottle (with an odd shape, to make you think it's a half gallon). It costs $3.29. Right next to it in the supermarket is a full half-gallon of Florida's Natural juice, of exactly the same quality, for $2.99.>>

I don't care how much Simply Orange costs (well, as long as long it is less than fresh squeezed), it is Simply Delicious. (Your taste buds may vary.)

I normally buy frozen orange juice, but my wife doesn't like orange juice any more. By the time I finish off a pitcher, it tastes a bit "off." So I decided to try the packaged orange juices again. I did note the 1.75 L bottle, but I tried it mainly because it WASN'T either Tropicana or Minute Maid. I've tried and disliked their carton products in the past. Had I known the brand was made by Minute Maid, I might not have bought it.

We do have unit pricing so I don't need to do mental arithmetic to compare to half gallons. I knew I was paying more, but I was searching for a product I would like, rather than dislike (I could drink water and take a vitamin C if I wanted something cheap I would dislike for breakfast).

The minute vote from wallet for US metrication was just an added bonus.

Don't expect the pro-imperials to like the product just for the fact it is metric. They would probably choke on it anyway.

Ah - is this something to do with metric food tasting nicer that the equivalent imperial 'thing'?

As a firm fantatic you should try the following:

Take a corn on the cob

Put it in boiling water for 10 minutes.

Measure it in inches, take a bite
Measure it in millimetres, take a bite.

Report back which tastes nicer.

Oh, sorry, I forgot, you spent your night scraping off any remnants of inches from your measuring ruler in the same way that there are only remnants of imperial left in daily life, eh?

<<Ah - is this something to do with metric food tasting nicer that the equivalent imperial 'thing'?>>

Me or Daniel?

I was just answering the charge above the Satan himself downsized the bottle and raised the price.

The evil bastard also made it taste better and I'm addicted to it. I'll need another bottle soon.

I hope you don't see yourself as a fanatic, John.

I certainly don't.

I'm a "kinder, gentler fanatic."
I'm equally convinced we (the US) need to go metric (and you should too). Age and wisdom have taught me to choose my battles, avoid pissing people off, and get them to change without fussing too much. Hopefully, that is the most dangerous (and effective) kind of fanatic. :)

I got my additional bottle of Simply Orange, today. Lucky me, it was on sale today and cheaper per quart than the half-gallon Tropicana. The unit pricing label on the shelf, which I normally wouldn't check, told me so.

You should check. Those labels aren't always kept up to date.

The "sale" was an $0.80 per bottle reduction, and the label supported the sale price not the old price. The Tropicana label supported its price because I could do that math in my head.

For confirmation, our labels have to show the package price ( in 000 font) as well as the per unit price in a readable font.

But the real point is that I like the taste better. If I don't like the taste, "cheap" isn't really a bargain.

Not to be outdone, Tropicana has introduced orange juice in a clear cafe too. Except for the word Tropicana, it looks so much like the other bottle that Coca Cola/Minute Maid/Simply Orange is suing them. But Tropicana admits it is the same oj in another serving size. I've never liked Tropicana, but the competition may lower the price.

"clear cafe"


Don't you mean Carafe? Wine carafes are one litre.

<<Don't you mean Carafe?>>

Yes I did, some letters got lost. Both products are in virtually identical 1.75 L carafes. Metric is taking over the oj aisle. Well, not really, the old cardboard cartons are there too.

"Wine carafes are one litre"

Really? Blimey - Dan's new made-up measures are certainly taking off!!

LOL