Left - old Tilex, Right - new Tilex Every now and then, something completely unimportant annoys the living daylights out of me. Today it is Tilex Soap Scum Remover. Yes, I know with the economic crisis going on, this is a silly thing to be upset about. But, like my blog post in last December when I wrote about stealth price increases when companies reduce the quantity of a product , there is another problem out there of which consumers should be aware. It’s when a company changes the formula of a product and it’s nothing like what it used to be.
Case in point –Tilex Soap Scum Remover. I have used this product for years, it works well, it foams up nicely, and it leaves a nice CLEAN fragrance. I am very sensitive to fragrances, so when I find something that leaves a clean scent that is not too perfumed, I am very happy.
This past week, while shopping in Wal-Mart, I had to get another bottle of Tilex. I scan the shelf, and find the familiar bottle…but wait! It looks the same, but it isn’t. The words “soap scum remover” have been replaced with the words “bathroom cleaner.” The label also said “dissolves soap scum on contact,” so I assumed they just changed the label to market it as a general bathroom cleaner. My mistake.
When I went to use it, it was clear that some major change was made to this product. The ‘thick foam” that the old label touted was gone, instead I got a thin misty spray – despite the fact that I had the nozzle on the foam setting. And the clean fragrance? Gone, replaced with a heavily perfumed scent, nothing like the original. The new bottle still has the words “lemon scent” on it, but the text is much smaller. I can tell you that it smells nothing like lemon. I don’t think the product works as well, either.
I don’t recall noticing a change in the price of Tilex, but it doesn’t really matter at this point because I won’t be buying it any more. Somehow, I feel as if I have been betrayed – I paid for one product and got something completely unlike what it was before. There should have been something on the label that said “new formula” or something. I may have still purchased it, but not felt as duped into buying it.
So my messages to consumer is to BE WARY. Any packaging change or label change may mean that the product you once knew and loved has been changed, and/or you’re paying the same price for something that probably cost the company less to make. By the way, Tilex is a Clorox Company, so now other Clorox products may be off my list as well.
Check out my blog home page for the latest information,The Frequent Critic, here.
