Thursday, October 12, 2006

Crisp marketing

(Hey, be sure to stop by Courting Destiny this weekend, as we roast Pia. And don't go getting any ideas.)

I was in CVS yesterday, picking up some Mountain Dews, some halloween candy to eat before Halloween, and some chips. You know, staples.

While perusing the shelves for regular Pringles, I was unable to find any. After a few seconds, I realized the only regular Pringles they had were something called Pringles Prints.

Upon further investigation, I discovered that each individual crisp has a joke or movie trivia question printed on it. For example: What kind of flowers grow between your nose and your chin?

Give up?

Tulips!

That's just one of the many hilarious jokes you may find the next time you pop open a can of Pringles. That's right, potato crisp fans. Ruffles may have ridges. But Pringles have... jokes and trivia.

Now see, this is something I don't care for. To me, one of the big advantages to eating chips is being able to blindly stick your hand into a bag or can, pull out some chips, and hoist them in the direction of an orifice, all without looking. That way, you don't miss any of the ballgame, movie, or 90210.

I wonder what went on in that sales meeting. Are there no new flavors they could market? Although when you already have pizzalicious, probably not.

And if this was the idea they approved, what were the rejected ones? The edible Pringles can? Turkey & dressing flavored Pringles? ("Pop open a Happy Thanksgiving.") No, I got it. Snakes in a can!

Pringles has gone the way of Laffy Taffy and Bazooka Joe. Not that I'm happy about it. I want my original Pringles back. Solid red can. Freaky round potato chip face Pringle guy.

No thinking. No effort. Just pure mindless artery clogging. It's the American way.

"My ergonomic keyboard never leaves me bored. Shopping online for deals on some writable media. I edit Wikipedia..."

17 comments:

  1. I freaking looooooooove Pringles. Though I haven't seen these in our stores. Maybe this was one of the reject ideas... and they only chose to market them in small towns. Hmmm?

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  2. Aahhhh! looove the chips. Of course, I'm secretly having an affair with a bag of Fiery Habenero Doritos...but don't tell anyone....lol!

    Oh, and just so you know....we're all just white and nerdy ;)

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  3. Well Bone you've got Darly laughing on the floor here. She really enjoyed your post. You've got an 8y/o fan! Don't cha love it? hee hee

    re: spyware blocker...already got Adaware or however you spell it and I downloaded some antivirus stuff too...both say I'm clean. I really think the windows stuff reset all my security stuff to block everything and that's what the hold up is...not quite sure what the deal with yahoo is though. I've just gotta figure out what they installed and get rid of it. But thanks for the info anyway. :D

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  4. And sadly, these marketing geniouses are in charge. Like the marketing people at my office that I work for. The "ideas" that get thought of and approved never cease to amaze me.

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  5. I agree with Carmen. Most of the marketing people I've ever worked with/for seem to come up with "original" idas that are lifted from some other place. I need to copy and paste your post to a buddy of mine who is Vice President of Marketing at a credit union. He'll get a kick out of it.

    ...and man, "White and Nerdy?" Really? :) I caught Weird Al a few years back, and I am unashamed to say it was one of the most fun times in my life. I was laughing from beginning to end.

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  6. Blondie: Actually, when I was looking around online for more info, it said they were first marketed in 2004. But Wednesday was the first day I'd seen them.

    Mindtwister: Fiery habanero sounds interesting. But nothing beats the original Doritos to me. Bonus points for recognizing Weird Al :)

    Renee: I figured you did. Hope you get things figured out.

    And IYROOBTY is fun for kids from 8 to 88 :)

    Carmen: Sometimes they come up with some real head-scratchers.

    Big Man: The thing I really don't understand is how they get the words on there without breaking the chip :)

    And I'd like to roll with the gangstas. But it's just not working out. Apparently, the General Hospital severely hurts my street cred.

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  7. No thinking. No effort. Just pure mindless artery clogging. It's the American way. Oh how true!

    I haven't seen those pringles, but I've also wondered why people mess with the stuff that works. Like the original pringles. And the original doritos... nothing was ever as good as the first, so why bother?

    Seriously though, this cracked me up. :) Great job!

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  8. Pringles with jokes may be a way to slow me down in eating them (I tend to love to fill my mouth with chips which is why I don't buy them--for I can't just eat one!) I posted a pic of the snow this morning.

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  9. I used to eat Pringles watching Seinfeld. Now we go with the Sour Cream N' Onion Lays Potato Crisps. No Jokes. Just Chips. My former favorite "popable" - Planter's Cheez Balls, has also gone the way of the simple red can. I can't find them anywhere and the knock-offs just aren't the same. Our family had a 6 can a month habit(give or take as slumber parties and nephews go)- So it really hit us hard.

    I feel your pain, Bone. It cut deep.

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  10. hey, I can remember that joke. Don't think that I could eat a bag without choking. Love bad jokes aimed at five year olds


    And serves you right for not eatting ruffles

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  11. Traveling Chica: Thanks. And I agree. If it ain't broke...

    Sage: I'm just thinking with what, 100 chips a can, they'll be repeating jokes quickly and often.

    Thanks, I'll check out the pic.

    Dorothy: "6 can a month habit" :) Good line.

    I'm pretty sure that's how they'll find me one day. On the couch, bag of Doritos nearby, cheesy fingers.

    Heather: Mmmmm, indeed. (Notice I matched exactly your number of m's. It's an OCD thing.)

    Pia: I have no aversion to Ruffles. Especially with french onion dip!

    Enjoying the roast.

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  12. that was so bad it was good.

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  13. I cannot believe you eat like that! I'm shocked, really! There has to be a gimmick. I guess you could always shop at a dollar store...do y'all have them? They have Pringles there.

    I don't usually buy name brand chips. We have a brand of chips from round these parts that are deeelish! And, when I'm hungry for chips, those are what I grab. Can't remember the last time I had a Pringle.

    Why don't you weigh 300 lbs?

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  14. I love original Pringles and now I'm rethinking this............geez.........Don't make me answer questions when I just want to shove salty snacks in my mouth. Please. Currently eating Nacho Cheese Doritos. I just want to shove something tasty in my cakehole, not have to think about it. :)

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  15. Quips on Crisps?

    Surely you jest.

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  16. Sadie: They get to have Pringles on Survivor? Count me in!

    Lux: Uh, thanks? I think.

    Carnealian: Why didn't you give the name of your preferred brand? Is it top secret or something? Afraid I'll eat 'em all?

    And to answer your last question, because I'm trying to do everything I can to attract a girl over here :)

    Circe: Exactly. Don't make me think or put forth any effort or try to mess up my routine while eating junk food. That's all I'm sayin' :)

    Buffy: Or Quips on Quisps, as Elmer Fudd might say.

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