And right next to the kids’ Valentine’s cards are …
A friend reported on Facebook that a certain big box store had regretfully placed the children’s Valentine’s packaged cards next to a very large display of … Trojan condoms.
His son asked his dad if they were cigars. I’m not sure how my friend answered.
Have you seen any odd juxtaposition in stores of Valentine’s items? Do you think it was just an oversight at the store or do you think they really didn’t think that was a problem? (I just thought this was a funny story. I don’t think this is earth-shattering news so no need to be ugly about it.)
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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
23 comments Add your comment
Yes, it is...
February 12th, 2013
1:07 pm
…a slow day for “moms” everywhere, even in AZ…
david c
February 12th, 2013
1:10 pm
Or is it a day for slow “moms”?
Grasshopper
February 12th, 2013
1:10 pm
Gotta start training ‘em early these days. Lord only knows what they are looking at on their ubiquitous iPhones.
xxx
February 12th, 2013
1:11 pm
No oversight at all, the guys buying last minute valentines will probably also need jimmies as well.
A reader
February 12th, 2013
1:35 pm
Your friend missed an excellent opportunity to have an age appropriate sex talk with Jr.
catlady
February 12th, 2013
1:55 pm
What a bone-headed move!
Mayhem
February 12th, 2013
1:57 pm
First off, how old is the son? God forbid you actually educate your child on birth control.
Not A Mom
February 12th, 2013
2:09 pm
Why would it be a problem? If the kid is old enough to know what a condom is, they’re probably old enough to figure out that Valentine’s Day = sex for some people. I frankly don’t think the idea of birth control is introduced soon enough. Have a talk with jr that’s age appropriate.
Here’s another thought – grownups buy Valentine’s Day cards and might be having sex. The placement might have been ON PURPOSE! The whole world doesn’t revolve around children.
Denise
February 12th, 2013
2:12 pm
Ha! That is funny. When I first saw cigars when I scrolled up to the top of the article I thought you were going to say the “personal massagers”. They are at Walgreens.
No, there was no oversight in the store and I’m sure if it is brought to the manager’s attention enough the display will be taken down. Maybe the point is, “if you use THESE (condoms), you won’t need to buy THESE (children’s valentines)”.
Scooby
February 12th, 2013
2:32 pm
Not sure I’ve ever seen a store with a “large display”. Mostly they are locked in the pharmacy section.
southpaw
February 12th, 2013
3:06 pm
Haven’t seen anything like that so far. If that happens to me, I’ll just answer “no” and hope the kid’s attention wanders to something else. I’ll be in trouble if the next question is “What is it, then?” :-D
Jane W.
February 12th, 2013
3:14 pm
Enjoy your column. Yes, it’s quite amazing how insensitive retailers (and some of the above blog posters) can be.
BehindEnemyLines
February 12th, 2013
3:16 pm
I’m reminded of the old cartoon with the two little kids, about 1st grade from the size of ‘em.
1st kid says “So last night I found a condom on the veranda”
2nd kid looks confused & says “What’s a veranda?”
Techmom
February 12th, 2013
3:22 pm
I noticed the display of K-Y and condoms at the end of the Valentine aisle at Target last week and literally cracked up! I thought it was great marketing quite frankly. Seriously, what dude wants to walk down the tampon and pad aisle for condoms?
FarTrain
February 12th, 2013
3:31 pm
Almost as bad as the look on my face last week when I saw the sign at Walgreen’s advertising “Beer for Sale”. Always thought drugstores were all about “health”. Do they not realize beer has lots of alcohol, which is defined as a drug, even if it is legal. Are they even aware of how many people are killed each year by alcohol? At one time stores like WG and CVS, etc. were even selling cigarettes but don’t think they still do. Which brings up the question, what’s the difference in selling tobacco or alcohol products? One’s just as bad as the other. Perhaps it has to do with the lobby,$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, or the “it’s OK in my backyard” theory!
Techmom
February 12th, 2013
3:38 pm
@FarTrain where have you been, under a rock? Of course they know beer has alcohol! It’s called making money. They also sell all the ingredients to make meth as do grocery stores.
Mayhem
February 12th, 2013
3:40 pm
@FarTrain – the name alone says it all “DRUG” Store….they sell drugs….but only the legal ones……
jmb
February 12th, 2013
3:42 pm
FarTrain, it’s called free choice. I like beer and I’m glad I can pick it anywhere now days and not have to go to a liquor store to do so. Don’t be such a fuddy duddy. A lot of folks like their beer and wine.
Good one, catlady...
February 12th, 2013
3:49 pm
…”bone-headed” move…
MANGLER
February 12th, 2013
5:03 pm
Anything in a “big box” store, or in any national chain of any kind no matter the size, is strategically placed. At no point will an employee just place something somewhere, and the odds of a customer rigging an entire display for humor are small (with cameras and all). There are armies of “Planogrammers” plotting out every cubic inch of the shelves and end caps. Condoms were placed on the “oh crap it’s the 14th and I need to get her a card” isle on purpose. On the other side of the condoms were likely chocolates or flowers or stuffed bears.
motherjanegoose
February 12th, 2013
5:22 pm
Locked in the Pharmacy Section? Scooby…what are you talking about? I have seen them at BIG LOTS and wondered who would ever trust that purchase.
When I worked at Wal Mart…a LONG time ago, we had certain set ups for the end caps. Management decided what went where. Not sure how this works now.
homeschooler
February 12th, 2013
7:06 pm
@ MJG. A lot of times they are locked up or behind the counter. I’ve heard that they are a common theft item. One because kids are embarrassed to buy them and two because (I guess) people are just so desperate to have them and don’t want to pay for them.
Tiffany
February 12th, 2013
11:00 pm
I am sure they were put there on purpose…it is the whole Valentine’s Day equals romance equals sex idea of course. It is unfortunate that they had to put it right next to the items for kids…I have also noticed that everywhere I have been shopping lately there is a big display of the K-Y products. I just wish the stores would make it a habit of putting the birth control some place where teens can purchase it without embarrassment. Self check out lanes and vending machines are always a help.