# Why do they put women's underwear ads in newspapers? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 30, 2000, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-put-womens-underwear-ads-in-newspapers/18064 "2000-04-30T06:29:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![lswote](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lswote/32/5737_2.png) [@lswote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lswote)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2000, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-put-womens-underwear-ads-in-newspapers/18064/21 "2000-04-30T21:30:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > Cristi is right…although I hate shopping with a passion, if I am in need of new underwear I tend to look for a sale. When a small piece of fabric costs upwards of $14.00 I would rather buy them at a buy one get one free sale. > \*\* So women agree that they actually think about putting off buying underwear until it is on sale. I buy 3 packs of underwear so I usually have multiples of 3 underwear, like 9 or 12. I wash once a week, so I need at least 7 and maybe a couple extra if I go out and do something that makes me sweat and I change more than once a day. When my underwear rips I pitch it into the garbage and when the number drops to 7 or 8 I head to Target and get another 3 pack of Fruit of the Looms. Course I don’t need all the other peripheral under garments that women do so my underwear expense is not something that makes me think about budget. I am learning so much from this board. Now I know women budget their underwear purchases. Would women find it a good pickup line for a guy to say “Hey beautiful, wanna hear where they are having a sale on panties?” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2000, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-put-womens-underwear-ads-in-newspapers/18064/22 "2000-04-30T21:39:32Z")
> [@](#): > > Would women find it a good pickup line for a guy to say “Hey beautiful, wanna hear where they are having a sale on panties?” Only if he’s offering to buy. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2000, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-put-womens-underwear-ads-in-newspapers/18064/23 "2000-04-30T22:30:24Z")
The ads serve us, and the ads serve the store too. The fact that the ads serve men’s, ahem, private activities is just a bonus. Women definitely time their underwear purchases based on sales. Much of women’s everday underwear–bras and underpants–are the same from season to season. It’s not like “fashion” clothes, where a shopper might buy it at full price because the item is available, and might be gone if she waits. With underwear, women often buy the same item over and over. For example, I have (praise the deity of your choice!) found an everyday bra that I find comfortable. So I just buy that bra all the time. It is a common brand (Warner’s) and all the stores have it. I know that it will be on sale for a deep discount at some point, so it seems silly to buy at full price. Also, if one department store does not have it on sale, another one probably will. So, if I see an ad for a Warner’s sale at the local Lord & Taylor (convenient!), and I need some bras, I will go in and buy them. Or, if I am in immediate and dire need of bras, I will look in the paper to see which store has a sale, and go there. Since I live in central Jersey, there are many malls within a short drive. Of course, The store is trying to get me to walk in the door with their devious bra sale. While I am there, they hope to get me to buy other stuff–expensive stuff. But, I foil their plan every time. I just go in and buy the cheapo bras and leave. Department stores give me hives, anyway, but they are the only local place where I can get the bras that I like. The underpants I buy in 3-packs at the K-Mart. ---
**Author:** ![lswote](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lswote/32/5737_2.png) [@lswote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lswote)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2000, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-put-womens-underwear-ads-in-newspapers/18064/24 "2000-05-01T02:58:05Z")
Green Bean: > [@](#): > > \*\* > example, I have (praise the deity of your choice!) found an everyday bra that I find comfortable. So I just buy that bra all the time. \*\* It is a crying shame you just buy the same bra everytime. After enjoying the process you go through when you are shopping it would be worth the price of admission to see you set loose in the lingere department at Macys. ---
**Author:** ![lswote](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lswote/32/5737_2.png) [@lswote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lswote)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2000, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-put-womens-underwear-ads-in-newspapers/18064/25 "2000-05-01T03:05:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > Only if he’s offering to buy. 😃 > \*\* Cristi, either you are really easy or my delivery is terrible. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2000, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-put-womens-underwear-ads-in-newspapers/18064/26 "2000-05-01T03:25:51Z")
It’s your delivery, dear. For instance, you won’t get anywhere asking a woman if she’d like to go bra shopping. That’s just a bit more dull than offering to show her your etchings. However, if you tell her that you just so happened to see a simply stunning piece of **lingerie,** and you are positive that it would look just **lovely** on her, because it just so happens to be the same color as her eyes, you might get a little farther. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![lswote](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lswote/32/5737_2.png) [@lswote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lswote)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2000, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-put-womens-underwear-ads-in-newspapers/18064/27 "2000-05-01T19:39:12Z")
Cristi: > [@](#): > > \*\* > That’s just a bit more dull than offering to show her your etchings. > \*\* So I guess you are saying my date last night was lying when she really enjoyed seeing my etchings then, huh? ---
