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Costco Seasoning Scandal Sparks Debate Amid Shrinkflation Claims
Defining the Facts
- A Costco member has started a debate on TikTok, claiming the retailer sells seasoning bottles that are only partially full.
- The user compared several well-known spice brands’ bottles with Costco’s in-house brand, Kirkland, which he found to be filled to the cap.
- While some customers expressed dissatisfaction, others pointed out that the cost is determined by the weight of the product, not the volume of the bottle.
Opening a snack bag to find more air than chips is an all-too-familiar frustration. Interestingly, manufacturers intentionally fill these bags with nitrogen gas to protect and preserve the snacks within. A similar issue was recently discovered by a Costco member, but this time, it involves seasoning bottles sold at the popular warehouse retailer.
A video posted by TikToker Jpeezy (@just_n_time_2_tok), which has already attracted over 788,000 views, criticizes Costco for selling name-brand seasoning bottles that are only partially full. His video visually compares popular seasoning and dry rub brands with Kirkland’s Everything Bagel Seasoning, a noticeably full bottle.
@just_n_time_2_tok #fyp #costco #kirkland #hiddenvalleyranch #kinders #thespicelab #oldbay #ripoff @Costco Wholesale
“Why are we paying for half a bottle of seasoning?” Jpeezy queries, overlaying the text at the start of his video.
He guides viewers through the herbs and spices aisle, showcasing seasoning bottles that aren’t filled to the brim. Among the underfilled bottles, he highlights Old Bay seasoning, a popular flavor enhancer for seafood, chicken, and red meat.
Further into the aisle, Jpeezy pans the camera to the Kinder’s brand, then onto Spice Lab’s Taco Seasoning, Dash’s Salt-Free Original Seasoning Blend, and Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning – all of which seem to be two-thirds full.
However, it’s when Jpeezy arrives at the Kirkland products, that he discovers seasoning bottles filled to the cap. His video ends with a note of gratitude: “Thanks, Kirkland for filling your bottles all the way!”
This revelation has sparked a heated debate. While some Costco shoppers feel cheated by big brands, others argue that there’s a logical explanation for the extra space in the bottles.
Comments range from confusion to attempts to rationalize the situation. One user expressed, “I don’t know why they do this. I understand why they don’t fill potato chips bags all the way, but this one I don’t know.” Another user introduced the term “shrinkflation” into the discussion, reminiscing about times when seasoning bottles were both cheaper and fuller.
Others offered an alternate viewpoint, noting that spices tend to settle over time, which can influence how full a bottle seems. An insightful commenter explained, “Because powders settle differently than seeds, it might look less full but as long as you’re getting the weight that’s labeled for sale.”
In support of this, another user suggested, “When the spices are sitting for a while, they condense because the air between the particles escapes. If you shake it up, it should look more full.”
Despite these points, many emphasized that the weight of the seasoning is more significant than the volume of the bottle when determining the product’s cost. As one person highlighted, “You’re paying for the weight of the powder inside, not the volume of the bottle.” Echoing these sentiments, another person added, “YOU ARE PAYING A PRICE PER OUNCE!” Another commenter concurred, “You pay for the amount labeled on the bottle. How big the bottle is, is irrelevant.”
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
