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1 November 2003
Combo deals
Products that
travelers can
really use
By Terry Riley
On a recent flight, I found myself paging through a SkyMall catalog.
SkyMall is testament to simple consumerism—so many impractical products, all available for
purchase in one place.
Anyway, I noted that many of the weird gadgets offered for sale were
combinations of otherwise useful products. Among the contraptions were:
 Alarm clock and telephone
Ballpoint pen and camera
Ballpoint pen and radio
Clock and thermometer
Binoculars and camera
Massager and lotion dispenser
An easy chair and foot massager
Fan and ionizer
Hot dog cooker and bun warmer
Baby stroller and car/plane booster seat
Scale and body fat analyzer
Aquarium and coffee table
Shower radio and mirror
Broom and power washer
Radio and TV and lamp and spotlight and siren and flasher and clock and
thermometer and compass and mosquito repeller
These are all quite interesting, but do travelers really buy these
things? (I
suppose some must. Otherwise SkyMall would be out of business.). Many of
these products captured my imagination, but none is likely to capture my
money.
To get me to shell out some dough for a combination product for
travelers, bring the following gizmos onto the market. I'll have my
credit card number ready.
Ear plugs and kid repellent
Cell phone and razor
Running shoes and
flashlight
Laptop computer and
kid repellent
Binaca® and Beano®
Sunglasses
and kid repellent
Boarding pass and rental car key and hotel key
Swimming pool
and kid repellent
Wing tips and swim fins
Tennis shoes and match holder
(Is this new?)
Sunscreen and
pepper spray
Playing cards and city map
Pocket translator
and kid repellent
Pen and
toothbrush
Smoke hood and
MP3 player
Money clip and
calculator
Deodorant and
toothpaste
Terrycloth robe and
reading light
Suitcase
and kid repellent
Overcoat and air mattress
Reading
glasses and comb
Oh, and did I mention ear plugs and kid repellent?
© 2003 Applied Psychology
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