Purex Detergent - Sneaky Inflation

[pearlieq]

You could also sent it to Consumer Reports. They report on things like this.

 

[Colleen27]

I think you are missing the point. The picture shows 1/2 a cap. Cap B is 25% larger, so most consumers will use 25% more based on the picture. There are 6 different lines inside each cap labeled A, B, C, D, 1, 2. They are difficult to read and are the same color as the cap. I doubt anyone is that dilligent. Most people go by the picture on the container which shows using a 1/2 a cap. I am sure they aren't violating any laws but it is very deceptive.

That's why it isn't a good idea to use the cap to measure. All the brands do this - in the box of powdered Tide in my basement, the "fill" line on the scoop is about 1/3 of the way up. Why? Because they know most people won't look at the line and will use more. A lot of people don't even look at the back of the package or the lines and just use a full scoop. If they sized the scoop/cup to what is actually needed they'd sell less soap.

The first thing I do with store-bought soap is to put an appropriately sized measuring cup in/near the package. Otherwise I have my DH and kids using much more than is needed because of the way the packaging is designed. It has gotten to the point where I prefer making my own just so I'm not watching out for (and getting aggravated with) all these little tricks companies come up with to give less value for your dollar.

 

[eduk8r26]

After trying every kind of detergent out there, I won't use anything but Tide. It costs a bit more, unless it is on sale, but I don't have to use as much, so it lasts longer.

 

[prncess674]

That's why it isn't a good idea to use the cap to measure. All the brands do this - in the box of powdered Tide in my basement, the "fill" line on the scoop is about 1/3 of the way up. Why? Because they know most people won't look at the line and will use more. A lot of people don't even look at the back of the package or the lines and just use a full scoop. If they sized the scoop/cup to what is actually needed they'd sell less soap.

The first thing I do with store-bought soap is to put an appropriately sized measuring cup in/near the package. Otherwise I have my DH and kids using much more than is needed because of the way the packaging is designed. It has gotten to the point where I prefer making my own just so I'm not watching out for (and getting aggravated with) all these little tricks companies come up with to give less value for your dollar.

Umm, well I guess you are a better laundress than me. You win the award. Do you want a button too? I didn't need a lecture, my point was to share with those who may have realized that the trusty cap just got bigger and there previous measure was now off.

After trying every kind of detergent out there, I won't use anything but Tide. It costs a bit more, unless it is on sale, but I don't have to use as much, so it lasts longer.

I wasn't asking for opinions on detergent. The smell of Tide nauseates me and my Purex does just fine for 1/3 the price.

 

[manning]

No need to go to all that trouble just keep and use the old cap

 

[peanut12392]

Interesting thread. I dont use purex, but agree this is deceptive, I thought I was pretty good at catching the changes on things, ie: smaller packages, but doubt I would have noticed this type of thing. Thanks for the heads up, something new to watch out for!

 

[SaraJayne]

So OP, did you actually check and see if the second bottle cap uses more detergent, according to the lines?

Use water to check, like msmayor suggested. Remember that old science experiment of which cup holds more water? The tall one or the wide one?

Before contacting Purex, make sure what you're claiming is true, and using water is the fastest and easiest way to check. It will literally take 15 seconds.

 

[sam_gordon]

Sorry, I'm going to agree with those who say your detective work didn't go far enough.

You need to fill both cups to the same line marked on them and see if the amount of detergent is the same. The fact that one cap is bigger doesn't mean anything. The new cap can be 500% larger, but if the line inside the cap is at the same spot, the same amount of detergent would be used each time.

Yes, if you look at the label on the bottle, it's ABOUT halfway. Why would you use a picture on a bottle to determine the fill point when there are lines inside the cap?

As far as the majority of people agreeing with you... my personal belief is people are biased against ANY company and think companies are out to trick them. That may be the case here, but you haven't proved it simply because one cap is bigger.

 

[Judique]

So OP, did you actually check and see if the second bottle cap uses more detergent, according to the lines?

Use water to check, like msmayor suggested. Remember that old science experiment of which cup holds more water? The tall one or the wide one?

Before contacting Purex, make sure what you're claiming is true, and using water is the fastest and easiest way to check. It will literally take 15 seconds.

OP NEVER said it was according to the lines. She said it was the instructions on the back of both bottles showed to use 1/2 cap. Then she very specifically gave the quantities that each cap held. This is all in her first post. Could have been read in 15 seconds......

 

[mrodgers]

OP NEVER said it was according to the lines. She said it was the instructions on the back of both bottles showed to use 1/2 cap. Then she very specifically gave the quantities that each cap held. This is all in her first post. Could have been read in 15 seconds......

