# Okay, Harry Potter merchandizing is officially out of hand **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 26, 2001, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-harry-potter-merchandizing-is-officially-out-of-hand/95205 "2001-11-26T00:57:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2001, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-harry-potter-merchandizing-is-officially-out-of-hand/95205/1 "2001-11-26T00:57:34Z")
Guess what they’re selling down the road? Plastic STICKS. Oh sure, they’re labelled as wands, but I always pictured the wands in the books as magicians wands (and the movie’s not out here yet), and these hunks of plastic look like the sticks in my backyard. Only plastic. I mean, come ON! I used to like Harry, but everywhere I go now there’s plastic sticks, edible owls… it’s worse than star wars! ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2001, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-harry-potter-merchandizing-is-officially-out-of-hand/95205/2 "2001-11-26T01:32:51Z")
Yeah? Today, I saw a commercial for “Lord of the Rings” action-freakin’-figures. _That’s_ just pathetic. ---
**Author:** ![Dragonblink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dragonblink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragonblink)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2001, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-harry-potter-merchandizing-is-officially-out-of-hand/95205/3 "2001-11-26T02:11:56Z")
Having worked in the children’s section of a large bookstore, I can vouch for the existence of freakin Harry Potter OWL POO DISSECTION KITS. Now your child can experience the joy of dissecting an owl pellet (yes I know it’s not technically poo) with crappy plastic instruments with the Harry Potter name on them! Funny, we didn’t sell many of those last Christmas, though someone did buy the $70 trivia game. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Fear\_of\_Id](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c6cbf5/32.png) [@The\_Fear\_of\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Fear_of_Id)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2001, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-harry-potter-merchandizing-is-officially-out-of-hand/95205/4 "2001-11-26T02:52:15Z")
I thought it was out of hand when they had custom Lego sets. Until I saw one up close and just had to buy it! ---
**Author:** ![Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df788c/32.png) [@Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ben)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2001, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-harry-potter-merchandizing-is-officially-out-of-hand/95205/5 "2001-11-26T05:51:33Z")
As further proof of my amazing prophetic powers, let me point out that a few years ago, before I had ever heard of HP, I wondered whether the trend towards “extreme candy” (super-sour this, atomic-hot that) would lead to feces-flavored jellybeans. I think earwax- and booger-flavored HP jellybeans count as a definite hit. -Ben ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2001, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-harry-potter-merchandizing-is-officially-out-of-hand/95205/6 "2001-11-26T06:47:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ben \* > \*\*As further proof of my amazing prophetic powers, let me point out that a few years ago, before I had ever heard of HP, I wondered whether the trend towards “extreme candy” (super-sour this, atomic-hot that) would lead to feces-flavored jellybeans. I think earwax- and booger-flavored HP jellybeans count as a definite hit. > -Ben \*\* Please don’t accuse me of getting WHOOSHED, here, but I was in Toys “Backwards R” Us yesterday, getting Michaela’s Xmas wish list entered into their computer\*, and I saw the bag of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans ($2.99 for four ounces of Jelly Bellys – nice work if you can get it, eh?), and I broke into one of the sacks to read the flavor list that was promised to be within. Don’t worry, I didn’t violate the integrity of the packaging, but it was just the standard set of Jelly Belly flavors. The earwax and booger teasers on the outer label were just that: teasers. \*identifying details on request 😃 As if. ---
**Author:** ![evilbeth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/evilbeth/32/2268_2.png) [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2001, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-harry-potter-merchandizing-is-officially-out-of-hand/95205/7 "2001-11-26T08:23:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > …but it was just the standard set of Jelly Belly flavors. The earwax and booger teasers on the outer label were just that: teasers. > \*\* I have purchased packages of them and they include black pepper flavor, along with booger, sardine, grass and horseradish. In fact, I have a package here with me now. While I cannot vouch for the authenticity of the booger flavor–can’t bring myself to try it–I _can_ say that the pepper and horseradish taste pretty much like jelly beans with pepper and horseradish flavor added. So,it’s not all just a marketing scheme. Incidentally, the “strange” flaovrs of beans are mostly listed last in the descriptions–at least in the packages I have seen. Just FYI. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2001, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-harry-potter-merchandizing-is-officially-out-of-hand/95205/8 "2001-11-26T08:55:25Z")
> [@](#): > > Yeah? Today, I saw a commercial for “Lord of the Rings” action-freakin’-figures. > > That’s just pathetic. Well, no. The action figures are standard for any movie (except _Batman_, which had the Thomas and Martha Wayne _in_action figures). So are the toy sets, happy meals, and sex toys. I guess that’s what the plastic “wands” mentioned in the OP really are… ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2001, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-harry-potter-merchandizing-is-officially-out-of-hand/95205/9 "2001-11-26T08:57:29Z")
