Monday, May 17, 2010

PACKAGE DEALS

Am I the only one who gets irritated about multi-product packaging? It is SO annoying to have to purchase a bunch of stuff I don’t want just to get the one thing I do.

For example: I needed to replace the seat cover on the driver’s side of my car. The passenger seat cover was okay. I just needed one. I didn’t even care if they matched exactly. Everywhere I went—TWO seat covers in a package. All. Over. Town. Finally—FINALLY I found just one that did not look like zebra hide, or was covered with shedding fuzz, or some gosh-awful combination of colors like pink, poop brown and pyook green. The Just One went well with my passenger side seat cover. And even though it was the price of two I bought it anyway just to support the one item packaging.

How about pot holders? You know, the simple padded things to protect your hands when you pull items out of a hot oven. Could I just buy pot holders? NooOOoo. I had to buy them with oven mitts, matching table napkins (like oven mitts and table napkins would ever be seen together) and dish towels. And don’t tell me to crochet hot pads. Those things have evil holes in them that let fire through. I finally gave up and bought some ugly hot pads—without dish towels or oven mitts—at the Dollar Store. First time I washed them all the color came off. Now REALLY ugly.

Then there are shoe strings. Only need one pair just that size and color, but I have to buy three or four. And batteries and pencils and pens and soft drinks. When you’re on the side of selling a product, wrapping a bunch of things together in indestructible plastic is great idea, but from a consumer’s point of view it is just another aggravation.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, I totally agree. Psh, napkins and hots pads that match? That's ridiculous!

Flea said...

GAH!!! I hate that too! Drives me freakin' nuts! Have you tried places like Old Time Pottery?

Linda Sue said...

Thrift store shopping is what you need! You may purchase one shoe string- one of something intended to be a pair...It's where singles are sold.

Anonymous said...

napkins and potholders need to match? since when? funny how these marketing guys think!

Anonymous said...

I will have to do a Tuesday Tutorial on making pot holders!! Over here, our supermarkets are great for offering 'buy one get one free' - I would rather just have one at half price!

Jill said...

Totally agree and 'frayedattheedges' took the words straight off my comment - buy one get one free! Don't get me started.

Laura said...

poop brown and pyook green hehe

I know this was a frustration post, but it sure made me laugh :-)

Unknown said...

Dont you hate it when all you want is one sock and you ALWAYS have to buy two???

Kilauea Poetry said...

Ya..no kidding! We are pretty limited here with stores as far as any of this stuff goes- you'd be surprised! Lol..the crochet hot pads-I always get a puzzled look on my face when I see those!!
So it actually ran when you washed it! Isn't that something!? I have these red wash cloths (cough..I matched the towels) from Walmart that do that too..I have to remember to wash everything separate! Fun post Leenie-