What is the biggest culinary rip-off you have seen? - Page 2

well on that note OnePiece, frozen potato fries takes the cake...the fancy ones, like rosemary roasted or sweet potato wedges....HUGE  mark up on the simple potato with some salt and spices.....are we really becoming so lazy?...for pete sake, you don't even have to peel the potatoes to make oven fries...just cut, add oil and spices, or even just s & p if that's all ya got...bingo....

joey

People upset about raising prices of food prices and  when the US Gov gives 28 trillion to the Banksters

and they turn around and loan US GOV. money back at interest and you don't hear a peep.Bonnie and Clyde should be so lucky

I bought the soup. Not everyone can get high quality fresh corn to freeze the number of its own in summer. I do not remove it from the muzzle and bake with butter, salt and pepper. It 's really good and a lot more than what I've done for me, when fresh corn is available, do not like canned corn cream at all. I'm not sure if the product has a different sales beans in a plastic bag. It 'just packed tighter than the average package of frozen vegetables.
 

Kobe/Waygu 'ground' beef. UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH pet peeve.

fresh cut fruit in containers...you gotta be kidding?....

joey

Quote:

Originally Posted by durangojo 

fresh cut fruit in containers...you gotta be kidding?....

joey

I respectfully disagree with that one. 

When we lived in Hawaii, the fresh fruit he got was shipped in from other parts of the world and was not so fresh.  It not only tasted horrid, but it looked unappetizing and cost a fortune.  Many a time I bought canned fruit in its own juice if I could find any, or light syrup and drained it well.  Now you can apples cut up in a bag (thank you McyD's) and jarred fruit in juice.  What little fruits that are grown there are shipped out.  The only fresh fruits we got were if a neighbor had a surplus and would put a cardboard box out in the front of their home with a big sign “free” or “please take one”.  Sometimes at a local farmers market or the swap meet, but at a hefty price. 

Now, we're in pig heaven!!

kgirl,

 in your case as well as others in certain parts of the globe, your only choice was that or none...i'm talking about 8 bucks for a container of cut up watermelon(maybe 2 cups), when 4 feet away are beautiful little seedless 'dulcinea' watermelons for $1.59...each.....in your face capitalism, gotta love it!

joey

Quote:

Originally Posted by durangojo 

kgirl,

 in your case as well as others in certain parts of the globe, your only choice was that or none...i'm talking about 8 bucks for a container of cut up watermelon(maybe 2 cups), when 4 feet away are beautiful little seedless 'dulcinea' watermelons for $1.59...each.....in your face capitalism, gotta love it!

joey

TRUE!!  I see your point.
 

In Supermarkets   8 ounce container diced celery     $2.19

                                                          chopped onion $1.99

                           8 ounce mushrooms 1.49       slced $1.59

                           Bag chopped salad mix                    2.59

                             about 4 stems of basil                     1.95

        Glued together filet mignon /bacon reasher        5.50 ea  5.5 ounce which bacon accounts for 1 ounce.

  Supposed gourmet dinners in bags  22 ounces of which 16 ounces is pasta or rice balance meat & vege.  $5,99  And the rip goes on and on

Quote:

Originally Posted by durangojo 

kgirl,

 in your case as well as others in certain parts of the globe, your only choice was that or none...i'm talking about 8 bucks for a container of cut up watermelon(maybe 2 cups), when 4 feet away are beautiful little seedless 'dulcinea' watermelons for $1.59...each.....in your face capitalism, gotta love it!

joey

From a practical stance I agree.  However there have been many a times that I'm walking around the city and need a hit of freshly cut cold fruit in the summer.  When you're in a jam like that you don't have time to go home and cut up fruit and bring it back into the city so it's a godsend.  I'd rather pick up that than a candy bar anyway.

The price of any salt other than regular iodized or Kosher. 

Any other salt is basically 1% dirt with 99% sodium chloride.