**Author:** ![GolfWidow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GolfWidow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GolfWidow)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2000, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-put-womens-underwear-ads-in-newspapers/18064/28 "2000-05-01T20:06:37Z")
When was the last time you saw an ad for men’s underwear and thought “Ya know, I do need some underwear. Bonus deal, it’s on sale.” Never? Just as I suspected. I know men who wait until there’s only one piece of rubberband holding up a holey piece of cotton fabric; that’s when underwear shopping becomes important to them, sale or no sale. As stated in previous posts above, women are bargain shoppers and do tend to wear the same brands/styles of undergarments once they have found something comfortable. And, how many of you women will swing by the men’s dept. and pick up a couple packages of underwear for the husband/SO? The ad people are targeting the correct sex in the underwear shopping. Admittedly, there is the special occassion for something special, just for you guys. You know, once a year whether you deserve it or not. That’s when we visit Victoria’s Secret. Ever thought of having those catalogs delivered to your house? Colored pictures and a lot more variety than the second page of the local newspaper. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2000, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-put-womens-underwear-ads-in-newspapers/18064/29 "2000-05-01T21:15:13Z")
I was reading through this thread again and it dawned on me, they opened up a Fredricks of Hollywood in the mall near me. In this conservative city, I wonder how long it will remain. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2000, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-put-womens-underwear-ads-in-newspapers/18064/30 "2000-05-01T21:25:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > I was reading through this thread again and it dawned on me, they opened up a Fredricks of Hollywood in the mall near me. > > In this conservative city, I wonder how long it will remain. > \*\* Well, techchick, I just so happened to see a simply stunning piece of lingerie, and I am positive that it would look just lovely on you, because it just so happens to be the same color as your eyes. You doing anything Saturday, from 4:30 to 6? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2000, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-put-womens-underwear-ads-in-newspapers/18064/31 "2000-05-01T21:27:54Z")
Either that, or I could show you my etchings. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2000, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-put-womens-underwear-ads-in-newspapers/18064/32 "2000-05-01T21:29:59Z")
Cynical, Does the Mrs. want to join? \< giggle \> I will be at Wynkoop around 4:30 BTW… ---
**Author:** ![Sassy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Sassy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassy)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2000, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-put-womens-underwear-ads-in-newspapers/18064/33 "2000-05-01T22:23:01Z")
> [@](#): > > **well, I’d call that a stroke of genius** considering the innuendo in the OP, do you want to rephrase? ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2000, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-put-womens-underwear-ads-in-newspapers/18064/34 "2000-05-02T00:41:36Z")
[hijack] When I am reading my newspaper and see the adds for ladies undies, I am,at times, tempted to review them for, um, scientific purposes. However, it seems to me that all of the models that they use are about 14 years old. Now, I don’t know how old the models they actually use are, but when I think about them being so darn young, the interest meter just drops to zero, so to speak. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![brittainy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e4f/32.png) [@brittainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittainy)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2000, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-put-womens-underwear-ads-in-newspapers/18064/35 "2000-05-02T00:57:21Z")
lswote said: Other that the important function they provide as reading material in the bathroom for horny teenage boys, why do they put women’s underwear ads in the newspaper? Yeah, just for horny TEENAGE boys. You obviously don’t mind them so why argue it? Are you going to lobby to get it removed? Probably not. ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2000, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-put-womens-underwear-ads-in-newspapers/18064/36 "2000-05-02T02:09:07Z")
Good for you, Mr. Cynical! See, it does work! 😃 Sassy: No. I meant for it to be that way. And you get bonus points for being the first to spot it! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![lswote](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lswote/32/5737_2.png) [@lswote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lswote)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2000, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-put-womens-underwear-ads-in-newspapers/18064/37 "2000-05-02T02:25:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*lswote said: Other that the important function they provide as reading material in the bathroom for horny teenage boys, why do they put women’s underwear ads in the newspaper? > > Yeah, just for horny TEENAGE boys\*\* Ok, horny TEENAGE boys and horny NOT-SO-TEENAGE boys. But I think everyone pretty much assumed that. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![brittainy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e4f/32.png) [@brittainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittainy)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2000, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-put-womens-underwear-ads-in-newspapers/18064/38 "2000-05-02T02:28:27Z")
I think they should do some underwear ads with men in the paper. Maybe then more women would read them. ---
**Author:** ![brittainy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e4f/32.png) [@brittainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittainy)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2000, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-put-womens-underwear-ads-in-newspapers/18064/39 "2000-05-02T02:30:34Z")
When you say NOT-SO-TEENAGE boys…do you mean like 46 year old men who live in New Jersey? ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2000, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-put-womens-underwear-ads-in-newspapers/18064/40 "2000-05-02T02:42:58Z")
lswote, dear, don’t listen to her. She’s obviously a bitch with no sense of humor. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-put-womens-underwear-ads-in-newspapers/18064.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-put-womens-underwear-ads-in-newspapers/18064.md?page=3)