Just today I received a small package advertising the Huffman book It is
about the size of a pillbox and has a legend (what would a flash of insight
sound like?) It also apparently contains mints. I talked to an anonymous
editor at a rival publisher who made a very cogent point. She said: "You may
have hated the promo, but you certainly remembered the textbook" She was
correct, the infamous balloon promo occurred 7 or 8 years ago, but I still
remember it and I remember the waterproof container (which another faculty
member stole from me). Everyone of a certain age can remember the tune to
the DoubleMint twins commercial, which was one of the most annoying in the
history of advertising, but quick, name another brand of gum! Annoying
advertisements at least make an association (classical conditioning?)
Harry Avis PhD
Sierra College
Rocklin, CA
>From: Mike Scoles <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: TIPS <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: Re: Textbook sales' gimmicks
>Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 15:41:54 -0500
>
>About 18 people in our department received the balloons. We complained
>about the expense to students. When the next edition, with a
>white-water rafting theme, was published, we reminded the sales rep that
>we were not impressed with the silly trinkets. Despite this, we
>received water-proof containers, which looked ideal for stashing any
>leafy substance that one might want to take to the beach. We complained
>again, and have apparently been taken off of their list.
>
>- Mike
>
>
>"Keefer, Robert P." wrote:
>
> > I once received a -very- empty-feeling box, only to open it and find
> > it contained nothing but a helium-filled balloon attached to a card
> > advertising the second edition of _Psychology in Action_ by Huffman,
> > Vernoy, Williams & Vernoy (the actual text had hot air balloons on the
> > cover, I believe). I still have it; I use it when I talk about
> > advertising in various classes.
> >
> > And of course just a few weeks ago I got a 3-D advert for Passer &
> > Smith's _Psychology: Frontiers and Applications_, complete with 3-D
> > glasses (this was of the polarized variety 3-D, not the old red-green
> > variety).
> >
> > bob k.
> >
> > ----------------------- -------------------------
> > Robert Keefer Associate Professor
> > Psychology Department Office Phone:
> > Mt. St. Mary's College (301) 447-5394, Ext. 4251
> > Emmitsburg, MD 21727 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > [Speaking for myself.] fax: 301-447-5021
> > ----------------------- -------------------------
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Michael Sylvester [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> > > Subject: Textbook sales' gimmicks
> > >
> > > Just got a postcard in the mail from a textbook promoter.A small
> > > can of mints came with it.
> > > I am curious as to other unusual promotional types of gimmicks that
> > > you have encountered.
> > > I am bracing myself to receive a large pizza (with anchovies)
> > > delivered by Federal Express from the next promotion.
> > > I may be tempted to adopt that text.
>
>--
>*****************************************************************
>* Mike Scoles * [EMAIL PROTECTED] *
>* Department of Psychology * voice: (501) 450-5418 *
>* University of Central Arkansas * fax: (501) 450-5424 *
>* Conway, AR 72035-0001 * *
>********* http://www.coe.uca.edu/psych/scoles/index.html ********
>
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