So.

How many of you have received a super secret email in the last week or so offering you a gigantic 40% discount off of certain types of booze at Threshers in the run up to Christmas?

Come on, hands up.

I am guessing that it is all of you. Even the Muslims.

And still people think this is a genuine ‘mistake’ by Threshers Group that has been picked up by the Internet people to help the ‘man on the street’ get pissed more cheaply this festive period. Trust me, the man on the street doesn’t shop in Threshers, and if he did, he’d be disappointed that Purple Tin isn’t part of the ‘Special Offer’.

This whole cheat-the-system exercise is so obviously a pile of steaming turd that it makes me feel nauseous to see people fall for it. I will give Threshers one thing however, this is possibly the most effective viral marketing campaign I’ve seen this year.

Super secret discounts for those ‘in the know’? Check!

A need to ‘get in there quick’ before Threshers rescind their offers? Check!

Raft upon raft of emails circulating the super secret discount on their behalf? Check!

What’s not to love about it?

This 40% is very misleading anyway. Threshers standard offer is buy 2 get 1 free, so that is 33% right there (I did an ‘A’ Level in maths so did that in my head). This extra 7% discount barely brings them in line with the big Supermarket chains like Tesco and Asda. Yet people are still convinced they are getting a great deal.

It’s only been successful because we like the idea of getting something we’re not entitled to. It makes people feel a little bit ‘dangerous’. If that’s what you want, then I know for a fact that Dodgy Bob in the pub has a great line in DVD recorders, at better than 40% off retail prices. I don’t see people queuing up for him though. Perhaps he should send out an email?

I fully expect to see the success of this campaign lead to several other viral emails circulating special offers before the festive season finally disappears. I’ve already had one offering me a special discount at GAP.

So I’m going to start one of my own.

You can get 50% discount at Elizabeth Duke if you say, when making your purchase, “Only Cretinous Chavs and retards buy Elizabeth Duke, innit!” before December 20th.

Pass it on.