In this episode of targeted advertising gone awry, Jill in Nashville went the grocery store and bought a bag of chocolate chips (“to make cookies for work”) and one pint of Ben & Jerry’s (“just one, mind you!”)
If Jill sounds a little defensive, that’s probably because — thanks to some disarmingly deadpan algorithms — she received this perky little coupon along with her receipt.
Meanwhile, a submitter in Ohio was about to reach for the Cherry Garcia — but stopped short when she spotted this “sign from above.”
related: Are you calling me fat?
56 responses so far ↓
#1
annihispanni
Just one? I don’t think one is gonna do it, Jill.
May 26, 2011 at 11:04 pm rating: 2
#2
stephanie (bad mom)
Most days these occurrences might make me chuckle. Other days I would feel homicidal and everyone would be lucky if I only crumpled the papers and threw them at the nearest smiling skinny person.
May 26, 2011 at 11:06 pm rating: 19
#3
wright1
Since the second PA is addressed to “bro”chacho, and the submitter is a she, I would think she’s in the clear!
May 26, 2011 at 11:06 pm rating: 13
#4
katie_2256
The second sign would make me to eat twice as much Ben & Jerry’s to make some kind of a point methinks.
May 26, 2011 at 11:10 pm rating: 5
#5
Lissla
I’m more amused by “brochacho”. What CAN’T people attach “bro” to?
The best I’ve heard is “broings on around town”.
May 26, 2011 at 11:18 pm rating: 29
#6
sero
The first thing I noticed in the second picture was that apparently Ben & Jerry’s has a delicious sounding Limited Edition Raspberry Peach Cobbler.
So basically that note writer can go fuck themselves because that shit won’t be around for long and it sounds too good to pass up!
May 26, 2011 at 11:21 pm rating: 58
#7
TickleMyBambo
Oh the common “We think you eat like a fat ass but we won’t say it to your face cause you we’re possibly being hypocritical” passive aggressive mentality some people use as a means of destroying someone elses self esteem so these jerks can feel better about their not so good eating habits. You don’t know how many times I was told that I eat “unhealthy” by certain individuals that I know who claim to be on a “diet” only for me to catch them eating at McDonalds later on. They know now not to complain about their “diet” not working when I ask them how that Big Mac tasted. I bet you that they were thinking it tasted “fucking delicious”.
May 26, 2011 at 11:22 pm rating: 28
#8
JetJackson
Jill must have purchased this during work hours… after 10pm a Ben and Jerrys purchase will get you a coupon for a pack of Rizlas and some Clear Eyes.
May 26, 2011 at 11:24 pm rating: 29
#9
Dianne
I’m always getting coupons for dog food. I haven’t had a dog/bought dog food since 1982….
May 26, 2011 at 11:42 pm rating: 8
#10
Walker, "Tex" (a stranger)
Reminds me of all of those Male Enhancement emails I get. What algorithm did I trip at hotmail.com?
May 26, 2011 at 11:59 pm rating: 9
#11
Danny
I’d be inclined to think that the algorithm works the same way as, say, Amazon’s “people who bought this also liked…” algorithm. I’m sure it’s shocking that people buying Slim Fast might also have sketchy other-than-slim-fast dietary habits.
May 27, 2011 at 6:42 am rating: 2
#12
Canthz_B
We need to blow this system all to hell.
I say we all load up on products from the bread section, the candy aisle, the liquor section and the diabetic foods section and see what Dr. Cash Register spits out.
May 27, 2011 at 7:13 am rating: 12
#13
Kimberly
I bought a case of Michelob Ultra Light Raspberry Pomegranate beer (and only that) and it gave me a coupon for tampons.
May 27, 2011 at 9:33 am rating: 47
#14
Wendy
In Walgreeen’s I bought Midol, tampons and a Reese’s. My coupon? Free AARP membership.
May 27, 2011 at 10:05 am rating: 8
#15
lee
The secret to note#1 is that Ben & Jerry’s and Slimfast are owned by the same company.
May 27, 2011 at 11:48 am rating: 4
#16
Kim
I bought little chocolate donuts and got a coupon for tampax. Don’t boys like little chocolate donuts??
May 27, 2011 at 12:08 pm rating: 6
#17
pony girl
Is anyone else curious as to why someone has a freezer-full of ice cream?
May 27, 2011 at 5:01 pm rating: 0
#18
Mixed Martial Arts Los Angeles
I’d like to think this is people’s nice, but passive-aggressive way of saying it’s bikini season, so thinking twice about your choices isn’t a bad idea.
May 27, 2011 at 5:50 pm rating: 0
#19
gacy
Looks like a Catalina coupon, if you use a club card of some sort it will pop out a coupon for something you’ve bought before, ha.
May 28, 2011 at 9:12 am rating: 0
#20
The Elf
It is for this reason that I like to group my purchases oddly. For instance, I like to buy pork, shellfish, and kosher products (yay, spaetzle!) at the same time. I’m also terribly fond of stocking up on tofu at the same time I buy a nice juicy steak to throw on the grill. Carrot sticks and ice cream. Diet coke and butter. Hippy-brand skin care products and harsh Dial soap. Tampons and men’s razors.
I think I really threw them for a loop when I picked up my birth control prescription and baby food. (Hey, it was for a sick ferret.)
I figure if the stores are going to track my purchases they might as well be confused as all hell.
May 29, 2011 at 4:57 pm rating: 14
#21
Krystal
My husband bought candy and mountain dew at the store and his catalina coupon was for fixadent! haha
May 31, 2011 at 5:50 pm rating: 1
#22
Jen
I took “brochacho” to be a misspelling of “borracho.”
As in, do you really need ice cream too, drunkard?
Jun 18, 2011 at 4:19 pm rating: 0
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