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50 Things That Got Discontinued That These Consumers Desperately Want To Buy Again
Interview
There are moments in your life when the stars align and you accidentally stumble on a truly phenomenal product. Maybe it’s a delicious food item, a beauty product, or a piece of technology that is so good that it raises your standards forever. And not to sound overly dramatic, but how do you go on when it’s no longer available?
Upset consumers took to an online thread to vent about the best things they bought that later got discontinued. And it still pains them to remember. Choco tacos, headphone jacks in phones, and cars with CD players are just the tip of the iceberg. Scroll down to read about all the things that people miss the most!
Meanwhile, Bored Panda also reached out to the author of the thread, u/rjkersten1, for their thoughts on the topic. You'll find their insights below!
This post may include affiliate links.
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#3
Unpackaged produce at the supermarket. I waste so much food because I can’t use a whole package before it goes bad.
There’s a paradox at work here. Clearly, many consumers love some products so much that they have a visceral emotional reaction when they get discontinued. And yet, these items obviously don’t sell enough to warrant their continued production. It creates this disconnect between consumers and companies, where the latter don’t seem to take into account what the former want.
Some items, like beauty products, might get discontinued due to the scale of production or because of changes in the legality of manufacturers using certain ingredients.
“They are huge brands, and they can afford to just throw stuff out there. They can’t worry about people wanting a certain shade,” Daniel Adler, president and CEO of BuyMeBeauty explained to HuffPost.
Sometimes, however, there are very clear business strategies behind discontinuations.
#4
The McDonald's deep fried apple pies that would burn your mouth. They were so greasy and tasty.
In some cases, companies go for what’s known as planned obsolescence, which is bound to anger quite a few consumers. This is especially prevalent in the technology and fashion industries.
Essentially, according to Investopedia, it’s a strategy where a business ensures that a product becomes outdated or useless within a certain time period. In a nutshell, this drives demand because consumers look to replace what no longer works (well).
“While planned obsolescence can help companies control costs and drive demand, it often faces consumer backlash if the new versions offer minimal improvements over previous models,” Investopedia states. It adds that this practice can harm brand reputation and consumer satisfaction.
#8
Large salad bars 😭 all of the ones near me never re opened after lock down. whole foods is the only one but it’s sooo expensive.
We were curious about what inspired the author to start the online thread about discontinued items, and u/rjkersten1 was kind enough to share their thoughts with us.
"I think for inspiration, I decided to ask the question because I went to a coffee shop to order a Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, but they said they were done serving that until next Autumn," they said.
"So, while not permanently discontinued, it got me thinking about discontinued items," u/rjkersten1 told Bored Panda.
#12
I miss the opportunity to buy small sedans and compact cars. I know there are still some around, but there used to be a lot more choices.
Meanwhile, we also wanted to get the redditor's thoughts on what ordinary consumers could potentially do to help bring back discontinued items. From their perspective, it's best to be direct about your wants.
"I think consumers could just ask the business about it. If enough people ask, they might realize how popular demand there is for it," they said.
What are some awesome products that you loved that eventually got discontinued? Do you know why this happened? Realistically speaking, what could you do to convince businesses to bring them back? Do you think any of the things you enjoy right now are at risk of being discontinued in the near future? Let us know!
#15
Fresh'n Up Bubble gum, with the gel in the middle.
I don't know if it's disconned, but I LOVED Dr Oetker's brand pizza, esp the mozzarella one. Can't find it anywhere now!
Archway rocky road cookies. Soaked in Kahlúa and covered in whipped cream, yes ma'am!!!
#16
Alpha-Bits cereal. My childhood in a box. They brought it back at one point but it wasn’t the same.
#20
Crabtree & Evelyn. Particularly their Gardeners hand lotion, Citron body wash, and Himalaya Blue cologne.
#23
Apple cinnamon pop tarts.
They weren’t frosted, just some cinnamon sugar on top. They were amazing.
Now all of the flavors are stupid lol.
#25
Peanut Butter Twix. I was known as the Peanut Butter Twix lady at 2 local gas stations and a 3rd about 45 minutes away. I’m not proud of that because imagine how many you have to buy to earn a whole nickname for it! I was having them order cases just for me 💀.
#28
Laura Secord pudding. Lifesavers in the Christmas book with all the different flavours. Cherry Blossoms .
#30
Uno candy bar, originally made by a company called “Annabelle Candy Co.” Has a truffle like texture and almonds….
#31
Long time ago, when the Earth was young, there were microwave cakes. And they were pretty good. Just the cake mix, in a microwave tray and frosting. Add some water, nuke for 2 minutes. Done.
#34
There are two items:
Last seen 1976 ish -Flings - cheddar drenched, soft cheesy goodness. Cylindrical nuggets of joy!
I became addicted as a teen, circa 1975.
I’ve seen these for sale in British stores but they don’t ship to Canada 😭
Disappeared 1999 ish - Sally Hansen wax strips - the absolute best hair removal product I have ever used! Sold in a box and contained 10/12 sheets.
Cut to size and peel & stick, lol. Looked like a very sheer but super strong scotch tape. If I could replicate this, I would be over the moon! rip best hair removal product ever used. 🥺.
#35
Sunlight Dish Soap
If they had of told me they were going to do that, I would have bought a pallet of the stuff.
#36
Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner and Exfoliating Cleanser. Nothing else I've tried is as good.
