Baby Back Ribs Rip Off

[Scott F]

I'm a big fan of baby back ribs, especially when they fall off the bone. A full slab of ribs, has 13 bones. I've noticed that the last 2 times I've ordered a full slab of ribs in a restaurant, the full slab only has 9 bones. I really feel ripped off. It's bad enough that a half gallon of ice cream is only 1.5 quarts these days and an 8 ounce package of cheese is now only 7 ounces. But when an establishment advertises a "full slab" and gives you 30% less, I get unhappy. Anybody else see this trend?

[K_Mac]

Since my wife had major back surgery a couple of years ago, I do most of the grocery shopping. I see the trend in almost everything. Coffee, prepackaged meat, peanut butter, cleaning products, and countless other things. The price increases while the amount of product goes down. All of this is hard on a man living on a budget. It has begun to effect my fishing budget and that makes me unhappy.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Never had the rib issue.

[Canyon explorer]

Most of the major retailers here are gradually raising prices and reducing standard quantities.

[Bluebasser86]

I saw a picture the other day of a McDonald's menu from the late 70's. A Big Mac was $.65! It probably actually had real beef in it back then too. Everything now days you get less for more it seems. 

[Scott F]

I don't mind that prices have gone up as much as I am bothered that they say "full slab" when you are only getting 2/3s of one. What if you picked up a dozen eggs and only found 9 in the carton?

[slonezp]

Make your own. Problem solved

[Thornback]

The trend of rising prices and less quantity isn't going to stop. It's like the reproduction urge of all animals, we have to live with it. No one likes price increases. I have learned to just complain and then laugh it off. I remember as a kid a loaf of bread for 8 cents and I could see a double feature movie for 9 cents. I was devastated when Pepsi went from 5 cents to 6 cents so I changed to Royal Crown Cola which was still 5 cents. My wife put it all in perspective about six months back when I complained the local newspaper went from 75 cents daily to $1.00 daily. She said, "You got it." Then I realized it was just 25 cents. Yeah life is still good here in America.

[Big C]

Reminds me of Subway.  You order a 6" sub, and it is maybe 4".  I think it would be hilarious to pull out a tape measure and make them cut it exactly 6".

 

There is also a burrito place, that charges .69 cents for guacamole and $1.00 for sour cream.  C'mon it's a burrito it is nothing without guac or sour cream.  I'll still go there becase they make the best burritos, getting nickeled and dimed over guac is not a deal breaker.

[that possum]

I've never bothered counting ribs before. I look at ribs being 2 sizes:

1) That should be enough

2) Better get more ribs

[K_Mac]

Reducing quantity while maintaining the illusion of business as usual has become a real art form. I won't bash any brand, so let's just say the potato chips that come in a round can is a good example. I bought a couple of these last week for the grandkids. The standard chip flavors have the standard amount of chips. A few of ounces less than a pound I think?! The more popular flavors come in the same size can, cost the same amount, but have less chips. Unless you are paying close attention you would not know this. Like the the three missing ribs it is a devious way of doing bidness IMO.

[EvanT123]

I'm still waiting on my one tenth of a gallon.

[pbizzle]

I'd just like to know what they're doing with the 4 missing ribs aside from maybe using them for the child's portions.

[tomustang]

5lb sugar bags are 4lbs now.

Remember you use to get concentrated antifreeze? Now you get 50/50 premix for double the price.

Heard girl scout cookies give you less per box

[HoosierHawgs]

I saw a picture the other day of a McDonald's menu from the late 70's. A Big Mac was $.65! It probably actually had real beef in it back then too. Everything now days you get less for more it seems.

This is huge. Reason prices have gone up in everything is because of artificially trying to pump up the economy by inflating minimum wage. By doing that, the cost of the very minimal (McD's Burger for instance) goes up, and devalues things, including every one else's time. That's economics for ya. Inflation, inflation, inflation. Like when the Confederacy attempted to pump up their economy by printing substantial amounts of money. This caused money to be less rare, easier to obtain, and caused crazy amounts of inflation, eventually leading to economic collapse.

