Readers of the free daily Boston Metro (slogan: “you get what you pay for!”) may enjoy my most recent Bostonist post, which begins:
Times are tough for magazines and newspapers in need of advertising dollars. That may be why the Boston Metro is raking in the bucks by devoting full two-page spreads to the printed version of the infomercial, cleverly disguised as actual articles with the word “advertisement” printed in tiny font above them.
Though not as endearing as the ShamWow or the ubiquitous Snuggie, the Metro’s ads do have a certain amount of cheesiness. Last month, commuters were treated to HeatSurge’s miracle Amish electric fireplaces. These really are a miracle, considering that the Amish completely reject technology like, oh, electricity. The ads came complete with Photoshop-ilicious pics of Amishy-looking people in a barn, putting the finishing touches on blazing electric fireplaces. “Call this 1-800 number in the next 48 hours only! Hurry!” Sure. As it happens, the Amish only made the mantles and the Better Business Bureau received dozens of complains about the company, which has advertised the heaters as “free”—with the purchase of a $300 Amish-made mantle.
