America falls in love with the Snuggie
I can't claim to remember my first outfit, but I bet it was essentially a blanket with holes for my arms and head. Apparently, America remembers, and longs to return to those days of comfort. How else can we account for the amazing sales of the Snuggie, a 'blanket with sleeves'?
The product is another success for the direct sales industry's adoption of some of the prime advertising slots abandoned by big business. The company has also enjoyed huge word-of-mouth exposure for its 'oddvertising', ads that are so over the top that one can only laugh (and forward the YouTube link). Check out the one below-- Carl Orff must be spinning in his grave to hear Carmina Burana so abused.
With the success of Snuggies, expect a host of imitators and other items that offer old-time comfort. I'm thinking adult pacifiers, lullabies, and a great big rocking cradle, with built-in remote controls and a lap tray for beer and chips.
The sales are in part attributed to Ellen DeGeneres, who featured the Snuggie on her daytime television show. Fox News also made repeated note of a woman in a Snuggie waiting for Obama's coronation.
The product is another success for the direct sales industry's adoption of some of the prime advertising slots abandoned by big business. The company has also enjoyed huge word-of-mouth exposure for its 'oddvertising', ads that are so over the top that one can only laugh (and forward the YouTube link). Check out the one below-- Carl Orff must be spinning in his grave to hear Carmina Burana so abused.
With the success of Snuggies, expect a host of imitators and other items that offer old-time comfort. I'm thinking adult pacifiers, lullabies, and a great big rocking cradle, with built-in remote controls and a lap tray for beer and chips.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 11)
1-27-2009 @ 11:43AM
L. Lawrence said...
Upon reviewing the myriad, multiple complaints (perhaps numbering in the thousands by now) registered by other Internet purchasers of Snuggie blankets, I realize my own gripe is merely redundant (see for yourself by Googling "customer complaints Snuggie"). Basically what happened to me is what happened (pretty much word-for-word) to the first Complaints Board complainant whose story I read, which I copied and am pasting here now: "I went to the website and purchased a snuggie. It was supposed to be buy one get one free. Then they ask if you would like to upgrade to a more plush snuggie. When you say yes you end up buying 2 getting 2 free and instead of it costing you approx. $40.00 it ends up costing you almost $95.00. I called to have them correct this only to have them tell me that it was too soon for the order to be in the system that I would have to call back in 24 to 72 hours. That the order does not hit the system that soon. I asked well how can you email me an order # that is not in the system? I was told well that's not the true order # that we use. What a bunch of crap! I'm canceling my credit card. What a bunch of scam artists." I totally agree. What I did after my own third bowel-roiling phone call to Snuggie customer service (there's an oxymorom) was to promptly call American Express to dispute the charge. In their usual competent fashion, AE said they'd take care of it. Someone, though, ought to let ABC's Good Morning America, which touted the blanket in a Saturday morning segment that they're an unwitting accomplice to a shady cyberspace operator. Well, my bowels have quieted somewhat. The best thing I've learned this morning is to always Google a product BEFORE purchasing it on the Internet in order to benefit from other people's undfortunate experiences. Snuggie blankets are not a warm and cozy product -- well, the product itself might (or might not) be, but certainly not the unpleasant experience of purchasing one. Internet buyer beware!
Reply
2-02-2009 @ 10:00PM
Candy Jones said...
I thought th snuggie was a joke first time I saw it. How rediculous. I went througha similar scam with the berry (acai) diet & colopure free trial that Oprah & Rachael Ray adv. Ended up with $45.85 charged to my credit card. What a rip-off. Thanks, Candy Jones
1-31-2009 @ 7:25PM
Liz Kuzman said...
I had the exact same thing happen with the Awesome Auger. They refunded the disputed charge but kept the Shipping and Handling. Most of the 79.00 cost. I sent letters and emails too and got nowhere. Now I buy only from CVS or the as seen on TV store in my city.
They are all crooks running scams!!!
1-31-2009 @ 8:22PM
Mary said...
Same thing happened to me, but I can't find the information with the order number, etc. I would file a complaint with the Consumer Fraud Division of the State's Attorney's office, but I don't have all of my information. I'm still looking. Perhaps a Class Action Lawsuit would wake them up!
2-03-2009 @ 7:33AM
L. Hall said...
Go to Lakeside.com and click on "as seen on TV". They have the Snuggie (yes the genuine Snuggie) for 9.95. I've ordered from them often and have never had a problem.
2-03-2009 @ 7:34AM
L said...
Paragraphs. Please use them so we don't have to dissect your wall of text. :(
2-03-2009 @ 7:53AM
India said...
Everyone who has issues with the snuggie, should get online and order the "Slanket". This is the original blanket with sleeves. I have had mine since Christmas of 08. No problems with company and I love my "slanket". I think I found it originally in the "skymall" magazine.
2-03-2009 @ 8:11AM
D. Willman said...
I got mine at the Bed, Bath & Beyond store here in town. You might want to look around some of the stores in you area.
2-03-2009 @ 8:59AM
Laurie said...
The first time I saw the commercial for the Snuggie, I thought the man looked like a damn monk with that thing on. Of all the poverty in this world, it's sad that we're so spoiled that we create the most absurd products for our comfort, when others out there have nothing!
2-03-2009 @ 9:55AM
Carol said...
I made my own. I took a fleece twin blanket, folded it in half to find the center and then cut a slit with a pair of scissors for my head. My fleece poncho is closed in the back, which I don't think the Snuggies are, and it's very comfortable. When the night is cold and we need an extra blanket, just take that poncho and use it as it was intended.
2-03-2009 @ 11:50AM
Ree said...
I've seen a lot of those happen lately. I saw that Billy Mays commercial for the Slider press where you can make 5 small patties (gee, I could just make 5 meatballs and press them flat!) and went to the website.
The minute you start filling in the order form, they immediately ask for your credit card number. There's a box you can check or uncheck to include some stupid gadget he mentioned that you get free if you pay the shipping and handling (which is more than the original product is probably worth).
If you try to go back to the original website, it does not allow you to do that. I ended up closing the window on it and realized that the waste of my time was worth more than the junk I thought I wanted to order.
2-03-2009 @ 12:19PM
dsz5463 said...
Laurie,
I'm so glad you're sending everything you own to an impoverished family in a third-world country and taking up residence in a donated cardboard box. Good luck dumpster diving for dinner.
Maybe a 'damn monk' will pray for you...
2-03-2009 @ 12:52PM
Carroll said...
Same thing happened to me! Only I didn't cancel the order....I decided to do a live and learn thing...well only problem is I ordered it OVER a month ago and still haven't received the damn thing.
1-27-2009 @ 2:20PM
Judy said...
You can buy a "Snuggie" at Walgreens for $10.
Reply
1-27-2009 @ 2:23PM
Tom B. said...
A real Snuggie, or a clone?
Reply
2-01-2009 @ 3:36AM
Stephani said...
Who cares? Fleece is fleece.
1-30-2009 @ 4:13PM
barrypsummerlin said...
Or, you could turn your bathrobe around backwards.
Reply
1-31-2009 @ 4:12PM
Carol said...
Good one!
1-31-2009 @ 5:38PM
missy said...
That's exactly what I said the first time I saw the commercial!! i told my husband, "all I gotta do is put my damn robe on backwards!!" Real genius invention, huh?
1-31-2009 @ 8:05PM
Betty E. said...
Instead of buying a Snuggie, just turn your robe around
Oh my goodness, I love this.