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Do you agree with magazine freebies?
This month, we received a letter from a Marie Claire reader about magazine cover mounts - from flip-flips to free sunglasses. The letter from Laura Hurley is featured below, so tell us what you think about her idea in our comments box.
'Instead of giving away flip-flops, why don't you offer a discount on an ethical product? Then you could also give readers the option of redeeming the discount or donating to charity? At the very least, it would save a lot of plastic and make people feel better.
Words by , Friday 1 August 2008
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A very good letter from Laura. I tend to not buy magazines if they are wrapped in plastic and have flip flops/bags with them, especially when I travel as it's just something else to carry. The best freebies would be discounts for a variety of things such as food/wine/fashion/travel etc.
The brown eco paper idea is great.
Comment by Christel Brown on September 04 20:14
Yes, perfect. These days when I am deciding which magazine to buy, I choose the one WITHOUT all the tat attached. We don't need all this stuff, and it ends up in charity shops, or worse landfill. Please stop Marie Claire, and all the other women's mags.
Comment by Kate on August 27 13:46
I live in Spain and have always lamented the perceived need for plastic wrapped freebies for the sheer waste. I also end up giving all the things to the Oxfam office that is in front of my home. I buy magazines to READ them not to get yet another pair of flipflops in the wrong size, regardless of how beautiful their design is. To me Laura's suggestion is the perfect solution. Only one thing remains - can they be for stores with websites who cater to those who live over seas too? I know its a tall order, but it would be much appreciated!
Comment by marta on August 22 08:42
I agree with giving the reader the option of having a discount on an ethical product rather than using all the plastic to wrap it in, and loved the eco issue in the paper bag (still using the body shop body butter.. mm) though I was expecting the whole magazine to eco not just the wrapping.
I would love it if part of the price of the magazine went to a charity because then no only would I be able to read a fab mag, but also donate to a good cause!
Comment by Francesca on August 17 01:10
I live in Belgium, so discounts are no good for me. I love the freebies. My daughter loves the bags, the flipflops and the sunglasses. My son wonders why there is never a freebie suitable for males (don't we all have a male in our life, a father, son, partner, friend?). The bodyshop body butter, the oxfam chocolate, ... surely this nice variety can be continued. Please continue giving freebies! Brown eco paper as a cover is great.
Comment by Nadine on August 13 14:42
No more free bags, flip-flops please!
Like other readers I have enough bags and avoid magazines with free gifts, often these are not very good quality and a waste of resources. Also, the plastic wrapping is not always easy to recycle.
Discounts on ethical products is a great idea, when can we expect to see them Marie Claire?
Comment by Natasha Moseley on August 11 16:31
I am really, really bored of getting so many free bags. I don't need that many!
I would much rather have a discount off a product, at least that gives me a choice. If I don't want the bags my only option is to stop buying Marie Claire and then what would I read?
I am currently put off the idea of subscribing because I don't know what tat may end up coming through my door strapped to the mag in plastic.
Comment by kirsty on August 10 18:31
Last month I avoided buying any magazines because they all featured a free bag and, lovely though they were and of course all eco-friendly, I have so many of these bags already that I just didn't want any more cluttering up the place. I have already taken many of them to my local charity shop. I think Laura's idea is a top one, I would far rather be able to donate something to charity rather than have another freebie that I really don't need.
Comment by Suzi on August 10 16:33
I loved the fact you had a brown paper cover for you eco edition of Marie Claire. Usually plastic covers from magazines end up in the dustbin so it was great that it could go in the recycle bin instead. The idea for having a discount on an ethical/eco product is also better than having plastic, disposable freebies.
Keep up the good work.
Kate
GreenFinder
Comment by Kate on August 07 19:21
Oh I used to love buying marie clare for the good read and the freebies. But now I am living in Turkey I have to wait for people to come out and bring me the mag. But a lot of the times they forget!!! Wish I could get the mag here.
Comment by gillian leake on August 06 23:36
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