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vaccinations/health care and product promotions.

paperpudding
paperpudding Posts: 8,926 Member
I hope this is allowed here after closing of last Covid vaccine thread.

Interesting to read there of Krispy kremes giving a voucher for free donuts to everyone getting the Covid vaccine (in US)

What do people think of this sort of freebie by companies?

here in Australia I dont think it would go down well - too obvious using of a cause to promote your product under guise of supporting the vaccine program and that sort of advertising linked to health care would be an uneasy match here.

however were KK to take 'soft approach' and donate trays of donuts for people to enjoy while waiting post vaccine or to the medical staff in appreciation - that would probably be accepted.

Indeed they did exactly that during last years lockdown and delivered tray of donuts to hospital and clinic staff rooms - 'in appreciation of your hard work in this difficult time'


note; this thread is not about merit or otherwise of the vaccine or whether people are going to have it.
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Replies

  • Theoldguy1
    Theoldguy1 Posts: 2,427 Member
    YellowD0gs wrote: »
    Getting back to the OP's original question, Krispy Kreme giving away donuts is one thing, but if bars, pubs, and other drinking establishments said "Show your vax card, and the first one is on the house!"...I guarantee the line outside the health department waiting to get vaxxed would be quite a bit longer than it already is. And that's a good thing!

    In fact, I'm just fine with all the businesses, events, etc. that we've all been missing out on for the last year doing whatever they can to encourage the vaccine program! It still remains YOUR choice whether you partake or not.

    Totally disagree. A $3 or so drink, doughnut etc is not going to do one thing change anyone's mind about getting a vaccine.
  • 33gail33
    33gail33 Posts: 1,155 Member
    Theoldguy1 wrote: »
    YellowD0gs wrote: »
    Getting back to the OP's original question, Krispy Kreme giving away donuts is one thing, but if bars, pubs, and other drinking establishments said "Show your vax card, and the first one is on the house!"...I guarantee the line outside the health department waiting to get vaxxed would be quite a bit longer than it already is. And that's a good thing!

    In fact, I'm just fine with all the businesses, events, etc. that we've all been missing out on for the last year doing whatever they can to encourage the vaccine program! It still remains YOUR choice whether you partake or not.

    Totally disagree. A $3 or so drink, doughnut etc is not going to do one thing change anyone's mind about getting a vaccine.

    It's not just a free donut - it's a free donut EVERY DAY until the end of the year!

    I've never had a Krispy Kreme donut tbh - I don't think we have them here. Maybe they are just that good ... ?
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 33,905 Member
    33gail33 wrote: »
    Theoldguy1 wrote: »
    YellowD0gs wrote: »
    Getting back to the OP's original question, Krispy Kreme giving away donuts is one thing, but if bars, pubs, and other drinking establishments said "Show your vax card, and the first one is on the house!"...I guarantee the line outside the health department waiting to get vaxxed would be quite a bit longer than it already is. And that's a good thing!

    In fact, I'm just fine with all the businesses, events, etc. that we've all been missing out on for the last year doing whatever they can to encourage the vaccine program! It still remains YOUR choice whether you partake or not.

    Totally disagree. A $3 or so drink, doughnut etc is not going to do one thing change anyone's mind about getting a vaccine.

    It's not just a free donut - it's a free donut EVERY DAY until the end of the year!

    I've never had a Krispy Kreme donut tbh - I don't think we have them here. Maybe they are just that good ... ?

    They are sickeningly sweet. Even back in the day when I was eating a lot of sugar I thought they were too sweet. Except that one apple-stuffed thingy.

    Those are good.

    I wouldn't eat a free Krispy Kreme any more frequently than pay for one.


    "A" free glazed donut is very cheap advertising and it will probably mean a huge uptick in sales for them.
  • lokihen
    lokihen Posts: 382 Member
    There was one KK location in my state, but it closed years ago. I'm not driving to another state for a so-so donut.
  • SuzySunshine99
    SuzySunshine99 Posts: 2,983 Member
    33gail33 wrote: »
    Theoldguy1 wrote: »
    YellowD0gs wrote: »
    Getting back to the OP's original question, Krispy Kreme giving away donuts is one thing, but if bars, pubs, and other drinking establishments said "Show your vax card, and the first one is on the house!"...I guarantee the line outside the health department waiting to get vaxxed would be quite a bit longer than it already is. And that's a good thing!

    In fact, I'm just fine with all the businesses, events, etc. that we've all been missing out on for the last year doing whatever they can to encourage the vaccine program! It still remains YOUR choice whether you partake or not.

    Totally disagree. A $3 or so drink, doughnut etc is not going to do one thing change anyone's mind about getting a vaccine.

    It's not just a free donut - it's a free donut EVERY DAY until the end of the year!

    I've never had a Krispy Kreme donut tbh - I don't think we have them here. Maybe they are just that good ... ?

