I think colloquially people have begun expanding use of the word to include anything where features or product are removed but the price stays the same.

Maybe there's a better word for that, but I understand the parallel.

Lack tables are now 20% smaller

This program was to encourage you to be loyal by offering you discounts. Now that you're loyal, fuck you.

I think this is just normal inflation, since it's cost. I guess you could also argue it's skimpflation.

Your membership to the service is now worse off comparatively, so the benefits you receive have shrunk. Shrinkflation feels pretty apt here

Yea, if I'm understanding correctly, they are removing an employee benefit. Which is shitty, but the discount was pretty shit in the first place.

Board and ceo says they need even higher margins, the billions in profit simply aren't enough!

They realised that people were still coming as often with the specific items rebate program they have everywhere else and figured they should stop leaving money on the table in the USA.

That's my guess.

They say cost is going down, in my local ikea website we didn't have the royalty program like OP posted, but they did have price cut and all, not sure how long this will last.

I am capable of drinking enough free coffee to equate a 5% discount.

Same thing in Canada, I guess they'll introduce the same model to the US.

That's how it originally was in the US. I had it for years and it was absolutely useless, I used to complain about what's the point of even having it if the only benefit was ONE return without a receipt per calendar year. You're telling me you want to track all my purchases, but you can't actually track all my purchases? Give me a break.

Then a few years ago they added free coffee, so it became worth it again. The 5% off thing is new enough I remember being surprised when I learned it.

Shrinkflation also has an element of being sneaky with it. Making the product cheaper or smaller without changing the price or packaging so that they can sneak the relative price increase past the customer.

This is them plainly telling the consumer that shit will be 5% more expensive now. That's just regular old inflation.

I used to work with this guy who moved from India. One day we were hanging out together after work and he told me that he's importing some furniture from India. I asked about the cost shipping etc and he offered me if I want to buy any furniture from India and he'll get everything in on shipping container and get it moved to Sydney. I bought 2 bed, 1 dining table, and few other stuff, I remember I paid around $1500 and those were the best purchases I ever made. Its now been more than 7 years and still running strong.

Lemmy instance checks out.

blahaj is life