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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

in being annoyed at the tin of diet coke in the six month Bounty weaning pack?

77 replies

JollyPirate · 08/05/2009 19:37

Now I am aware that Bounty packs can be an emotive issue but it is my sad lot in life to be around them on a weekly basis. The clinic I work in has recently started taking delivery of both antenatal packs and the 6 month weaning packs. Today I opened one (as I occasionally do to monitor what's inside). There were no end of Hipp Organic sachets, bottles of juice and fruit jars, fruity porridge (of which 36.5g/100g was sugars but hey "no added sugar" prominent on the label) plus samples of washing powder etc and money off coupons.

Then - right at the bottom a small (lunchbox sized) tin of caffeine free diet coke. Now I know this is probably aimed at the parents and NOT the weaning baby (one would hope although with the area I work in anything goes ). But I was pretty gobsmacked to say the least. Worst of all I had a load of Under 1 Year olds coming in for their development check this morning whose parents all came in with a Bounty pack.
I had to do some rapid explaining that they contained tins of diet coke and no I did not advocate them and definitely not for the baby. There was a coke tin shaped advertisement included which talked about how just because you were a new Mum or an expectant Mum you didn't have to give up your favourite soft drink because "hell - we've removed the caffeine". So that's okay then..

Went to my manager straight away afterwards with the offending Bounty pack - she says we are to remove the tins of Coke from the bags and has contacted Bounty to say no more are to be delivered.

Is it me or are Bounty really bad and the bags not worth having? Will women really suffer if we get rid of these bloody bags full of adverts because let's face it they have very little of any value in them.

OP posts:
BCNS · 08/05/2009 19:41

I've hate those packs .. and each time I had a dc ( I have 3 of them).. I remembered why I hated them

..now.. mumsnet could do a brilliant pack.. imagine what our pack would be like

SarahL2 · 08/05/2009 19:43

I actually quite liked my Bounty packs but then I am a sucker for a freebie

MANATEEequineOHARA · 08/05/2009 19:46

Ugh, diet coke, that is just awful, so ok the giving it to the baby is only going to be done by those with no brain, BUT, diet coke for the mother...because of course she would need to be on a diet [angry}.

A Mumsnet pack sounds much more fun

screamingabdab · 08/05/2009 19:46

I would like a Bounty pack with a Bounty in

I did notice that after DSs were born, there was a huge increase in junk mail, presumably linked to Bounty passing on my details details (in my weakened state I don't remember ever being asked if I wished my personal details to be shared with other companies

screamingabdab · 08/05/2009 19:47

details details

FabulousBakerGirl · 08/05/2009 19:48

pointless thing imho

HumphreyCobbler · 08/05/2009 19:48

they are full of shit

i left mine at the hospital last time, not realising that the form for applying for child benefit was inside it.

YANBU

smallchange · 08/05/2009 19:53

The only good thing about my Bounty pack was the mini Sudocreme and Detox spray bottle.

The Sudocreme lasted for about a year and the Detox saved me buying a full bottle and realising that soap and water were just as good.

Otherwise it was a whole load of smelly Johnson & Johnson stuff.

Paolosgirl · 08/05/2009 19:53

I LOVED getting the Bounty bags with all 3 of mine - but like Sarah, I'm a sucker for freebies! And a treat of diet coke? Mmmmmm - never buy fizzy drinks, but if they want to give me one for free, hell, I'll take it.

'Tis no big deal imo....

MamaHobgoblin · 08/05/2009 19:55

YANBU.

Bloody Bounty. We still hates them from the hospital - the wretched Bounty woman kept on swishing aside my curtain (no, she didn't ask) to 'check' we'd had the bag (it was left in the delivery room) but really to push the photo 'service' on us and to do a questionaire. I was getting zero sleep on the ward and had to be in for over a week with PIH. We ended up shouting at her to get her to go away.

