Several months ago, I wrote about how I needed to probably needed to use a standard disclaimer on the reviews that I wrote of various limited edition candy bars. Now that candy season has in full swing, I think I may need another disclaimer, this one for the various holiday candy reviews that I write.

There is a big difference that you need to keep in mind between a review of most limited editions and a review of any holiday-themed candy. With a limited edition, this may be just a one-shot deal, and you have to grab it while you can. A holiday candy, on the other hand, might have only a limited time on the shelves, but it turns out to be fairly popular, it may be something that shows up year after year. So, I need a different sort of disclaimer for the holiday candy reviews. Something that might read a little like this:

"As I have already said, this is a/an [insert holiday here] release. It might be on the shelves a little after [insert holiday here] is over, but it will quickly get shoved over to the clearance shelf to make room for the [insert next holiday here] candy. Of course, if you really like it, you can take some comfort in the fact that more than likely, it will be back on the shelves when the [insert holiday here] season starts next year."

Referring back to this might be a little easier than constantly trying to come up with new ways of saying the same old thing.


-jc-

You know, a lot of the candy reviews I do are limited editions. They are on the shelves for just a brief time. This can be . . . maddening at times, especially if the company releasing a particular limited edition has come up with something that is absolutely wonderful.

Sometimes, you get lucky. The limited edition turns out to be so popular that the company decides to make it part of their regular product line. Hershey brought out the Special Dark Kisses two or three times before that became part of the regular product line. Mars did a lot better with the Snickers Dark bar. They must have realized that they had a hit on their hands right away, because I think I saw it become a regular part of the candy aisle before the limited edition had a chance to disappear.

With others, you don't get so lucky. I think Steve Almond is still hoping that Hershey will bring back the Dark Chocolate Kit Kat bars. (I can't say that I blame him; they are quite scrumptious.) But other than occasional appearances in bags of miniatures, it hasn't happened yet.

In any event, I'm beginning to think that I need a standard disclaimer to use on any review of a limited edition. Something that says something like this:

"This is a limited edition. I have no idea how long it will stay on the shelves. This production could be a one-shot deal. It could be something that [add manufacturer name here] could be planning to release on an occasional or seasonal basis. It might even be a test run to see how popular the candy bar might be. I don't know. My best advice to you is to get it now, while you can."

I have been putting something like that in my reviews in one form or another. Usually, I do it in a somewhat whimsical manner. But I'm finding that I am running out of funny ways to state it. Maybe I should just keep referring back to this little disclaimer, and leave it at that.


-jc-