My mom used to get aggravated at me when I would pick out a breakfast cereal based on what prize might be contained inside. But you know what? She bought laundry detergent based on the fact that there were drinking glasses inside the box! I believe the brand was Oxydol, if I remember right.
In many ways, the internet has taken us back to the days when freebies were abundant, e.g. gas station gifts. You can outfit your system with a free operating system, office suite, protection against viruses and spyware, and even have the weather presented up-to-the-minute, all for free.
But step back to the 60's, and you could see detergent makers tempting consumers with gifts buried within the powder.
These gifts were usually glasses. The style would vary from brand to brand, and brands would also vary what they offered. They all put at least three sizes in, that would prove motivating for multiple purchases.
I know many of our drinking glasses were retrieved from detergent boxes. Mom also bought Crystal Wedding oats (each container also had a glass within) and bought Welch's jelly (those Flintstone-laden jelly glasses will rate their own column).
Breeze detergent took a different approach: free towels. I can still remember an early 70's commercial featuring Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton that aired in my area. Dolly was very excited because the towels had pictures of flowers on them. I'll never forget how she gushed about the "zeenyas!"
It's been a long time since I've seen detergent packed with goodies. Like so many of the little niceties we enjoyed as children of the Baby Boom, they have taken their leave. But you know what? Being able to download a free office suite from openoffice.org is pretty cool too. And you don't have to rinse the detergent off before you use it.
Comments (13)
I remember mom used to buy Duz detergent because they always had some kind of giveaway. We had dish towels and two different kinds of glasses that came out of detergent. Mom collected a whole set of glasses that were an amber color and they were really thick, so we never broke any and she used them for a long time. Probably still has some. I'll have to look into that! :)
Posted by Rhonda | April 12, 2007 7:22 PM
Posted on April 12, 2007 19:22
Ah, freebies. Gimmicks! Yes, the 60s was loaded with gimmicks and tricks. But they worked, didn’t they? I think we were a bit more gullible lot back then. Or we did not know how to respond. Marketing was crass, not at all subtle, and I think we all got a little more jaded as a result. It changed us. MAD magazine often used to lampoon commercials. In fact, it was often the bulk of their material, their bread and butter. So advertisers had to get better at their craft and a little more subtle and sophisticated. Commercials are much better today than back then. The 60s was great for all sorts of camp, from commercials to Batman, sitcoms, everything.
I remember balloons in some sort of pasta at age 3. Ron mentioned Gas stations elsewhere on this site. Howdy’s (a MacDonld’s knockoff in Maine in 60s and early 70s) offered free book covers. Freebies all over. Record albums sometimes had inserts. Sgt. Pepper had cutouts and a picture of the fab four in costume. The White Album had pictures again of the lads. Alice Cooper School’s Out had paper underwear on the LP. Billion Dollar Babies has some cut outs. George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass album had some stuff inside it as did the
Who’s Live at Leeds. Beach Boys Endless Summer had a poster. MAD had super specials with inserts at times. Kracker Jacks had prizes. I remember a lot of stuff at the candy store had prizes or the like.
Of course, we are all past that now, right? But some of the tactics are more subtle now. How about the 2 for $4 instead of $2 each? Encouraging everyone to buy 2 rather than one. Placing certain products at eye level for better sales? Packaging decoration is a major industry. Coupons? Finding good excuses to eat out. Go ahead, you deserve a break today. Pamper yourself. Yeah, I deserve it!
I think we look back at how great it was cause we had not been hurt as much back then and we were more innocent and nice. But as telemarketers with their dirty tricks bothering us at all hours continually hammer at us and each sales gimmick backfires, we become harder, more mistrusting, less willing to reach out or be open and nice. Predators cause us prey to pull back and withdraw.
I want my prizes back!!!
Posted by Scott I | May 9, 2009 1:34 PM
Posted on May 9, 2009 13:34
I sort of remember something about freebees in detergent boxes? But mostly the cereal boxes. I really remember the flintstone jelly jars, but they were just that! Jelly you buy at the store. I remember the National Geographics having the free maps in them. I didn't do much laundry back then, mom did mostly, so that is why my memory may be weak on this one? Personally, it was probably the sugar rush I got from stuffing my little hand in a new box of Puffa Puffa rice to get at the free plastic car that was inside. I'm sorry, that was Rice Krinkles? The sugar residue on my hand would foul my wee mind for many years!
