10 Apr 09 Playboy’s Product Placement

While waiting in the departure lounge at San Francisco Airport, i wandered into the book store to see what was on the bestseller lists.  I noticed a couple of far-right-wing books in the Top 10, but that’s not what this post is about.  More interestingly, I found Playboy, Penthouse and other adult magazines available for sale (http://twitpic.com/2mkp1)  Now, one has to wonder why these are sold in the departure lounge of an airport.  Here are some posible reasons:

• The place your flying to has laws against the sale of pornographic material.
• It’s being positioned as a souvenir for those people wanting a sample of the American version.
• The magazines don’t actually sell, but the publishers coughed up a substantial amount for the product placement, perhaps as a reminder to pick up a copy when you get to your destination.

Correct me if i’m wrong, but in all practicality, most people walk in to a boostore at an airport with the intent on finding reading material for the plane ride.  I really can’t imagine someone opening up an issue of Playboy on the plane.  Anyway, if this is something you might do, you can always tell the person sitting next to you that you only read the articles.

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