    They are not. Just puffy sugar.
  • Theoldguy1
    Theoldguy1 Posts: 2,427 Member
    edited March 2021
    33gail33 wrote: »
    Theoldguy1 wrote: »
    YellowD0gs wrote: »
    Getting back to the OP's original question, Krispy Kreme giving away donuts is one thing, but if bars, pubs, and other drinking establishments said "Show your vax card, and the first one is on the house!"...I guarantee the line outside the health department waiting to get vaxxed would be quite a bit longer than it already is. And that's a good thing!

    In fact, I'm just fine with all the businesses, events, etc. that we've all been missing out on for the last year doing whatever they can to encourage the vaccine program! It still remains YOUR choice whether you partake or not.

    Totally disagree. A $3 or so drink, doughnut etc is not going to do one thing change anyone's mind about getting a vaccine.

    It's not just a free donut - it's a free donut EVERY DAY until the end of the year!

    I've never had a Krispy Kreme donut tbh - I don't think we have them here. Maybe they are just that good ... ?

    Not missing anything by not having them in your area.. Fried grease and sugar.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 31,717 Member
    There's already public pushback from folks with health credentials, so I guess that's debate, too. One that got it started:

    https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2021/03/27/krispy-kreme-donuts-ceo-responds-backlash-against-covid-vaccine-promotion/7031938002/

    FWIW, Leana Wen, an MD and former Baltimore public health official, seems to have kicked off the viral portion of the debate, on Twitter.
    33gail33 wrote: »
    Theoldguy1 wrote: »
    YellowD0gs wrote: »
    Getting back to the OP's original question, Krispy Kreme giving away donuts is one thing, but if bars, pubs, and other drinking establishments said "Show your vax card, and the first one is on the house!"...I guarantee the line outside the health department waiting to get vaxxed would be quite a bit longer than it already is. And that's a good thing!

    In fact, I'm just fine with all the businesses, events, etc. that we've all been missing out on for the last year doing whatever they can to encourage the vaccine program! It still remains YOUR choice whether you partake or not.

    Totally disagree. A $3 or so drink, doughnut etc is not going to do one thing change anyone's mind about getting a vaccine.

    It's not just a free donut - it's a free donut EVERY DAY until the end of the year!

    I've never had a Krispy Kreme donut tbh - I don't think we have them here. Maybe they are just that good ... ?

    I'm not the best one to opine, because I don't even particularly like donuts. IME, they are unlike many other donuts, however. (I still don't like them.)

    They're very light, insubstantial really, super sweet as others have mentioned, very soft and airy, like eating a hyper-sweetened cloud with glazing on the outside. Supposedly, they're best hot off the line, and I don't believe I've had one that way, as far as I can remember. Pretty sure I still wouldn't care for them, because it's not my sort of thing, but they were quite a craze for a while.

    I feel like they over-reached themselves (you could buy them in boxes in chain grocery stores for a while at least), and burned out their "these are special" marketing potential too soon, that way. However, while I've had some MBA-level marketing education, I'm not a specialist, and I didn't see the sales data they based decisions on, so what do I know. 🤷‍♀️

    I don't think we even have one of their stores here anymore (mid-sized metro area) - used to. I'm for sure not driving 58 miles to the nearest one for a free sugar cloud; I'd just as soon go to my kitchen and eat white sugar by the spoonful, with a little oil on it, for similar effect. (I won't be doing that either.)
  • 33gail33
    33gail33 Posts: 1,155 Member
    Well if the free donuts are "bad" they are also offering their employees paid time off to get their vaccine - so that is good anyway.

    We have Tim Horton's here - there would never be a need to drive for miles to get a free donut there - there is practically one on every corner! But I can't remember the last time I had a donut anyway, not really my thing.
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 8,926 Member
    I actually think it would be MUCH worse if they provided free donuts at the vaccination sites.

    With their current promotion, you have to take the initiative to drive to a Krispy Kreme store just to get a free donut. If they had trays of them at the site, it would basically be like shoving it directly into people's faces. Plus, then the people running the site would have to manage other retailers who might want to jump in on some free promotion. It could be perceived as that hospital or provider, or the government, endorsing certain companies.

    I have no problem with them doing the promotion in their own stores. People who will make the effort to go there for one free donut are not going to have an impact on the obesity crisis.


    It wasnt actually suggested - it was me describing what would be acceptable from an advertising linked to health care point of view in Australia.
    so, sure, KK donuts on shared tray, probably not good from infection control point of view - but individually wrapped something - yes.
    Like the individually wrapped biscuits packets.
    We get them and individually wrapped drinks- water bottles, juice boxes - after donating blood here.

    We did (fact, not suggestion) get KK and a few other free things delivered to staff rooms of hospitals and clinics in lock down last year - for staff, not the public.
    I guess each work place was rung beforehand and asked if they would accept.