The new Weight Watcher cereals are quite the buzz and rightfully so. They have a good product, but they are totally messing up on the marketing.
I noticed the new Weight Watchers cereals out at the grocery and grabbed a box. The price looked close in line with the other cereals that are premium or healthy. Well, it seemed that way until I opened the box . . .
This is a blatant, off-the-charts case of overpackaging. I know products "settle," but Weight Watcher cereals come in at less than half a bag when taken out of the box. It reminded me of "Where's the Beef" on the old Wendy's commercials. I looked at that sad sack of cereal and knew I'd been "had."
Fine. I will pay more. Just don't sell me a regular size box of cereal with less than half the contents. Put it in a small box and let it sink or swim. All it does to use a standard size box and skimp on filling it up is tick off customers. I was mad before I even opened the inside baggie.
Even though I was hot about getting ripped off with this new cereal on the misleading packaging, I must say that it tastes darn good. I got the honey almond with blueberries, and it really was tasty. WIth the attitude I had going, you better believe that it was good. I wanted to hate this cereal. That does not excuse the big box and small amount hidden inside.
Another beef I have with Weight Watchers is that they have a free sample thing going. Now, tha'ts nice in theory. Just click to Weight Watchers Free Sample. What they don't say up front is that the offer is only good for Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. They get your information (oh yes). Then, you click to the final page and find that this is very limited. By the time you find out, you've already given them your address and such.
Even more random is that I got an email saying that my cereal is on the way. Since the company site names only those two states (where I don't live), I really have to wonder about that. Are they going to send cereal anyway? It sounds that way in the email. I haven't seen any cereal in my mailbox though. It's clearly stated (after you give up your contact info) that this is only for those two specific states. So, I won't be holding my breath. I don't really expect to get a sample, and I'm again ticked, since that is not stated up front before I give them my address.
As I mentioned, the cereal really is tasty. It's one of the best I've eaten. I'd be willing to pay more for the product. But, I don't appreciate the big box with small contents and say "boo-hiss" to a freebie offer that springs two select states being eligible only after private info is collected. Don't get my address and THEN tell me I'm don't qualify. Toss in that email that thanks me for visiting and says my cereal is on the way (which I doubt), and everything about this campaign stinks.
The cereal tastes great, but the taste of the way this introduction is being handled is nasty. I won't be buying any more Weight Watchers cereals. They are gaming me on the box size, offering free samples and then making that so limited that very few folks filling out the form qualify. They must think everyone was "born yesterday." I wasn't. I'll spend my money elsewhere. And, that's a shame, since it really is a good product.