The Isle of Man coins got me. The ones “authorized” by Queen Elizabeth herself. Now being somewhat knowledgeable in the area of coin collecting all these coin commercials piss me off but this one is doubly horrific. I wonder if it will have the same effect on Harry Potter as it did on Pokeman. _crosses fingers_ ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2001, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-harry-potter-merchandizing-is-officially-out-of-hand/95205/10 "2001-11-26T09:22:04Z")
Plastic sticks as sex toys? They seemed a little thin for that, but whatever gets you off 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2001, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-harry-potter-merchandizing-is-officially-out-of-hand/95205/11 "2001-11-26T10:57:45Z")
Hey, man, some girls are tight. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2001, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-harry-potter-merchandizing-is-officially-out-of-hand/95205/12 "2001-11-26T12:05:26Z")
SPOOFE – you got any phone numbers ? Just posting to remind y’all that this isn’t a film (or a ‘movie’, even). It’s a friggin six-part franchise – one a year, baby ! Roll up !! Roll up !! ---
**Author:** ![Francesca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Francesca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francesca)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2001, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-harry-potter-merchandizing-is-officially-out-of-hand/95205/13 "2001-11-26T12:14:45Z")
Seven-part. One for every year he’s at school. Next one due out in June 2002. I work in a bookshop. Our window is full of Harry Potter stuff at the moment. T-shirts, bookmarks, CDs, games, the lot. At least three times a day I get: “Do you have Harry Potter?” No. What is this Potter of which you speak? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2001, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-harry-potter-merchandizing-is-officially-out-of-hand/95205/14 "2001-11-26T12:26:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Francesca \* > Seven-part. One for every year he’s at school. Next one due out in June 2002. Oh great, we’re going to be out of the woods by 2008. Unless… Can we have a whip round for the funds to saw off Rowling’s hands ? ---
**Author:** ![Francesca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Francesca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francesca)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2001, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-harry-potter-merchandizing-is-officially-out-of-hand/95205/15 "2001-11-26T12:35:45Z")
We’ve already had four. You’ll be free by the end of 2004. Apart from the movies… ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2001, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-harry-potter-merchandizing-is-officially-out-of-hand/95205/16 "2001-11-26T12:57:42Z")
> [@](#): > > Can we have a whip round for the funds to saw off Rowling’s hands ? Wont work. blasted voice recognition software… ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2001, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-harry-potter-merchandizing-is-officially-out-of-hand/95205/17 "2001-11-26T13:01:30Z")
We stopped in Burger King over the weekend. We got a Pippin figure that has a glowing torch (tiny batteries and cheap LEDs are your _friends_), and you can join it with a gazillion other figures into a grand assembly that does everything when you move the One Ring. There’s also a Burger King crown with the Ring Inscription written on it. I think a lot of Tolkien fanatics are now breaking downb and crying. The Trilogy seemed so safe from mass-market sleaze before this (_Nothing_ like this happened when the Bakshi rotoscope came out a quarter of a century ago.) Me, I’ve read the books so many times I’ve lost count. I’m curious to see what happens when this wave of highly specialized, non-“Americanized” (“Sorceror’s Stone”, my butt!) wave crashes upon the General Public. Culture shock, I hope. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2001, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-harry-potter-merchandizing-is-officially-out-of-hand/95205/18 "2001-11-26T13:04:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TwistofFate \* > Wont work. blasted voice recognition software… Okay, two hands and a neck. What about the toes ? Strap 'er down, Twisty. I’ll get the rusty blade from the garage… ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2001, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-harry-potter-merchandizing-is-officially-out-of-hand/95205/19 "2001-11-26T15:05:27Z")
I went to see the movie yesterday afternoon. When Dumbledore made his first appearance, a small voice piped up from the back of the theater: “He’s a \*toy!” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2001, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-harry-potter-merchandizing-is-officially-out-of-hand/95205/20 "2001-11-26T15:56:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by evilbeth \* > \*\*I have purchased packages of them and they include black pepper flavor, along with booger, sardine, grass and horseradish. In fact, I have a package here with me now. While I cannot vouch for the authenticity of the booger flavor–can’t bring myself to try it–I _can_ say that the pepper and horseradish taste pretty much like jelly beans with pepper and horseradish flavor added. So,it’s not all just a marketing scheme. Incidentally, the “strange” flaovrs of beans are mostly listed last in the descriptions–at least in the packages I have seen. > > Just FYI. \*\* Then I retract the assertion. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-harry-potter-merchandizing-is-officially-out-of-hand/95205.md?page=2)