For almost forty years I have been protesting the failure of grocery manufacturers to make full public disclosure when downsizing or "shrinking" their supermarket shelf product. As an Institutional Food Buyer in the sixties and seventies, I saw almost the entire supermarket shelf inventory "shrink" as economic pressure affected the profit margins of corporate grocery manufacturers. In 1989, after the United States suffered a brief economic recession, I noted that, what had begun as a small, sneaky reduction in Hershey's chocolate and the tuna industry years earlier, was now affecting mostly all manufactured grocery product on mostly all shelf space. Here is how the deception works: Let's say you manufacture a seven ounce can of tuna fish. Your label reflects what's in the tin, the weight of the contents and, recently, the nutrition of your product. You clear $.27/tin. Now, there's a slight recession. You're making only $.22/tin. What to do? How to retrieve that nickel? Simple! The government (The USDA and FTC) have given you the loophole you need! Although you MUST disclose the weight of your product, no one says you have to change anything else on your label (and that means no further disclosure, other than the correct weight). So, you REDUCE the weight of your product from seven ounces to six! The consumer sees the same label logo (color, style, and form) on the shelf; the selling price hasn't changed (of course, the unit price is wrong, but who notices that or the weight?) on the shelf tag, so if you happen to be an elderly person, a housewife rushing with children through the supermarket, or a consumer with weak vision...nothing has changed--except you're paying more for less; Bingo! There's the corporate nickel back in the shareholder's pocket - trouble is, you can't seem to make that extra sandwich you could before the change! The FTC has an ordinance (#5) against the deceptive practice of trying to deceive the public eye in packaging, but it has NEVER won in court. Two Congressional Committees were to sit in 1990 and 1991; never happened! So grocery manufacturers have had a field day at the American Consumer's expense...and NOTHING has been done about it. I tried; in 1989-90, I called attention to the "Shrinking Product" phenomenon to the then New York Attorney General, and CBS'S Arnold Diaz who, today is a reporter for ABC's 20/20, where I appeared, as I have on many other numerous occasions during the past ten years on different stations here, and in Canada, attempting to curb the practice of deceit by the Grocery Manufacturing Lobby (very strong). Many reporters and Consumer Advocates have attempted to take credit for "finding" the practice abounding in this country, but I started the ball rolling in the early sixties on this matter. Who can say how many billions of dollars have been skimmed from consumer pockets and pocketbooks, or how many cups of coffee (from 16 oz. down to 10) have not been drunk, or how many paper towels (120 sheets to 80) have not dried countertops, or how many diapers (80 to 72) have not covered baby's rear, or how much baby food has been taken from their jars (a full half-ounce) or how much food has not fed poor Americans tell what's happening? Check the supermarket shelves (like S&W brand); see how many ounces are listed on the shelf tag for their product, then check the label, and see if there isn't a discrepancy. No, the practice isn't very prevalent today...the economy is booming--but, as for all those yesterdays and all those tomorrows; why, everyone should become a grocery manufacturer. Where else can you offer a product to the public today, and next month reduce its content, and increase your profit, without so much as a slap on the wrist for not disclosing your intention to do so at the expense of the trusting public! Don't worry; without regulation, the problem of "Shrinking Products" won't go away...It's just waiting for an opportunity to deceive you, the consumer, whenever it feels like. I can only hope, that when it does again, you'll remember this report, and get as angry as hell at the grocery manufacturers, and tell them EXACTLY how you feel!

CONTACT: Tricia Johnson, Deputy City Attorney, Consumer & Environmental Protection, 619-533-5500; or Lauri Twomey, Director of Media Relations: Business: 235-5725; Pager: 619-232-2237, #6273 Rip-Off Tour Bus Operator Refused to Pay Restitution to Victims She promised the excited young girls a trip to Disneyland. She took the money the Girl Scouts raised selling cookies. After Girl Scout leaders learned she had no valid license to operate buses, they demanded a refund. She kept the money. She is Virginia Clark, who was convicted in 1994 of multiple charges including grand theft for taking money from the Girl Scouts and other civic groups for bus trips that were never provided. The judge ordered her to pay restitution to her victims as a condition of probation, but she never did. Clark was finally arrested on May 8, 1997, she appeared in the Presiding Department of the San Diego Municipal Court, Room 2013, 220 West Broadway, San Diego, to respond to allegations she violated the conditions of her probation. Clark faced a maximum punishment of two and one-half years custody and/or a $5,000 fine. Clark is currently free on $20,000 bond. Virginia Clark, and her co-defendant husband Glenn Clark, operated the Family Connection Charter Bus Company and took money from several civic groups for bus trips they never provided. Other civic groups that were the victims of her crimes included the Knights of Columbus and the Jewish Community Center. The total amount of restitution the court ordered to these groups was $3,310. Clark was arrested after being tracked down by a City Attorney Investigator and members of the Police Department's Fugitive Apprehension Team. City Attorney Casey Gwinn warned scam artists that his office will aggressively pursue those who refuse to pay restitution to their victims. Co-defendant Glenn Clark is still at large and anyone with information as to his whereabouts should call Janet S. Chelberg of the City Attorney's Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit at 619-533-5500 in San Diego, California.

New Jersey,Long Island New York, Upstate New York, Chicago suburbs, Virginia Beach, Providence Road Island, Dallas Ft. Worth, Galveston and Austin Texas, Atlanta Ga., Florida, Tucson and Phoenix Arizona, Las Vegas Nevada, Denver and Bolder Colorado and California. ON THE STREETS EVERYWHERE! They Sell Stereo's and Speakers from their car or van, No Speaker inside!, a real rip-off ! They'll pull up to you at a light, or approach you in a parking lot. They'll say, hey man, look we got a load of stereo equipment we need to get rid of or, were moving out of town and need to dump the stuff so we can leave town, are you interested? its real cheap! Ya, they are trying to lead you to believe that the speakers and steros are Hot, they won't say that, they just imply that. Like maybe the stuff fell of a truck and were trying to sell it. Well this would be a good deal, maybe. Not so! They will show you a speaker that's in an open box and they'll even open up the speaker so you can see the inside. The speakers are very impressive. The box they will sell you will be sealed shut making you feel you are getting something new. It will be new, but guess what? Your going to get a brand new speaker cabinet only. That's right. A speaker cabinet ONLY. No speaker will be inside the cabinet! The stero's have nothing inside either! Get their license plate number if you see them. Report them to the police and may be put the information on this Web site. I'm sure other people will appreciate it. I am told through an X-Sales person they are mostly in the southern part of the united states during the winter months and up north for the most part in the summer. The cities they work mostly in are All over New Jersey where there main distribution center is. Also, Long Island New York, Upstate New York, Chicago suburbs, Virginia Beach, Providence Road Island, Dallas Ft. Worth, Galveston and Austin Texas, Atlanta Ga., all over Florida, Tucson and Phoenix Arizona, Las Vegas Nevada, Denver and Bolder Colorado and various cities in California. They could be in other cities as well. Rich Walsh Atlanta Click here to read other Rip-off Reports on Stereo Speakers sold from Cars on the Street test40