Luc H.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koukouvagia 

From a practical stance I agree.  However there have been many a times that I'm walking around the city and need a hit of freshly cut cold fruit in the summer.  When you're in a jam like that you don't have time to go home and cut up fruit and bring it back into the city so it's a godsend.  I'd rather pick up that than a candy bar anyway.

yes kk,i agree that fresh fruit is always a better choice over a candy bar, but what about just picking up an orange or apple or some grapes..it may be a handy convienience, but it's a huge rip off and i don't think we should condone it, that's all...the other day i saw someone in the grocery store buying strawberries in a little clear container..the tops had been removed, that's all. they could have bought a whole quart for a 1/3 of the price. plus, i like the stems...it gives you something to hold onto and it acts like a little juice protector as well.

joey
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by durangojo 

yes kk,i agree that fresh fruit is always a better choice over a candy bar, but what about just picking up an orange or apple or some grapes..it may be a handy convienience, but it's a huge rip off and i don't think we should condone it, that's all...the other day i saw someone in the grocery store buying strawberries in a little clear container..the tops had been removed, that's all. they could have bought a whole quart for a 1/3 of the price. plus, i like the stems...it gives you something to hold onto and it acts like a little juice protector as well.

joey
 

 

 
I'm not arguing that it's a huge rip off.  And yes I could buy an apple or an orange.  But when you want some super cold melon?  It is a rip off but I'm willing to spend the money and not feel guilty about it if I really want some.  Or a nice cup of cold melon with strawberries and kiwi and a few grapes.  A fancy fruit cup in other words.  Each person has to draw their own line I guess.

I have a friend who refuses to buy a soda or drink when out at a restaurant, she opts for tap water.  Her rationale is, why pay for a drink when I could drink water for free?  Nothing wrong with that kind of thinking and that's great for her, but I'm willing to spend a couple of dollars to get a nice gingerale once in a while in a restaurant. It's a rip off for sure, I could buy a bunch of gingerale at Costco for a few cents a can, but I can't go through life drinking tap water when I go out.  Lots of people think the same way.  Why go to Baskin Robbins for some ice cream when I can eat ice cream at home cheaper?  Why go out to dinner when I can make it cheaper at home?  Well once in a while people are in need of going out, letting someone else take care of the cooking and cleaning up, and being served without having to run around.  Some people find it more necessary than others.  So I'd rather buy a cup of cut up fruit rather than lug a whole watermelon to work and spend my time cutting it up there or even spending the time in the morning to do it if I'm running late.
 

yes kk,

that's exactly my point...we must all help to draw the line!

joey

REALLY?!  NO, I MEAN REALLY!  Oh My Gosh!!

I can’t believe they actually sell strawberries, what like hull-less, stem-less, in a container??

That kinda’ tops it for me!! Thatis the best RIP I've heard yet.

okay all...on a more positive note, let's just turn this whole thing around to ask not what peeves you off about being ripped off, but what actually is a good, positive or makes you happy convienience food?(please don't anyone say cut fruit!) for me, i dunno..gotta think on it, but i do love those little tiny single ice cream servings..i think 3 or 4 ounces that haagen daaz sells, with the little spoon inside the lid..perfect for a little lift and usually only a buck...oh yea, frozen artichoke hearts, better and cheaper than canned.....the cryovaced pork carnitas that trader joes sells...saves me lots of time, and are muy sabrosa...sure i'll think of more, but for now, it's your turn...

joey

HHHMMMM, let me think …

convenience … rip or not rip?

My Mother does not feed herself well or shall I say nutritionally correct, so I make a point of taking her “food shopping” as I did today.  She purchased ALL prepared packaged foods.  I would never have done that, but she likes it, she’s happy, she’s eating, I’m happy.   

I have a few interns who paid $20,000 for a 9 month baking program. I paid the same for a bachelors degree in culinary. *shakes head*

Some people went to H.K.U  and paid nothing....      H.K.U. ==Hard knocks University

Got to say that I'm somewhat astounded at most of the responses on this thread. The OP asks about rip-offs. And what we get, instead, is a litany of things whose raw prices are high, or whose quality doesn't compare to the same food in another form, and so forth.

Overlooked in all of this is the concept of value-recieved. If I pay an excessive amount for a convenience product, but feel it was worthwhile because it saved me time, or was easier, or I just liked it, or any other reason, then the product was worth what I paid for it. Far as I'm concerned there was value recieved. If it were otherwise the salad bars in supermarkets wouldn't last twenty minutes.

So I'm curious as to how people define rip-off?

