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Sea Monkeys, Xray Specs - Believe the Hype?

by LilBlackDress
12 replies
Did you have sea monkeys as a kid?

The guy who wrote the sales copy was a master at selling. His other copy included X ray Specs and more. But would he be run out of town today for selling products that don't quite meet expectations? Would the FTC crack down on him or would he be looked at as a brilliant marketeter. I found this article very interesting;


The Shocking True Tale Of The Mad Genius Who Invented Sea-Monkeys | The Awl
#hype #monkeys #sea #specs #xray
  • Profile picture of the author luckystepho
    I remember sea monkeys! The sales copy has you believing that they are semi-human creatures that will learn tricks and practically talk to you, and then when you actually get them they are just little water shrimps that swim around and do nothing! I guess it's a great lesson in marketing techniques!
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    • Profile picture of the author George Wright
      What? Your sea monkeys didn't talk to you?

      Originally Posted by luckystepho View Post

      I remember sea monkeys! The sales copy has you believing that they are semi-human creatures that will learn tricks and practically talk to you, and then when you actually get them they are just little water shrimps that swim around and do nothing! I guess it's a great lesson in marketing techniques!
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  • Profile picture of the author alfid
    I never had sea monkeys as a kid, but yes, you have to be very careful what tactics you use to sell because you could get in trouble with the FTC
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    • Profile picture of the author cjreynolds
      Didn't get sea monkeys, but I did have a set of X-Ray Specs when I was a kid... It was an illusion, but it looked like I could see the bones in my hand. But it couldn't see through womens' dresses, and that's what I bought it for!

      (Hey, I was 11 years old! :rolleyes
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  • Profile picture of the author Don Schenk
    At first when I saw "Sea Monkeys" in the title I thought you were talking about Sea Money - the software that preceded Nvu and KompoZer. :p

    Then my childhood came back to me. Ahh yes, those advertisements appeared in magazines, comic books, and the classifieds in the back of Popular Science and Popular Mechanics. (Unless it was so long ago that I don't remember where I saw them.)

    Fun, old memories.

    When I was in college, somewhere around 1969 or 1970, I was fascinated by mail order and the ads in the back of comic books. So, I sent a request to Marvel Comics for a media kit. As I recall a full, inside back cover cost $10,000 at that time.

    To put it in perspective, a new Cadillac cost $3,500 at the time!

    :-Don
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    • Profile picture of the author cashp0wer
      I remember sea monkeys but never had any. I would think that you would be in big trouble with the FTC if you didn't market your stuff correctly. Such as saying Sea MOnkeys will grow and talk to you when they only swim around.
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  • Profile picture of the author DeadRooster
    What ever you do, don't look at Sea Monkeys with X-Ray Specs!

    I was somewhat diabolical when I was a kid. I got the idea to leave an empty package of Sea Monkeys on my friend's desk next to a fish bowl and tell him I stocked the bowl with the charming little critters; however, what I REALLY did was load it up with mosquito larva.

    Look! You can see 'em moving!
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    • Profile picture of the author LilBlackDress
      I did get sea monkeys as a kid. I was pretty gullible and couldn't wait to see them smiling and waving as they did in the ad. Did I say I was gullible? I also expected the pet rock to move or do something. I was shocked to find out that people were buying something that did nothing.

      Anyway, my sea monkeys never hatched. To get a refund I had to fill out a form listing their actual names! Kinda hard since none of them lived.
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      • Profile picture of the author cjreynolds
        Originally Posted by LilBlackDress View Post

        I did get sea monkeys as a kid. I was pretty gullible and couldn't wait to see them smiling and waving as they did in the ad. Did I say I was gullible? I also expected the pet rock to move or do something. I was shocked to find out that people were buying something that did nothing.

        Anyway, my sea monkeys never hatched. To get a refund I had to fill out a form listing their actual names! Kinda hard since none of them lived.
        Had one of those too - LOL!

        "Bad Rock! BAD ROCK!"

        Oh, the memories...
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  • Profile picture of the author Gaz Cooper
    I am from the UK and remember Sea Monkey ads when I was a kid I never got them but I also remember seeing the ads for Twinkies and thought they would be great but could never order them.

    I finally made it to the states 18 years later and bought a whole box from target, I was so excited LOL

    I ate one and thought they were TERRIBLE and threw the rest in the bin LOL

    what a let down

    Gaz Cooper
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    I remember the ads very well. I begged my mother for the Sea Monkeys and the X Ray Glasses. She relented and bought both.

    The Sea Monkeys of course were just brine shrimp and died soon after coming to life and you couldn't see through anything with the X Ray Glasses. Go figure. Needless to say, I was pretty disappointed.

    I doubt those types of products would pass muster with the FTC today.
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    • Profile picture of the author azmanar
      Hi,

      I remember Sea Monkeys Ads in my comic books.

      Never ordered any. Viewing the Ads was fun though.

      That time I do keep pet shrimps ... scooped around rocks from a nearby river.

      They never live longer than half a day. My cats love em.
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