#37
Dr. Pepper Berries and Cream
TreSemme Deep Clean Shampoo (down to half a bottle out of the 16 closeouts I bought at Ollie's a while ago)
Pizzarias (chips).
#39
Hostess Susie Q's, original Pantene, O'Boises chips, Hawiian punch (the OG formula in the can).
#42
This is not completely discontinued. But it’s a limited edition item:
Ben & Jerry’s makes a Caramel Core flavor that is vanilla icecream with a center core of salted caramel. A HUGE log (for lack of a better term*) through the center.
Whenever they re-release it I try to get as much of it as I can.
And then, there are the sad times. 😔.
#46
Product 19 cereal.
It had so much iron it smelled metallic when you opened the box. I have always struggled with keeping my iron levels up and I used to (well, still do) crave it so strongly.
I can't believe that the vastly inferior Special K was the breakout product and not delicious, crunchy, wonderful Produxt 19.
#47
Snuggle Cherry Blossom and Rosewood fabric softener. Smells so good. It disappeared and the company claims it's still available in some regions but when I look online I only see old bottles on eBay.
And no, I don't care about how fabric softener is bad for my clothes and my dryer and giving me cancer.
#48
Simply chex. It was the seasoned chex pieces by themselves. As soon as I found them, they were gone .
#51
Lemon cream cake at Olive Garden. I seriously do not know what Olive Garden was thinking by discontinuing that. It's the worst move since the Red Sox traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees.
#53
Clarins After Sun Moisturizer. How dare the company change its formula and completely ruin it. I've emailed them several times begging to go back the original lotion. All I got back in return was nada. Nothing but crickets.
#55
Brachs Bridge Mix with the chocolate covered jellies. They still make the Bridge Mix but the jellies were removed years ago.
#56
Betty Crocker’s Gingerbread mix. I know I could “probably” make the loaf myself, but this was something specific I always made for my children every Thanksgiving! (I’m not much of a cook and that was my one contribution).
#57
1) Oreo Big Stuf
2) Starbucks Snickerdoodle Cookies
3) Those small jelly jars with cartoon characters that our family used as juice glasses when the jelly was gone.
#58
Cheese nips and spam spread and soft batch chocolate chip cookies. Also they cookies that had chocolate in the center! .
#60
Coke Blak. I’m pretty sure I’m the only person on the planet who likes it, so it’s not available anymore.
#61
Quality blue jeans. Since the major US brands exited sell edge denim it’s really hard to get a decent pair of jeans.
#63
Apple juice based drinks at Starbucks.
Had been drinking them for over 15 years. Now I have to make my drink at work.
#66
Ragu express :( like easy mac but ragu pasta instead.
& v05 blueberry shampoo & conditioner.
#67
When I was a kid I would sometimes get these cheese-filled soft pretzel twists from Speedway
They were far better than any gas station food had any right to be
It’s been like 20 years and I still think about them.
#72
Lay's Wasabi Ginger chips, Sour Tangerine Altoids, Blue Pepsi, and those Orbitz drinks with the suspended tapioca balls from the 90s.
#75
Two things from Avon! A Skin So Soft lotion that had a very light citrus scent, and a hair product called Advance Techniques Dry Ends Serum.
#79
Taco Bell's Naked Chicken Chalupa. The chicken shell was always perfectly crispy and perfectly moist. I want it back!
#84
Cheez-It —— Twisterz.
My 11 yr old self would eat them by the box. The ‘hot wings and cheesy blue’ flavor to be precise. I’m 36 now and still not over it. I still scan the cheez it section in stores, secretly hoping I’ll come across them again.
#89
Chef Boyardee box spagetti dinner. It contained the spagetti, sauce, and a parmasen cheese pack. It was the long rectangular box. Back in the 80s. Gosh, I loved that stuff.
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What do you think ?
Rick Murray 4 months ago
Meh, all American stuff. Need a list for the other side of the ocean. Let's start with Walnut Whip, Creme Egg (not that mess that's pretending to be it), Little Chef/Happy Eater (like they were in the 80s), and Quattro.
Forrest Hobbs 4 months ago
Rick Murray: totally agree. I'd add the fruit version of Club biscuits - back when they were real chocolate. Also several recently deceased real ales. Marston's got taken over by Carlsberg, so no more cask-conditioned Pedigree brewed in the Burton Union sets. It's not the only real ale that Carlsberg's kílled off. Grr.
Load More Replies...
SchadenFreudian Psychology 4 months ago
If I like something, they stop making it. That goes for clothes, shoes, and accessories, too. Now if I really fall in love with a clothing item, I buy an extra one for when the first one wears out.
Rick Murray 4 months ago
Meh, all American stuff. Need a list for the other side of the ocean. Let's start with Walnut Whip, Creme Egg (not that mess that's pretending to be it), Little Chef/Happy Eater (like they were in the 80s), and Quattro.
Forrest Hobbs 4 months ago
Rick Murray: totally agree. I'd add the fruit version of Club biscuits - back when they were real chocolate. Also several recently deceased real ales. Marston's got taken over by Carlsberg, so no more cask-conditioned Pedigree brewed in the Burton Union sets. It's not the only real ale that Carlsberg's kílled off. Grr.
Load More Replies... SchadenFreudian Psychology 4 months ago
If I like something, they stop making it. That goes for clothes, shoes, and accessories, too. Now if I really fall in love with a clothing item, I buy an extra one for when the first one wears out.
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