The "instructions" on the bottle do not say to use 1/2 cap. The "instructions" say that normal usage is to fill to the 1 line. They both have a picture of the cap with a line marked "1", and an arrow pointing to that line stating "normal". That tells me not "use half a cap" but with a normal load, fill to the "1" line. Nothing sneaky about that.

Both are 72 oz. and both are 46 load bottles. And you would get 46 loads out of both bottles if you fill to the normal level which the image says to the "1" line.

 

[sam_gordon]

OP NEVER said it was according to the lines. She said it was the instructions on the back of both bottles showed to use 1/2 cap. Then she very specifically gave the quantities that each cap held. This is all in her first post. Could have been read in 15 seconds......

Actually the instructions DON'T say to use 1/2 cap. They say to fill it to the line, and show an APPROXIMATE location of that line.

In fact, according to the OP, each load should take 46mL. Then she(?) points out the 'old' cap used 50mL (if you went by exactly half). So I guess the company was being 'deceptive' then too?

If I had the two purex bottles in question, I'd do the test. I don't use purex, so I can't. The OP does.

Those of who say the OP didn't go far enough aren't saying she's wrong. But she is making some assumptions that may not stand up to testing. That testing would take a small amount of time and make her claim MUCH stronger.

 

[skw444]

OP NEVER said it was according to the lines. She said it was the instructions on the back of both bottles showed to use 1/2 cap. Then she very specifically gave the quantities that each cap held. This is all in her first post. Could have been read in 15 seconds......

The instructions don't say to use 1/2 cap. They say to fill to the line 1. Before OP complains to the company, she needs to fill to line 1 in her old cap and then pour it into the new cap. I bet she would find that the same amount of detergent is still being used. ALL detergent has different size caps for different size bottles but they line is adjusted in each cap to reflect the correct amount of detergent.

 

[Judique]

Actually the instructions DON'T say to use 1/2 cap. They say to fill it to the line, and show an APPROXIMATE location of that line.

In fact, according to the OP, each load should take 46mL. Then she(?) points out the 'old' cap used 50mL (if you went by exactly half). So I guess the company was being 'deceptive' then too?

If I had the two purex bottles in question, I'd do the test. I don't use purex, so I can't. The OP does.

Those of who say the OP didn't go far enough aren't saying she's wrong. But she is making some assumptions that may not stand up to testing. That testing would take a small amount of time and make her claim MUCH stronger.

Back to the OP's post Sam. I agree with her. You obviously don't. I appreciate what she is trying to say. It's a 'fool the eye' thing. Of course the instructions and lines on the caps are approximately correct.

The whole idea is that many people would just look at the bottle and 'assume' half a capful and pour in more detergent then the instructions actually say. No harm just sudsier clothes and a lighter pocketbook and more company profits.

And, when you have a houseful of people doing their own laundry, the $18 bottle can disappear fast. The same way that 9 lights on in the house after everyone has gone to bed adds to your power bill, or a dripping faucet.

Little things add up. We often do things automatically. That's the point.

Maybe Purex thought everybody who has used their product for many years would immediately read the instructions if the packaging changed slightly.

I doubt it.

 

[maggiew]

I'm surprised by how many people use the cartoon picture on the box as a guide? Maybe its because I am a scientist, but I use the markings on the cap to measure.

I agree with the OP that it is slightly deceptive. But the marketing people are only taking advantage of the fact that people aren't paying enough attention. If you follow the directions and fill the cap to the 1 mark, I'm sure it is the same amount in each cup. So you can have the last laugh and not fall for their marketing "scheme".

Maggie

 

[sam_gordon]

The whole idea is that many people would just look at the bottle and 'assume' half a capful and pour in more detergent then the instructions actually say. No harm just sudsier clothes and a lighter pocketbook and more company profits.

But the company isn't engaging in 'deceptive advertising' (which is what the OP is claiming). Is the company responsible for making sure consumers follow the instructions (which I'm guessing say 'fill to the line in the cap') and not assume? How should a company do that?

Is the company HOPING people ASSUME and not follow the directions? Maybe. But even if you follow the line, if you're just a little over every measurement, you won't get as many "loads" from the bottle. Should the company be held at fault for that?

And, when you have a houseful of people doing their own laundry, the $18 bottle can disappear fast. The same way that 9 lights on in the house after everyone has gone to bed adds to your power bill, or a dripping faucet.

Little things add up. We often do things automatically. That's the point.

I know I'm taking this to the extreme, but using your example, should the light bulb manufacturer state on their package: 'Turn off after use'. After all, the more you use the product (in this case light bulbs), the quicker you run out.

Maybe Purex thought everybody who has used their product for many years would immediately read the instructions if the packaging changed slightly.

I doubt it.

