Extreme Couponing
The Extreme Couponing show on TLC has brought on a whole new aspect of shopping. Coupons use to have the image of a poor person, but with this show it has brought on the image of anyone interested in saving and not paying for items. Many may be annoyed of the craziness of the extreme couponers and the waste that comes from certain shoppers, such as the lady who gets cat food even though she doesn't have a cat.
I have become consumed in the show because of the products they are saving on. Some of the items the extreme couponers are able to score are products I use frequently and have to pay full price for such as vitamin water, toilet paper, and hygiene products. I understand that buying in bulk is a big factor in getting the items for free or nearly nothing, but if the consumption is high and regular for these items, why pay for them?
This show could be a secret advertisement paid and produced by companies and super markets as a way to promote their products with out the consumer knowing. The best type of advertisement is the consumer not knowing it is advertisement. Many people then attempt to use coupons and miscalculate which in turn makes them buy products they don't need or more than they would purchase and end up paying retail.
I have recently bought the Sunday paper partially for the news but mostly for the ads and I hope to attempt a extreme couponing trip. I will post my results.
Picture from: http://thekrazycouponlady.com/extreme-couponing/
You will talk about product placement a lot in this class. It's extremely interesting that you can trick the consumer into believing it's just part of a show or movie. I don't know if you watch Sex and the City, but the Absolut Hunk episode, was produced in conjunction with Absolut vodka, and I HAD NO IDEA!! Once you figure it out, you can't help but notice it in EVERYTHING!
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