The practice of generating cupons for "related" products when you make a purchase has become quite common. For example, buy a frozen breakfast product and you get a coupon for a frozen lunch.  Therefore, it would not surprise me to see a coupon for formula when one buys diapers (although it just reinforces the notion that formula is a normal part of having a baby-that's another discussion).  I would imagine that one might get a diaper coupon when one buys formula.  However one I got the other day seems to go far beyond a coupon for a related product.  At a large drug store chain I bought a package of Soothies gel discs (they are great if you get a blister on your foot-just wear it in your sock).  It generated a coupon for one of the big 2 formulas with a blurb on why it is so great.  OK, annoying but not surprising.  However, it also generated another promo that states "BREASTFEEDING OR  FORMULA/ MANY WOMEN DO BOTH." with directioins to the formula company's website, offer for a free sample and a "free booklet with tips on feeding baby".  Did my purchase of a product intended for sore nipples lead to the "you could do both" promo?  I highly suspect it did.  To me this is exploiting the fact that a woman may be experiencing a problem, so this is seen as a great time to get her steered toward formula.  I asked at the store today who makes the decisions on what coupoons are generated and was told that the corporate office did.  Believe me, they will be getting a letter!

Winnie Mading

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