Valentine's Day Marketing Scam

How could we not have noticed that during this last week was Valentine’s Day. Now at the risk of sounding cynical, I feel that this may be some sort of retailing ploy to get us to spend more…

I made the mistake of “quickly popping” to the supermarket on Monday night (13th) to get a couple of items I needed. What a mistake. There I was lined up behind a queue ten deep of people buying fluffy bunnies, rehashed compilation CDs and overpriced flowers. Why? Because they felt they ought to.

Is there really any need to buy a third copy of Curtis Steiger’s Greatest Hits or an enormous red satin heart-shaped balloon? Does doing so mean that you truly love the person you are buying it for? Valentine’s Day – just like Mothering Sunday, the recently-invented Fathers’ Day and the very-recently-invented Grandparents’ Day (it’s in September in case you’re worried) – means less about romance and more about unnecessary purchases.


I’m not decrying gestures of romance, far from it – any gestures coming my way would be gratefully received. I consider, though, that buying flowers unexpectedly and for no other reason than because you want to is far more romantic than buying them on a set day because you must. Likewise, surely your parents are special on every day of the year, not just on one prescribed Sunday?

So why do we need these set days? Basically, because we would forget – we’d go through the year meaning to do something, but never get round to it. We need these marketing gimmicks to remind us and, in my opinion, the world is a sadder place for that.

I don’t see Valentine’s Day as the most romantic day of the year, but the least romantic because it is a reminder of how useless we all are.

Be first to comment this article

Write Comment
Please keep the topic of messages relevant to the subject of the article. Personal verbal attacks will be deleted. Please don't use comments to plug your web site. Such material will be removed. Just ensure to *Refresh* your browser for a new security code to be displayed prior to clicking on the 'Send' button. Keep in mind that the above process only applies if you simply entered the wrong security code.
Name:
E-mail
Comment:
Code:*
	I wish to be contacted by email regarding additional comments