Many bananas died to give us this protection

March 30, 2015 7:45 AM

Adweek points to Groupon as the current reigning monarch of social media. Someone/s at Groupon have been killing it with jokes on Facebook, responding to questions about a deal they offered for the Banana Bunker, a product that is apparently a real thing. Previously.
posted by lauranesson (30 comments total)

I would just like to say: I have never had a problem with bananas being destroyed in my lunch.

Peaches, that's another story.
posted by jb at 7:50 AM on March 30, 2015

Why mock the Banana Bunker? I have a couple of them (they get broken over time), and, if I don't use them, my bananas get awfully beat up during my commute (walking and busing). As a matter of fact, the store in my town that carried them has closed, and I am reduced to reusing the broken bunkers. It's a hard life.
posted by GenjiandProust at 7:53 AM on March 30, 2015 [2 favorites]

Am I the only person who doesn't think these jokes are particularly funny?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:57 AM on March 30, 2015 [3 favorites]

Why would you mock a banana bunker? Without a banana bunker you will have no bananas!
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 7:57 AM on March 30, 2015

GenjiandProust: ...I am reduced to reusing the broken bunkers. It's a hard life.

What's that, Bunky? Blue because you busted your banana bunker? Buck up! Buy some Pringles and upcycle the cleaned-out cylinder into a crash-proof, crush-proof container for your Cavendish!
posted by wenestvedt at 8:00 AM on March 30, 2015 [9 favorites]

At least in Chicago, Groupon is kind of known for hiring lots of improv comedians, which may partially explain this...
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:03 AM on March 30, 2015 [2 favorites]

Opining upon the similarities twixt 'nanas and peeners does not a monarch make.
posted by Stonestock Relentless at 8:04 AM on March 30, 2015 [1 favorite]

Buy some Pringles and upcycle the cleaned-out cylinder into a crash-proof, crush-proof container for your Cavendish!



Do you have any Manx Missile minders?
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 8:04 AM on March 30, 2015 [3 favorites]

Saw this elsewhere a few days ago. Found Groupon's responses slightly amusing, and was amazed at how badly most companies must handle social media for this to be newsworthy.
posted by Ickster at 8:12 AM on March 30, 2015 [6 favorites]

I just love #engaging with #brands! It's like I'm right there in the living room with Buster Friendly and his Friendly Friends.
posted by Nelson at 8:17 AM on March 30, 2015 [13 favorites]

On the other hand, I desperately hope that this recent customer-brand interaction is real.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 8:20 AM on March 30, 2015

was amazed at how badly most companies must handle social media for this to be newsworthy.

See also: Denny's Tumblr account
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:20 AM on March 30, 2015 [1 favorite]

showbiz_liz: "See also: Denny's Tumblr account"

Holy crap, such levels of self-parodying.
posted by signal at 8:27 AM on March 30, 2015 [1 favorite]

If I recall correctly it is managed by a 24 year old. They let her do whatever she wants.
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:31 AM on March 30, 2015

Relevant: Brands saying 'bae'
posted by anthill at 8:32 AM on March 30, 2015 [2 favorites]

Denny's Tumblr account is a thing of beauty and makes me want to eat at Denny's more than anything in the world has made me want to eat at Denny's. So I guess it's doing it's job - except that I still haven't gone to Denny's.
posted by dinty_moore at 8:47 AM on March 30, 2015 [4 favorites]

> was amazed at how badly most companies must handle social media for this to be newsworthy.

It seems unlikely to me that this was disseminated accidentally. It's an attempt to advertise virally, and honestly, I'm flagging this post as "advertising".
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 8:48 AM on March 30, 2015 [2 favorites]

So, a while back, I was joshing with the secretary at the physical therapist's while waiting for my bill (as you do), and the subject of banana bunkers came up, heavens only knows how. A trainee secretary, a pleasant woman of college age was listening in. Eventually, the bill was delivered, and I prepared to say good bye. Then:

Trainee: I want a banana hammock.
Secretary: What?
Trainee: A banana hammock.
I: What for?
Trainee: For hanging bananas. If they lie on the counter, they get spots.
Me: I think that is a banana hanger. A banana hammock is slang for small, tight underwear or swimwear for men. *Secretary nods sagely*
Trainee (slightly reddening): I don't want that!
Secretary and I (unison): Banana hanger, then.
posted by GenjiandProust at 8:51 AM on March 30, 2015 [18 favorites]

Groupon is still around?
posted by monospace at 8:55 AM on March 30, 2015 [3 favorites]

TELL US YOUR ADULT DIAPER STORY
posted by Mchelly at 9:16 AM on March 30, 2015

As a matter of fact, the store in my town that carried them has closed, and I am reduced to reusing the broken bunkers.

I see opportunity in the banana bunker bunker space. Unlimited expansion possible.
posted by StickyCarpet at 9:18 AM on March 30, 2015 [1 favorite]

Groupon seems to be vouchers for the same mediocre restaurants and the same tanning salons and the same teeth whitening places over and over, round here. I guess that keeps them going though.

As for the Banana Bunker, those things have been around for years (not related to the Adventure Time militia).
posted by EndsOfInvention at 9:19 AM on March 30, 2015 [1 favorite]

Denny's Tumbler account.

I LOLd.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 9:22 AM on March 30, 2015

Groupon is still around?
posted by monospace

In it's heyday someone I know cloned it and made a parody site. Unexpectedly, people signed up for it, and now she has a little cottage industry operating a small-scale localized version of Groupon.
posted by StickyCarpet at 9:23 AM on March 30, 2015 [2 favorites]

As for the Banana Bunker, those things have been around for years

At the risk of sounding slightly insane, the Banana Bunker really is the superior product (despite it's short-ish lifespan; I find that they begin breaking after a year of daily use). The various "clamshell designs are much bulkier and less able to fit a variety of banana curvatures.

Sigh. I guess I am slightly insane.
posted by GenjiandProust at 10:24 AM on March 30, 2015 [1 favorite]

Corporations are people, my friends. Irritating people with trivial obsessions that they won't stop talking about no matter how politely and and firmly you show your disinterest. Irritating, irritating people. Who cheat on their taxes.
posted by benito.strauss at 10:49 AM on March 30, 2015 [4 favorites]

If banana bunker isn't currently slang for codpiece it should be, and soon will be.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 10:53 AM on March 30, 2015 [3 favorites]

I would just like to say: I have never had a problem with bananas being destroyed in my lunch.
Peaches, that's another story.

Act now and we'll throw in two Peach Protectorz with your Banana Bunker order.
posted by hal9k at 12:49 PM on March 30, 2015

It's so you can protect your banana from the banana slicer.
posted by Violet Hour at 1:31 PM on March 30, 2015

I've always kind of thought the winner for subtlety was Arby's, who buries The Daily Show staff in food every time Jon slams them, and when he announced he was leaving, used that announcement to push their jobs page with a "don't worry, you can apply here" thing that itself was then mentioned on the show the next day.

The common theme being Oscar Wilde, I guess.
posted by nevercalm at 6:11 AM on March 31, 2015