Throughout the school year, free products are almost guaranteed at any student event, but are impractical freebies the only way to welcome students to Queen’s?
On Sept. 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., the Arts and Science Undergraduate Society (ASUS) Sidewalk Sale took place along University Ave. Booths distributed promotional goods including plastic trinkets, discount vouchers, and even candy. For functional, high-quality products, students spent their time waiting in lines, even just to get a chance at a wanted item through spin-to-win wheels.
The Sidewalk Sale promotes free goods as an “excellent way for students to interact positively with the greater Kingston community.” However, it more so seems like a way for students to gorge themselves on cheap, wasteful products that they probably won’t use again past first semester.
At the TD booth, students waited in line to access Starbucks-branded reusable plastic cups. Over at Haribo and Sour Patch Kids, students eager for a sweet treat queued to spin-to-win one bag of candy. Even booths that offered cheap bulk-ordered plastic trinkets had crowds forming.
Zero-priced items are tempting, even if they are worthless junk.
Since all students are consumers at heart, our brains are wired to be lured with free swag. According to a study published by Marketing Science, zero is an irresistible price that we perceive as a valuable reward. So, although those Sidewalk Sale fire safety fidget spinners offer no function beyond material joy, the fleeting happiness it offers seems worthwhile.
But freebies aren’t just a waste of time. It produces waste when around 40 per cent of promotional products end up in landfills. That includes plastic reusable water bottles slapped with logos, branded lanyards, and plastic pens that never work.
According to a study by the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), consumers hold more positive opinions towards advertisers when their promotional products are environmentally friendly. Further, while these freebies are kept on average for eight months, functional items like umbrellas, power banks, and calendars stay with consumers for over a year.
Even if corporate shirts are doomed to become nightwear, and branded tote bags make tacky fashion accessories, these useful promotional products stay longer because they are more valuable than a sticker for a club you will never join.
Amongst an abundance of plastic, some Sidewalk Sale vendors proved that promotional goods don’t have to be wasteful.
Anyone passing by the Tampax Truck received menstrual products, creating free access to healthcare necessities. Nearby, the Sexual Health Resource Centre took it a step further by handing out period supplies and free condoms, reducing risks in our community. Even some spin-to-win vendors offered worthwhile products, such as Mobile Klinik’s free screen protector prizes.
While these products might not be as fun as free candy, these booths removed cost barriers for essential items while satiating our need for zero priced rewards.
Although free gifts bring joy, the emotional value we place on these promotional goods is fleeting. If the product has no function, then let’s face it, it will end up in the trash, just like the rest of the forgettable freebies we have collected throughout our lives.
Tags
free, Sidewalk Sale, Sustainability
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