As the sun rises on a lazy Sunday morning and I rub the sleep from my eyes, my thoughts turn to a Sunday morning indulgence that I sometimes allow myself. A simple plan, eggs, bacon, the Sunday paper and an obligation free morning. As I assemble the troops for my attack on the tastebuds, I notice something odd, not glaringly obvious but definitely a little off. My dozen eggs are not a dozen after all. Without any fanfare, notification or packaging modifications I have unwillingly purchased a carton of TEN eggs. That’s right, TEN eggs. Now I know what you are thinking, who cares? So you’ve missed out on a couple of eggs big deal! But it really got me thinking.
I purchased this product with a dozen eggs in mind, a lifelong, universally accepted volume of an everyday product. It is packed in an identical form to the standard dozen eggs albeit slightly shorter in length. It is positioned on the Supermarket shelves around or directly within the one dozen egg cartons. The only logical conclusion that I can draw from this travesty is that the producers of these eggs didn’t want me to realise that I was buying TEN eggs. Maybe just maybe if it looks the same costs the same and sits in the same spot in the supermarket I won’t notice that I just got conned out of two eggs.
Lets not hang draw and quarter the egg producers of Australia just yet though, they are certainly not alone in these questionable packaging processes. There was a time when I was able to order a stubby or can of beer and know I was drinking 375ml of beer. But no beer producers of the world unite because you too are guilty of participating in this dirty little secret, 330ml, 345ml, 355ml, are all volumes that we now see sold in our liquor outlets as stubbies. I’m still waiting for the 380ml stubby sold at the same price (wishful thinking maybe). Smaller biscuits, less cereal, thinner bread slices, and a seemingly infinite choice of package sizes for consumers to choose from beg the question WHY?
Simple really, to distract us just long enough so that we don’t notice the price. To make it so difficult to work out what we are getting for our money that we don’t bother to question it. So what can we make of this “Camouflage Packaging” technique, when did food packagers decide that the beast way to increase profit margins was to steal from the very consumers that support their existence. Are these companies so devoid of new marketing ideas that the only way they feel they can make ends meet is to fleece there most loyal of customers.
So what does this all mean, what can we take from this Sunday morning sermon? Maybe it’s that loyalty is dead, just because you’ve eaten the same cereal for 35 years, don’t expect to get 15 breakfasts out of you next box just because you always have. Maybe it’s, beware the fancy new package. Whatever it is that old saying we all used to love, “the customer comes first” means little today. The number one person for businesses today is the shareholder, first, second, and last.
Anyway it’s time to get cracking on that breakfast, excuse me while I open my carton of TEN eggs!
Mondays Expert.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Farewell Richoman
Friday the 13th, black Friday, many fear it as a day filled with bad luck and bearing bad news. For Richmond supporters Friday the 13th 2009 is such a day. The day when Punt Road’s favourite son calls time on one of the most talked about football careers in the history of Australian Rules football.
Richo the footballer was an enigma, which is probably the only description that would receive uniform agreement from fans and players alike. At times he was the most frustrating of players to watch while at others (most others) he was simply remarkable. Like round 21 1996, when he tore apart the hapless Fitzroy side with 28 possessions, 21 marks, and kicked 7 goals 5 for the afternoon. As coached Robert Walls watched his dominant half forward run riot that day its no that wonder years later as a commentator he remarked that Richo would kick 15 goals in a game one day.
The 15 goals may never have come but tigers fans need not have worried, Richo had so much more to give. Often maligned for his poor disposal, in particular his often less than perfect goal kicking, Richo’s pure ball getting ability is what set him apart from all but a few other key forwards that have graced the AFL fields throughout the country. What was often neglected by his critics was simply the amount of ball he won. Focusing on the shots at goal he missed, he was rarely given credit for the sheer amount of marks (in particular contested marks) he took that led to additional scoring opportunities for himself and his team mates.
Richo wore his heart on his sleave. He was criticised often in his career for his poor body language and berating of team mates when things didn’t go his way. While some of it was justified, it exemplified the passion the man invested in his performance and that of his team. Perhaps if Richmond had more players with his passion over the last 17 years the club would be in a different position.
All tigers fans will have differing favourite memories of Matthew Richardson, however its hard to believe many of them won’t be feeling a sense of loss at this news. Throughout Richo’s 17 years at Punt Road, Richmond has been a poor football club and many fans have continued to show up to the MCG and buy their annual memberships because of Matthew Richardson.
One thing is for sure, watching Richmond from now on will not be the same. No longer will the chant of “RichoRichoman” ring out from the Punt Road end of the “G”, no longer will the faithful scream “yeah” after a classic Richo grab only to mutter “arrrrh” as he misses the shot from point blank range.
Richo leaves the games as humbly as he played it during his glorious career at Punt Road. No fanfare, no final season tour, no farewell game. I’m sure we’ll get the chance to wave goodbye as he does a lap of his favourite ground sometime in 2010 and tiger fans will look forward to that day.
For me, a lifelong Richmond fan, while I knew this day would come, I still feel a sense of loss. My favourite player has gone however his feats will never be forgotten. Thanks for the memories Richo, I’m sure I’ll forever remember those great calls of “RICHO” as you pulled down yet another screamer.
Mondays Expert
Richo the footballer was an enigma, which is probably the only description that would receive uniform agreement from fans and players alike. At times he was the most frustrating of players to watch while at others (most others) he was simply remarkable. Like round 21 1996, when he tore apart the hapless Fitzroy side with 28 possessions, 21 marks, and kicked 7 goals 5 for the afternoon. As coached Robert Walls watched his dominant half forward run riot that day its no that wonder years later as a commentator he remarked that Richo would kick 15 goals in a game one day.
The 15 goals may never have come but tigers fans need not have worried, Richo had so much more to give. Often maligned for his poor disposal, in particular his often less than perfect goal kicking, Richo’s pure ball getting ability is what set him apart from all but a few other key forwards that have graced the AFL fields throughout the country. What was often neglected by his critics was simply the amount of ball he won. Focusing on the shots at goal he missed, he was rarely given credit for the sheer amount of marks (in particular contested marks) he took that led to additional scoring opportunities for himself and his team mates.
Richo wore his heart on his sleave. He was criticised often in his career for his poor body language and berating of team mates when things didn’t go his way. While some of it was justified, it exemplified the passion the man invested in his performance and that of his team. Perhaps if Richmond had more players with his passion over the last 17 years the club would be in a different position.
All tigers fans will have differing favourite memories of Matthew Richardson, however its hard to believe many of them won’t be feeling a sense of loss at this news. Throughout Richo’s 17 years at Punt Road, Richmond has been a poor football club and many fans have continued to show up to the MCG and buy their annual memberships because of Matthew Richardson.
One thing is for sure, watching Richmond from now on will not be the same. No longer will the chant of “RichoRichoman” ring out from the Punt Road end of the “G”, no longer will the faithful scream “yeah” after a classic Richo grab only to mutter “arrrrh” as he misses the shot from point blank range.
Richo leaves the games as humbly as he played it during his glorious career at Punt Road. No fanfare, no final season tour, no farewell game. I’m sure we’ll get the chance to wave goodbye as he does a lap of his favourite ground sometime in 2010 and tiger fans will look forward to that day.
For me, a lifelong Richmond fan, while I knew this day would come, I still feel a sense of loss. My favourite player has gone however his feats will never be forgotten. Thanks for the memories Richo, I’m sure I’ll forever remember those great calls of “RICHO” as you pulled down yet another screamer.
Mondays Expert
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