A photo of a seemingly half-empty Dr. Squatch deodorant stick sparked a wave of buyer frustration on Reddit's r/mildlyinfuriating.
Many shoppers were familiar with paying for a full-size item only to find far less product than expected.
Here's what to know
The original poster shared a photo of their newly opened Dr. Squatch deodorant.
"60% air!" they said in a caption. "Brand new. I didn't expect my deodorant to have more air than a bag of chips. Won't be getting this again."
Some commenters cited the deodorant as an example of what they saw as a decline in the brand's overall quality.
"Genuinely used to love their stuff, and would treat myself to their soap pretty frequently," one user said. "Their quality recently nosedived, and I wont touch the stuff any more."
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
Other criticism in the thread went beyond how much product appeared to be in the package.
"I had deodorant on a subscription," another commented. "They stopped making the scent I had a subscription to, so they just sent me whatever they wanted without notifying me and giving an option to cancel or select the new scent."
"I contacted support and they refused to refund me, but they said they'd send me a different scent for free."
More background
Packaging that seems to promise more product than it actually contains is a surefire way to annoy shoppers. Some pointed to wasteful design, misleading presentation, or shrinkflation as reasons for disappointment.
When a product feels underfilled or performs poorly, consumers may need to replace it sooner, which can mean spending more money and throwing away more packaging.
For some people in the Reddit discussion, the deodorant complaint fit into a larger pattern of dissatisfaction with the brand.
"You could tell when they sold out, just from the ads," one said. "Their ads went from corny wholesome ads leaning on male stereotypes while also making fun of them, to toxic crap."
"They sold out," another concurred. "All their ads are AI. End their support."
What can be done?
Net weight, ingredient lists, and cost per ounce can provide a better comparison than container size alone. Bigger packaging does not always mean more usable product.
Retaining receipts and taking photos if something seems off immediately after opening can help. If a deodorant or personal care product appears underfilled, stains clothing, or performs differently than expected, that documentation may make it easier to request a refund or report the issue to the retailer or manufacturer.
Customer reviews can also help show whether a complaint is isolated or part of a larger trend. In the Reddit thread, several commenters said bad experiences had already led them to switch to other products.
Where can I learn more?
Shoppers annoyed by a deodorant that looks underfilled are far from alone. Similar complaints have popped up across personal care, from packaging waste and label disputes to the cleaner alternatives some people try after a bad experience.
• Old Spice customers were stunned when fine print inside their new deodorant highlighted packaging waste.
• Procter & Gamble faced a lawsuit after Secret unscented deodorant contained fragrance despite label claims.
• Shoppers can check out deodorants that work well outside frustrating mainstream brands.
Packaging, labeling, and performance complaints often shape what shoppers buy next, and a single bad experience can prompt people to switch.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