FlyMeToDunoon · 08/05/2009 19:58

My Bounty bag had that drink that 'gives you wings' can't remember the name of it. Supposed to be for the father I think it said.
I sat in the hospital and stripped all of the useful samples from their packaging and dumped the masses of junk in the bin.
Mostly Useless.

screamingabdab · 08/05/2009 19:59

MamaHobgoblin Oh yes, I remember that. She came on the day I cried ALL DAY, and didn't have a clue what to say/do. Silly caaah.

spicemonster · 08/05/2009 19:59

Bounty bags are a waste of time. I actually think it's pretty appalling that the government seems to underwrite all the free advertising by sticking the child benefit forms inside the bags

BCLass · 08/05/2009 20:06

Never had one; refused 12 week one at hosp; Homebirth so didn't get one then.

Printed CB form off internet before I left work (Thanks Mumsnet for letting me know I should do this if I didn't get a Bounty pack)

It's just marketing junk and manipulation of new mothers and the fact that the NHS supports it is sooooo bad

BCLass · 08/05/2009 20:06

And YA definatley NBU

onebatmother · 08/05/2009 20:07

you are absolutely shitting me?

"ok, ladies you've had your six months, time to get back 'in shape'! Remember, you're not just a mother - you're a wife!"

Oh oh, let me be the one to contact the Guardian?

Original poster
JollyPirate · 08/05/2009 20:09

Like most of us I am a sucker for a freebie too but Diet Coke in a pack aimed at the parents of a weaning baby is just appalling in my v humble opinion.

So - what could we put in the Mumsnet one? Mooncups anyone?
Or less problematic "The Mumsnet Guide to......"

OP posts:
Ewe · 08/05/2009 20:09

YANBU

I have never received either of the Bounty packs. Would like to be offered one so I could turn it down!

notcitrus · 08/05/2009 20:11

spice - another appalled person here!
I had all the staff in hospital telling me to collect my free postnatal Bounty pack, but they refused to give me a bag as I declined to give them my phone number and address. The snotty woman told me I wouldn't get my child benefit forms then but luckily it was 3 days after birth by then and I was sentient enough to say "Is that really legal?"

Funnily enough when she nipped round the corner to 'check', she then returned with benefit forms...

Someone nicked my labour one but SIL2 said only the Sudocrem was at all useful. The midwife who gave me my antenatal one told me not to get too excited as the only useful bit was the plastic envelope which was handy to stop my notes getting coffee on them. She was right!

AnarchyAunt · 08/05/2009 20:11

Bounty - freebies but at what price

I think a Mumsnet pack should contain tiktok, gin, and a mooncup

ChairmumMiaow · 08/05/2009 20:16

I only had the birth pack, and only accepted that because of the child benefit form. I wouldn't let them take my photo (I felt like shit and looked like it!) Full of crap that I could happily have done without.

While most mums would have the sense not to give the diet coke to their kids, I'm sure there are some who would consider the fact that it was in there meant it was ok to give it to their LOs. Awful.

LibrasBiscuitsOfFortune · 08/05/2009 20:20

I love freebies and am now very disappointed I didn't get a 6 month bag but then I am intelligent/hardy enough to ignore the advertising. The sudocreme was very useful for the nappy bag!

ProstetnicVogonJeltz · 08/05/2009 20:42

fuck me. caffeine free. no wonder you're bloody irate. I would be too.

chegirl · 08/05/2009 20:44

I was looking forward to my bounty pack with DC4. It was rubbish . Feck all in it apart from bits of bloody paper. You used to get a really cute jar of marmite.

Of course the coke is aimed at the parents but I live in an area where its not uncommon to see a child with a (baby) bottle full of coke etc. The mum doesnt give the coke to the child because she doesnt care about it, she does it because she thinks its ok. This sort of marketing will only reinforce this idea.

I think they should tailor them to the area in which they are distributed. Round here they should have:
Packet of 10 fags
Can of redbull
eighth of morrocan (for relaxing)
Half of coke (keep you going through those night feeds)
Dog treats (to keep the staffie happy - its the law to buy a staffie puppy the month after your missus gets pregant)
Small pair of gold earings
Gold chain (to put dummy on)

Meowww I am such a bitch. But I am a chav so am aloud to take the piss out of other chavs (that IS the convention isnt it?)

Paolosgirl · 08/05/2009 20:57

LOL chegirl!!

I presume you were joking?

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