[HoosierHawgs]

I'd just like to know what they're doing with the 4 missing ribs aside from maybe using them for the child's portions.

Half slab... Half of 9 is 4 ain't it?

[Scott F]

If you order a half slab of ribs at the restaurant I was at, you get 6 bones. The 4 missing bones are used as part of combo meals.

[halochef]

I'm a big fan of baby back ribs, especially when they fall off the bone. A full slab of ribs, has 13 bones. I've noticed that the last 2 times I've ordered a full slab of ribs in a restaurant, the full slab only has 9 bones. I really feel ripped off. It's bad enough that a half gallon of ice cream is only 1.5 quarts these days and an 8 ounce package of cheese is now only 7 ounces. But when an establishment advertises a "full slab" and gives you 30% less, I get unhappy. Anybody else see this trend?

well sometimes commercial ordering of ribs could be the weight.  one can order 1 3/4 lbs "down"  or 1 3/4 lb "up".  so the lighter ones might be a few bones less.  i never counted the bones as i generally  used them on buffets.  there was always those last 3 bones on one side that were equal to the 2 larger bones.  some places may use these 3 bone portion as a "Riblets"  as a appt. also that might be the restaurants. size to sell BBQ ribs.  i use to clean Domestic lamb racks.  generally there are only 8 bones to these racks but sometimes the meat cutter gets to close to the loin end and i got 9 bones.  really didnt make a difference.

[Neil McCauley]

5lb sugar bags are 4lbs now.

Remember you use to get concentrated antifreeze? Now you get 50/50 premix for double the price.

Heard girl scout cookies give you less per box

Yep, it's everywhere.

 

 

Has been happening with quality, too.

 

[Sam]

Been going on for years.

 

Consumer Reports used to nail the manufacturers right and left but no longer do it as it the reduction in product and increase in price is happening in all aspects of the marketplace.

 

One time I returned to the counter at a Kentucky Fried Chicken and asked the lady behind the counter if my chicken sandwich looks like the one in the advertising poster in the store?

 

She took the sandwich back; went into the back of the restaurant where I heard a lot of talk; and returned it to me with more chicken on it.

 

Seems the posters and advertising are for advertising and the home office  directs each outlet to put X amount of meat on your sandwich.

 

And just for your information, if you ever see an ice cream photo or commercial you are not looking at ice cream. You are looking at dyed mash potato's!!!

[bigbill]

You forget the inside rib meat is missing too.

I was the rib cutter in a fast food place we served more meat than ribs. Big portions.

[flyfisher]

Ever since I bought my smoker I just can't eat any BBQ out anymore unless I am traveling.  It is pretty easy to have great results at home, just takes some time.

[Choporoz]

I'm a big fan of baby back ribs, especially when they fall off the bone. A full slab of ribs, has 13 bones. I've noticed that the last 2 times I've ordered a full slab of ribs in a restaurant, the full slab only has 9 bones. I really feel ripped off. It's bad enough that a half gallon of ice cream is only 1.5 quarts these days and an 8 ounce package of cheese is now only 7 ounces. But when an establishment advertises a "full slab" and gives you 30% less, I get unhappy. Anybody else see this trend?

I bet they buy from the farmers that are breeding partially boneless ribs.  Those pigs only have 9 ribs and the rest of the 'rib area' is used for McRibs and other "boneless rib" products.  :wink7:

[Nice_Bass]

All I can really say here is spare ribs, always smoked at home. 

Spare ribs can bring world peace, among other less notable things.

[flyfisher]

All I can really say here is spare ribs, always smoked at home. 

Spare ribs can bring world peace, among other less notable things.

I prefer baby backs and brisket myself....but any smoked meat is a good thing in my mind