35 Photos Of The Most Misleading Package Designs People Have Seen

You pick up a large packet of crisps at the store, only to find when you get home that most of it is air. The disappointment is real as you realise, you’re just another victim of marketing tricks from less-than-honest companies. This experience can leave you feeling mildly duped, reluctantly impressed, and determined not to fall for it again.

Today’s shoppers need to be more vigilant than ever about the deceptive tactics businesses use to sell products. Naturally, others who’ve had the same frustration have taken to the internet to share tips and warnings. Scroll down to see a gallery of photos from fellow shoppers, exposing the packaging designs that caught them out too.

#1 The Amount Of Air I Have To Squeeze Out Before Getting Any Glue Is Insane

Image source: WeirdConference5699

#2 They’re Trying To Make It Look Like There’s A Lot More Nerf Darts Packaged

Image source: AcexSwordzman

#3 My Expectations Were Low, But Holy Cow

Image source: DigitalSundialClock

#4 This Battery Company Has Started Changing The Packaging To Make You Think You’re Getting Two Free Batteries, They Normally Come In An 8 Pack Anyways

Image source: NOSWT-AvaTarr

Companies really need to stop doing this.

#5 Roll Of Tape Is Quite A Bit Smaller Than Depicted (I Checked Several Boxes, They All Are Like That)

Image source: raitisg

#6 Contains Vitamins B3, B6, B12, And Zinc, Except It Doesn’t Contain Those

Image source: ThatGuyDoesMemes

#7 Is Anyone Else Bothered By Deceptive Packaging Like This?

Image source: sevenhops

#8 Feeling Scammed. Oh, Boy. Does It Feel Like Bad Design, Or Is There A Better Place To Post This?

Image source: AmIsafeApp

#9 Standard Misleading Packaging

Image source: sometimestakesphotos

Misleading packaging to make the wrap look longer than it is.

#10 A New Low From Colgate. This Tube Came In This Box! I Feel Done Over

Image source: rdh_3000

#11 Where’s The Rest Of My Cookies? It Used To Be To The End

Image source: lt2362

#12 Huge Foam Block Inside Pack Of Kids Necklace Bead

Image source: JambleJumble

#13 Something Stinks

Image source: I-I2O

Brand new/unopened stick of antiperspirant. Only 40%of the tube has product. This is typical for the brand.

I’d rather less plastics and more honesty, but I know that the boardroom fat-cats are incapable of responsible ideation.

#14 I’ve Been Annoyed About This For Weeks. 75% Air. My Hands Are Small, And I Could Hold All Of It In My Palm. What Do You Mean “Share Size”

Image source: sukonetei

#15 Pop Tarts – Since Y’all Caught On About Frosting, Now They’re Just Smaller

Image source: Saneless

I thought a new one looked a bit small, so I compared it to a different box we’ve had for a while. The new ones are half an inch shorter than the old ones. At least the frosting is reasonable.

#16 Am I Crazy Or Did Pringles Get This Small Without Me Noticing? Especially When They Are Like 5 Bucks When Not On Sale

Image source: Fizzy_Fizzure

#17 Coffee A Month Or So Apart

Image source: Perfect_Tension_3611

#18 This Veet Packaging Designed To Make You Waste Product (And Buy More)

Image source: IranticBehaviour

I was using this hair removal cream earlier today, and it stopped dispensing. Tried the usual tricks to get some to pump out, no dice. But it felt too heavy to be actually empty. So, I tried taking the top off, thinking there’d be a little in the bottom I could scoop out and use.

Got it open; it turns out the tube to the pump only goes about halfway down, and the cream is actually in a bag inside. The bag was connected to the opening, so I cut it to get the bag free.

#19 Seriously? All Stick. $6 For These

Image source: TurbulentSource6988

#20 Look, I Know I Ordered A “Small” KFC Popcorn Chicken, But This Is Hilarious

Image source: stigma_wizard

#21 Just Opened The Pack And Theres Not A Single Chocolate One

Image source: Bradleyneo100

#22 This Slime Sold At Target

Image source: xDankWraith

#23 New vs. Old Swiss Cake Rolls

Image source: AnthemWild

New Swiss Cake Rolls on the left and the old ones on the right… Banana for science.

I found some old Little Debbie Swiss Cake Rolls in a lunch bag I forgot about… Pre-covid. Surprisingly enough, after several years at room temperature, they look edible.

#24 My 8oz Bag Of Cheese Was Only 4oz

Image source: TheParadox3b

#25 The Deceptive Padding Beneath These Strawberries

Image source: SamJPV

#26 Misleading Packaging

Image source: DemonOfTheFaIl

#27 Misleading Packaging. Less Than Half Full. Of Minis, No Less

Image source: Jnanacandra

#28 Twizzler Hiding How Much Shorter Their Product Is With Extra Packaging

Image source: LtMilo

#29 A “Roll” Of Wrapping Paper At Target

Image source: Denelo

One roll can only handle two or three presents now… Skip Target if you need gift wrap!

#30 These Used To Be As Long As The Package

Image source: UniqueKitt

#31 I Got The Last 12 Pack. Same Price

Image source: SturmgeistX

#32 Cheese Balls Size Comparison

Image source: PizzaTheFox20

I love stuff like this. My family has saved cheese ball buckets for years, and finally, after cleaning out some stuff, I found some with significant expiration age gaps. We’ve been robbed. Take me back to 2010. It’s absolutely ridiculous how they reduced the size and thought we wouldn’t notice.