Why do magazine publishers include cards in their publications which fall out on the floor?

Question

When you're looking at these magazines off a rack and thumbing through them invariably two or three of the promotional response cards will fall out on the floor and be wasted. Looks like they would be attached to the magazine in some way then the reader could simply tear it out and respond to it whether they bought the magazine or not. At least, in this way, the sales effort would not be wasted!

Answer 1

The cards are "blown in". They'd cost much more if they were affixed to the magazine. It's apparently a form of advertising that annoys (at the level of an "inconvenience") but is effective.

Annoying advertising is usually accepted, as long as it doesn't permanently harm the image of the brand or the media which disseminates the ad. Why is it done? It's an intentional exercise in making an ad rise above the clutter. They'd rather have you somewhat annoyed and aware of their ad than blissfully ignorant.

I guess you could call it "Neanderthal Spam"!

Answer 2

If you have to stoop down and pick up the card, you're going to look at what is written on the card---probably. Besides, if you're reading and you have to remove one of the cards from the magazine, you're more likely to look at the card you're removing. I simply do not buy magazines. They're just mute commercials----and I hate commercials.

Answer 3

My guess is its similar to a tree with seeds attached to a wing or cotton, so that the seeds disperse.

They want to disperse the cards wherever the magazine is taken.

Thats a ridiculous answer but a funny one. LOL!!

Answer 4

...because its cheap.