Kari sent us this photo she took last night in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. We’ll give them points for finding a unique promotional angle, but we wonder if they saw sales increase or drop off? Update: is it legal to give away animals as a store promotion?
Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Set Is Inappropriately Proud Of Its Materials
By October 9, 2008
The person in charge of the Ben & Jerry’s gift shop in their Vermont factory might want to talk to someone about redesigning the packaging of this ice cream bowl and spoon set—”melamine” probably isn’t the kind of word you want to position so prominently these days.
By October 6, 2008
Mykl Roventine has an amazing set of photos of last year’s Minnesota State Fair over at Flickr. It’s a confetti-colored slice of Americana, and a great collection of both fair food and the signage that advertises it. Cheer yourself up. [MN State Fair at Flickr]
This Shaw's Pizza Box Is Conflicted
By October 1, 2008
Someone in marketing really wanted to show the handmade goodness of Shaw’s house brand pizza, despite the fact that there is no handmade goodness to the product at all. But not to worry! A little fine print takes care of any legal issues, and you’re good to go.
Citi Credit Card Cautions You Against Spending
By September 30, 2008
Citi’s been burned enough by its cardholders’ profligate spending, apparently. Check out the message on this activation sticker on a new card. We like the inclusion of a sort of Yin-yang background, as if to remind us that debt and repayment are equal elements of the consumer credit world. A balance must be maintained! Just, you know, not so high a balance that you can’t make your monthly payments.(Thanks to Jerry!)
This WaMu Sign Is Incredibly Accurate
By September 29, 2008
I’m currently a Chase customer, but my brother is WaMu. As he was walking down the street in Brooklyn the other night, he managed to catch this picture.
These Pennsylvania Lottery Mascot Costumes Were Poorly Thought Out
By September 26, 2008
Quinto is a new lottery game from Pennsylvania, and their mascot is a bunch of fingers, we’re guessing. We can’t figure out how these mascot costumes made it from concept to on-the-street reality, though. We like how the guy in this photo seems to be thinking, “What exactly am I posing with?”
Is This Computer Water Damaged? Circuit City Says Yes
By September 25, 2008
Robert bought an extended warranty from Circuit City, but they won’t honor it to repair his broken computer because they claim it has water damage. Robert writes, “As God is my witness, this computer has never seen water,” and he sent us the photos Circuit City sent him.
Spirit: Now With Mind-Numbing In-Cabin Advertising
By September 20, 2008
Kick open the exit doors and release the inflatable slides, Spirit is outfitting their entire fleet with cabin-saturating ads. Billed as Spirit’s “latest innovation,” the ads will litter “seat backs, window shades, overhead bins, tray tables, drink carts, napkins, cups, menus (what menus?) boarding passes, trash bags, soap dispensers,” and probably even barf bags.
Target Is Apparently Aware Christmas Isn't Anytime Soon
By September 20, 2008
Back to school supplies? Halloween decorations? Depressing! Instead, focus on the distant future with this grossly unseasonal timepiece, a perfect gift for oblivious retail merchandisers and the counting impaired. Thanks, Target! (and Heather!)
Maybe Quiznos Should Find A Better Place For This Cleaning Rag
By September 14, 2008
This is the view when you order a toasted whatever from the Quiznos in Warren, New Jersey: a cleaning rag and a bug zapping racket. Mmmm…toasty!
Shoney's Commemorates 9-11 With Free Bowl Of Soup
By September 12, 2008
To the fallen, the office workers, the families; to the firemen, the first responders, the workers; to the the hole in the ground, the empty space in the sky, to the the gray miasma—here’s a free bowl of soup. Thanks Shoney’s. I can’t tell whether that’s incredibly tacky or deeply poetic. Either way, it’s free soup.
Priceline Encourages Deal-Seekers To Vacation Under Tropical Storm Hanna
By September 6, 2008
Priceline won’t let deal-hating weathermen keep you from the amazing savings churned up by Tropical Storm Hanna. Rooms in Hilton Head are now going for the low, low price of $64 per night, but act fast because the deal is only valid while Hanna pummels the dream destination’s shores with 70 mph winds!
"Dollar Or More" Store Apparently Doing Better Than "99 cents Or Less" Store
By September 5, 2008
Reader Daniel says that this “dollar store” where everything is a dollar or more seems to be doing better than the 99 cents or less store on the same street. It’s having a store-wide 50% off sale.
This Giant Grasshopper Does Not Belong In A Tuna Melt
By August 31, 2008
The Bluebird Cafe in Culver City sold Seth a grasshopper home gussied up us a tuna melt. A waitress deftly handled the very-live and confused grasshopper by picking him up and tossing him on the ground. That’s it. No apology, no replacement sandwich.
This Dollar Store Taunts You With The Past
By August 28, 2008
Can there be any sadder indication of our toilet-water economy than a dollar store that references its own happier, cheaper past? This New York City dollar store has pulled down its old sign, “Everything 99¢ Or Less,” and rebranded.
Only 119 Shopping Days Left 'Til Xmas, Cracker Barrel Reminds
By August 28, 2008
Luke sent us this shot of Christmas Creep in full…