To me, a rip-off is something that doesn't deliver on its promise. The actual cost is irrelevant.

Here's an example. My mom, she should rest in peace, would go crazy if she knew what you and me pay for knives and cookware. For her, a pot was a pot was a pot. On the other hand, I willingly pay $60, $80, $125 for a pot, so long as it does the job it's supposed to in all respects.

A rip-off is when I pay that kind of money for an All-Clad pot which does not do what it's supposed to, and which the company doesn't back. It's not the $85 that's at issue, but that I paid $85 for a useless piece of cookware.

I know somebody who paid $1,200 for a hand-forged Japanese knife. Expensive? You betcha! But a rip-off? Not hardly. So long as the features and performance are there (and, apparently they are, cuz he loves the thing), then there was value recieved.

What's that you say? You would never pay 1,200 bucks for a knife? Your choice. Value, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

To me, the biggest joke in the food industry is those Crockpot Classics. Everything you need to make a crockpot meal all in one frozen package.

Putting aside quality and nutritional issues, how long does it take to chop some meat and veggies and toss them in a slow cooker? To me, the very idea of such a product is the greatest marketing ploy since Eve convinced Adam that a snake did it. But when I expressed that opinion on another list, a member, rather indignantly, pointed out that the product let her spend ten more minutes with her grandchildren, and so was worthwhile.

In her eyes, there is value recieved.

I totally agree KY, maybe that's why I made such a stink about the already cut up fruit - though I agree that I could do the same thing in only a little bit of time and a fraction of the cost I remember with fondness the times that I made use of the convenience of the fruit cups.  Sorry to annoy anyone, I just felt that the cost was worth it to me at those moments.

Some people care much less about value than others.  Some people only care about getting something at the lowest cost.  Funny story, I once had an uncle who came to visit us and for dessert we served watermelon.  He said to us "you buy watermelon?? I NEVER buy watermelon, it's too dangerous!!"  Initially I thought he meant that there had been some kind outbreak of disease in the watermelons but he explained that with a melon you never know if it's really going to be a good melon or a bad one so he would rather not take the (financial) risk.  It took all my strength not to laugh at this.  Imagine being so concerned over the cost of a melon that you don't buy it just in case it's not good.

There's no accounting for how people see value, KK.

I've got a friend who's an auto mechanic. Everything he uses on the job is top of the line. He's got, no kidding, $180,000 worth of tools.

So, we're in his home workshop one day, and his table saw blade will cut butter on any August day, but that's about it. When I suggested it was past time to replace it he replied, "I know. But I can't find a 10" blade."

For those who don't do woodwork, 10" is about the commonest size there is. So I was a bit confused.

"Wadda ya mean you can't find one," I asked. He said, "I've been to Big Lots several times, and they're never in stock."

When I asked if he'd use Big Lots tools on the job he got very indignant. And got even more so when I asked how come they were good enough at home, but not on the job.

ky,

i really gotta run, but not without replying to your statement about the best marketing ploy since Eve convinced Adam a snake did it...the way it was explained to me was, the first time Adam had a chance, he laid the blame on a woman! cheers...

joey

back later...i ain't done yet!

as i think through this i am reminded once again to pick one's battles...not just fight the fight. there is no 'one size fits all' here. besides i am dancing as fast as i can with all that reopening the restaurant for the season entails and meanwhile catering weddings, rehearsal dinners, parties, memorials, consultations for just booked parties that the client wants menu and price yesterday, and trying to have a life while i still can. so on that note......THINK GREEN! if you already THINK GREEN then THINK GREENER!!

joey

Quote:

Originally Posted by durangojo 

 1 vanilla bean in a glass jar for $10, 1 thread of saffron in a glass jar for $12. its almost criminal and a total waste of resources...why not just cyrovac the spices and reduce the price. who buys spices like that anyway?...also, not getting what you pay for, like extracts that are so diluted they don't even come close to the flavor.

Take Stop and Shop, for example.  In the baking aisle, you have the brand name spices.  As you said, insanely expensive.  In the same store, by the oils, they sell Badia spices MUCH cheaper.  But the marketing works.  My mother, for example, won't touch the cheaper brand even though there's absolutely no difference in taste.