Taken Away
:: A few days ago I lamented Safeway’s decision to stop serving Italian wedding soup as one of their deli products. Last weekend, I went to Staples, wanting to purchase a few Easy Stick double-sided adhesive cartridges, and a couple Staedtler Lumocolor 313 Superfine pens. I could find neither product, and ensuing discussions with a Staples staff member proved fruitless. Short answer: they don’t carry these items anymore.
For years I wore the Reebok Newport walking shoe. Simple, straightforward, basic shoe, about $60Cdn, heckuva deal, as they say in Minnesota. A few weeks ago, I visited a shoe store where in the past, I purchased these shoes. I couldn’t see any about, so asked a clerk for help. I might as well have been staring into the eyes of a chicken – no such shoe exists, there is no Reebok Newport Classic anymore. Reebok still makes the Classic, but there is no Newport.
For many years, my mother sold nutrimetics. The line of men’s products was called Bavarian, and I really, really liked the soap and aftershave. A few years back, nutrimetics stopped producing the Bavarian line, and replaced it with another family of products that in my estimation, didn’t come close to its predecessor.
A new word needs to be coined or invented, in the English language, to describe when this happens. The definition of the word would read something like: when a product or service one likes, uses and purchases regularly, is suddenly withdrawn from market and made no longer available, resulting in feelings of anger and frustration for the consumer.
November 25th, 2003 at 14:57
Randy, Randy, Randy.
You’ve just got to get over it. Time marches on, things change. Stuff sometimes even gets better, although old crocks like us would never admit it. Think of the adventure of trying new products. Let your universe unfold. Go forward!
November 25th, 2003 at 16:05
Thank you, Oh Wise and Benevolent One. I’m surprised you didn’t call me Grasshopper. 🙂
November 25th, 2003 at 16:36
Randy:
1. Shoes are a theme on your blog like the imagery in Shakespeare.
2. I hear ya. I have an aunt-in-law who collected hundreds of dollar bills whne the Loonie started. She scoured hte city for her brand of Baby Duck (awful sparkling Ontario wine) whne it was discontinued at the government booze store. My Dad still have us looking for his 25 year aftershave that disappeared years ago – anyone find an old bottle of Kanon?
3. So I know where you’re coming from. Me – I love it when stuff disappears. It forces me out of my too comfortable, old f@rt space and into an exploration adventure for something new. The last time I had to change after shaves was a wonderful time, although it took two showers to remove the samples!
4. Mike N is right. Winter is bleak enough without taking every chance to try something new. You at least have hair!
Cheers,
Stephen
p.s. I tried a new Sushi place tonight before picking up my daughter who’s coaching gymnastics at U of Toronto (an aside – if you want to feel old and over-the-hill try having an 15 year old daughter who’s employed by your alma mater!). This restaurant opened yesterday. My favourite convenient one closed a month ago. When one door closes, another opens.
November 25th, 2003 at 23:32
dude, be careful, i think the word already exists and it is: old. 😉
November 26th, 2003 at 09:34
I propose “franger”. As in, “it made me frangry when they stopped making (insert product here).”
November 26th, 2003 at 16:34
The word you’re looking for is “disconpointment” referring to the disappointment you feel when your favourite product has been discontinued.
The other word we need is when something is still around but isn’t the same anymore, as in “Why do Wagon Wheels taste so much different then when you were a kid.”
November 26th, 2003 at 22:29
Like buying tires for your car, with an extended warranty, and the business closes one month later. Twice in a row: two different businesses!
November 26th, 2003 at 22:50
I’m feeling disconpointed and frangry this evening, because my favorite shoes are no longer made. Great, great sandwich, love it, great words.
I can appreciate that a door closes, another one opens, etc etc., but it works both ways. Everything that’s good as it is doesn’t always need to change. Look what happened to Coca Cola when they tried to “improve” the taste of Coke. Didn’t work, backfired badly. To me, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Jen, who you calling OLD, babe?
We do need a word that describes the changing taste of a product we remember as a kid. Speaking of which, whatinhell ever happened to Bar Six? I loved that chocolate bar when I was a kid.
November 28th, 2003 at 22:34
There are 76 hits for Italian Wedding Soup on the net. Easy to make. Why don’t you try one.
November 30th, 2003 at 14:30
At a boy, Randy! Jump on your velocopede and ride to work, rather than follow the crowd and purchase one of those new fangled Model A’s. Sounds like the push/pull strategy of product marketing blues.
January 7th, 2004 at 10:43
Got a pair of Reebok Newports Classics just before Christmas. Cost £32.00 – don’t know what that is in dollars. You can get them at many shops in the UK. You’re right they are good value for maoney.
September 19th, 2006 at 20:12
Mate, the Bavarian was my favourite aftershave & deoderant. I have just spoken to Nutri-metics & they tried to sell me their “ForMen” range. I too lament the passing of this & MANY OTHER products – the list is huge. You have to ask yourself ‘why is this happening’. I hear the tossers who say “Just get over it ” & to them I say …. well, this is a family show, but, if it’s any comfort – you’re not alone. When you find a country or planet on which this phenominon does NOT occur, please email me & I shall join you there !!!!
August 18th, 2007 at 06:51
The Newport Classic is an amazing shoe. I’ve worn them for 20 years. There are still places you can find them, but you have to pay to get them here from Switzerland, England, etc. Stick to your guns friend – if you know what you like, there is no reason you shouldn’t stick with it!