Posted by Rivers End | June 5, 2009 10:52 PM
Posted on June 5, 2009 22:52
Does anyone have any of the amber colored glasses with the waggon wheel design on the outside that they are willing to sale? My mom collected an 8 piece set of each of the four sizes (tea goblet, tall glass, medium glass, and small juice glass). My mom died back in 1995 and though my ex-husband was supposed to return the glasses to me since my mom gave them to me before we started dating, he never did. My sons found a few of the glasses, but my heart is broken since I never got the whole set back.
Please let me know if anyone has some that I could purchase to complete my mom's original gift to me.
Thank you so much!
Posted by Shirley | June 16, 2009 9:23 AM
Posted on June 16, 2009 09:23
Ah, the Baby Boomers, ( I'm one of them ). I think Scott is right. Much more innocent and unassuming back then. The various "scams" and tricks had not yet come into play. Although, the 50's and 60's sported the "fast-talking," and "snappy come back" saleman, we were a little more receptive back then, than we are now. "Identity theft." What? Lets face it, in this day and age, when EVERYBODY is selling something, it's nice to think about the good old days when a "freebie" was actually a little something extra, and was actually free. Great marketing. We used to get what we paid for and even more. Perhaps the reason for web sites like this, is because they are vital and necessary, to help us remember where we came from and how we got here. I love my cell phone, my microwave and my computer, but there is something to be said for the old fashioned way.
Posted by Tom | October 3, 2009 11:37 AM
Posted on October 3, 2009 11:37
In fact, I still have some of the towels that came in the detergent boxes. I have sewn them together (they weren't very big) and use them as the kids get out of the pool.
Posted by Pam | October 13, 2009 8:49 AM
Posted on October 13, 2009 08:49
I am trying to find out what year & manufacturer glass ware came out of that is clear approx. 8 & 12 oz. size and the glasses have an etched clear wheat looking pattern along the top of the glass. Someone suggested Oxydol, maybe late 50's or early 60's?
Posted by Carol | November 1, 2009 9:47 AM
Posted on November 1, 2009 09:47
I was given a set of dishes that were collected from detergent boxes. They have roses on them and I've been trying to find out some information about them. My mother say's my G.Grandmother collected them. I still have them and would like to know more about them and if anyone collects them?
HELP?? Anyone...
Posted by Kathryn Hunter | June 6, 2010 2:41 PM
Posted on June 6, 2010 14:41
I also have a set of dishes that belonged to my grandmother. They have a big pink rose in the center and what looks like a smaller yellow and pink rose. They are surrounded by a cluster of blue, pink and yellow flowers. Each dish has a shiny gold trim around the edge. Are your dishes like this?
I understand they did came as Freebies from detergent boxes. I have added to my collection by scouting in second hand stores, Goodwill, Salvation Army, Peddlars Fairs, and flea markets, etc. Sometimes antiques stores have a piece for sale - but too expensive! My sister is also on the lookout for me and has found pieces as far away as Hawaii. I was gifted a sugar and creamer from a woman I met in Mexico. She had two of each and the whole set of dishes.
I would love to learn the name of the detergent company and the set of dishes.
Posted by Bobbie Cravalho | July 7, 2010 1:01 AM
Posted on July 7, 2010 01:01
It was Duz detergant that free gasses came in, NOT Oxdol.
Posted by Diane Ridley | November 24, 2010 7:04 AM
Posted on November 24, 2010 07:04
Thanks for the clarification, Diane!
Posted by Bald Guy | November 24, 2010 7:09 AM
Posted on November 24, 2010 07:09
does any one remember the dishes that came in Mothers's Oats? Lite blue back with wheat stems on the front. I also remember some kind of breakfast cereal that had a metal cereal bowl attached to the out side of the box.
Diane
Posted by Diane Ridley | April 14, 2011 11:31 PM
Posted on April 14, 2011 23:31
I don't know what prompted it, but today I happened to recall the old commercials with Dolly selling "Boxes of Breeze" and thought I would look it up.
Not a "Boomer" here, too young, but I do recall the commercials. I miss the innocense of that time.
Now all the "Boomers" are just hateful "Tea partiers".
Posted by Howard | August 23, 2011 8:23 PM
Posted on August 23, 2011 20:23