Honestly, I've never looked at a drawing on a package as the final say when measuring. I might look at the drawing to see where the line is or a chart that says 'use line A for a light load, 1 for a normal load, and 2 for a heavy load'. But I'm going to look in the cap for the location of those lines. Because I know a skinnier cap will have the line higher while a wider cap will have the line lower.

 

[Judique]

But the company isn't engaging in 'deceptive advertising' (which is what the OP is claiming). Is the company responsible for making sure consumers follow the instructions (which I'm guessing say 'fill to the line in the cap') and not assume? How should a company do that?

Is the company HOPING people ASSUME and not follow the directions? Maybe. But even if you follow the line, if you're just a little over every measurement, you won't get as many "loads" from the bottle. Should the company be held at fault for that?

I know I'm taking this to the extreme, but using your example, should the light bulb manufacturer state on their package: 'Turn off after use'. After all, the more you use the product (in this case light bulbs), the quicker you run out.

Honestly, I've never looked at a drawing on a package as the final say when measuring. I might look at the drawing to see where the line is or a chart that says 'use line A for a light load, 1 for a normal load, and 2 for a heavy load'. But I'm going to look in the cap for the location of those lines. Because I know a skinnier cap will have the line higher while a wider cap will have the line lower.

Sam,

Do you read the package every time you buy the same product?

At some point do you ever feel secure with the idea that you 'know' how much to use? After you've used the same basic product for maybe 10 years? 1/2 cap Purex, throw it in and fill the fabric softener dispenser,etc?

A cap change is a fairly subtle change. Maybe not a 'deceptive' change, but one that could result in the ordinary person not taking particular notice of a few miligrams here or there.

 

[Judique]

I'm surprised by how many people use the cartoon picture on the box as a guide? Maybe its because I am a scientist, but I use the markings on the cap to measure.

I agree with the OP that it is slightly deceptive. But the marketing people are only taking advantage of the fact that people aren't paying enough attention. If you follow the directions and fill the cap to the 1 mark, I'm sure it is the same amount in each cup. So you can have the last laugh and not fall for their marketing "scheme".

Maggie

I agree, Maggie. Many people - myself included - would not have paid much attention to this.

And like you, my brother the scientist would have been on it, because these things interest him. He probably would have had his own calculation for how many mililiters to use based on the particles of soil ratio to gallons of water in the load, etc. <g>

 

[prncess674]

I did do go back and do the measure both to the "1 line" and as I stated previously the 1 line held the stated amount. Cap A was much more representative of the picture on the bottle and was approximately 1/2 a cap. When I poured the liquid into cap B it was only about 25% of the cap! It looked like a TINY amount of detergent in such a big cup and had I not realized the caps were two different sizes I would have assumed that my go to product hadn't changed the product to deceive me. I have been using this detergent for years and a 1/2 cap has been the proper amount. It isn't illegal to make the cap bigger and move the line down, but at the same time they should have moved the line down on the drawing. What about senior citizens who can't see those barely visible marking inside the cap? They would be duped by the deceptive picture on the back.

 

[sam_gordon]

Sam,

Do you read the package every time you buy the same product?

At some point do you ever feel secure with the idea that you 'know' how much to use? After you've used the same basic product for maybe 10 years? 1/2 cap Purex, throw it in and fill the fabric softener dispenser,etc?

A cap change is a fairly subtle change. Maybe not a 'deceptive' change, but one that could result in the ordinary person not taking particular notice of a few miligrams here or there.

I don't read the package every time. But I generally don't look at the package for measurements. ESPECIALLY when using laundry detergents. Maybe that's because my family doesn't always get the same size bottle, so I rely on the markings on the cup because the cups are generally different sizes.

I did do go back and do the measure both to the "1 line" and as I stated previously the 1 line held the stated amount. Cap A was much more representative of the picture on the bottle and was approximately 1/2 a cap. When I poured the liquid into cap B it was only about 25% of the cap! It looked like a TINY amount of detergent in such a big cup and had I not realized the caps were two different sizes I would have assumed that my go to product hadn't changed the product to deceive me. I have been using this detergent for years and a 1/2 cap has been the proper amount. It isn't illegal to make the cap bigger and move the line down, but at the same time they should have moved the line down on the drawing. What about senior citizens who can't see those barely visible marking inside the cap? They would be duped by the deceptive picture on the back.

I understand what you're saying, I just don't think it's an intentional act on the part of the companies to deceive or dupe the consumer.

Personally, my first clue the cups might be different is the different color. Maybe I just think differently than others.

 

[prncess674]

I understand what you're saying, I just don't think it's an intentional act on the part of the companies to deceive or dupe the consumer.

The container was the exact same size so there was no reason to change the cup size. I do think it was to trick the consumer into using more product.

Personally, my first clue the cups might be different is the different color. Maybe I just think differently than others.

The color change was due to the different scent. Green = mountain breeze. Blue = after the rain.