Don't You Just Love a Bargain?

The new Jib Jab animated short, Big Box Mart, has arrived! While previous Jib Jab cartoons have skewered politics, the group has now turned its satirical eye towards mega retailers, overseas outsourcing, and American consumerism. Check it out if you have a chance.


There is a moment in the cartoon where our "everyman" shops at "Big Box Mart" and places a useless knick-knack in his shopping cart. His choice of purchase is supposed to appear a little over-the-top. But, for those of you who live in New England, I have one thing to say: Christmas Tree Shops.

Have you seen the Christmas Tree Shop commercials?

For those of you who don't live here, you should know that the name of this discount store is misleading. They don't just sell Christmas stuff there. They sell useless knick-knacks all year long. Their slogan is "Don't you just love a bargain," and the commercials showcase real Christmas Tree Shop customers looking at the in-store circular and showing off all the amazing "bargains" in their shopping cart.

Each commercial showcases a different group of shoppers, but they all share one thing--an anxious quality. It's like these customers are addicts, and they are at the Christmas Tree Shop for their fix.

"These little ceramic ghouls for Halloween are only $2.99 a piece! So I'm buying 20 of them! And look at this jack-o-lantern chip and dip set! $8.99. I just have to have it! Don't you just love it?!?!!! I love it!!!"

When I look at the stuff, all I see is this customer's future yard sale. I'm not kidding. And I guarantee that this is exactly where these purchases are going to end up a few years from now.

Of course, I'm sitting here all smug, but I am not immune to impulse buys. You know those small items at the check-out line? I have a mini flashlight, a pocket stapler, and an extra deck of playing cards collecting dust in my kitchen junk drawer.

If you are interested, you can buy them at my next yard sale.