I remember when you would get prizes in your Saturday morning cereal, and Cracker Jacks contained more of a prize than just lick on tattoos. What ever happen to those glasses you use to get from the box of powder detergent, and by the end of the year you would have a full set?
Companies have gotten away from the most profitable way they could sell their products. Were they are too cheap to buy a huge bulk of toys that come out to 20 cents each? I understand about the lawsuits 'before' they put age warnings on them, and choking hazards. Some parents have bought toys to put in the cereal boxes and closed them back up so their kids could enjoy the surprise they once had as a kid.
So what happen to the adult free giveaways like the glasses, or free measuring cups or spoons? Well it looks like those little surprises for adults have all gone away too. Now you have to collect a certain amount of proof of purchases, pay for the shipping which is natural, but then they add handling which is as much as the shipping. By the time you pay for your 'free' item, you could have spent the money on gas and drove to the store. But this is one of the companies great promo's to get you to buy the product. So I have no clue why they just don't put a free giveaway prize in the product. My guess is they are too cheap and they think it would cost them time and money somewhere, or they just don't want to be bothered with the simple things that would get repeat consumers and raise sales.
And what about Cracker Jacks, I understand the 'choking' thing here too. But if they are only going to put 'pieces of paper' in there for a prize, why not a baseball card, or Nascar, something that keeps up with the sport season.
Does anyone really know the true reason companies stopped giving away some of the simplier things in life? Are these companies just getting cheap, and don't want to be bothered. Even if they worry about choking etc.. I'm sure some intelligent staff member could come up with a better alternative than a 'paper' toy. Even the cereal boxes use to have a miniature board game on the back with cut out pieces, they don't even do that anymore, and that's 'paper'.