When we were kids, a box of cereal wasn't worth eating if there wasn't a free toy buried in the bottom somewhere. Emma Schweiger of Janesville Township, Wisconsin has sadly forgotten those days, reacting in horror not joy when she found an unexpected free prize in her bag of potato chips purchased at Aldi. While rummaging through the greasy fragments she uncovered an aged Nokia handset, bereft of charge, covered in cholesterol, and sporting a T-Mobile SIM card. No address book has yet been retrieved to identify the phone's owner, but the discolored disc on the back where an adhesive belt clip had been applied is a pretty strong clue to how it came to its carb-laden cocoon. As for Schweiger, she's pledged to always pour her bag of chips into a bowl prior to eating -- which happens to also be the easiest way to get the toy out of a particularly unappealing box of cereal.
[Via
Engadget Spanish]
posted Mar 2nd 2009 11:46AM
Haha. Wild. Those crazy phones!
How did the packaging weight sensors miss this one?
I assume the phone fell into a larger container from which the chips are then put into the bag, along with the phone. I imagine the bag weighed what it was supposed to.
@ eric
Seriously? What phone weighs less than a bag of crisps?!?! Its gotta be what, 30g?
If 16 OZ of chips were supposed to be in the bag and the phone weighed 4 oz, then the machine added 12oz of chips. She was shorted the what ever the weight of the phone is.
I found a chewed half used pencil at the bottom of a bag of jay's once, and a friend found a nail in a bag of rold gold.
A metal nail or a finger/toe nail? Cause the second one would be a million times worse. o_O
A metal nail. Sorry for the lack of clarity.
I got a chunk of wood about the size and thickness of a nickel in a bag of sour trolls once.
I haven't had sour trolls since.
I've only shopped at Aldi's once when I was in college for ice cream sandwiches. Can't say their food would get me to return. Trader Joes FTW!
I found a Fruit pastel in a bag of Jelly Tots. I think that's pretty awesome.
I remember a story a few years ago when a tramp found a dead mouse in a tin of baked beans. Finding a cellphone is pretty good by comparison.
Here's a link to the story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/40818.stm
Thanks for letting us edit comments, Engadget!
Jelly Tots and fruit pastels? You brits and your crazy snacks!
Occasionally I will get an onion ring in my fries from Burger King. I hold it up and say, "Look, sir, droids!"
Reason 10,453 to never shop at Aldi's. It was fine when in college and can't afford more than raman noodles. But, its actually a disgusting place. I like Costco - the prices are good, the quality is great (even their house brand stuff) and it goes right on the Amex, so every year I get enough points to get a free flight for a vacation.
Thanks to the recession aldi are more expensive than most of the major supermarkets like tesco, asda and morrisons here in the UK. they are better than they used to be.
Uhhh... how is this Aldi's fault?
Read Forrest, READ!!
@ReadingIsFundamental
How is it not Aldi's fault? they not only sell the stuff, they also make the stuff.
@MadMike: I bet you shop at Trader Joes too right? Guess who owns Trader Joes? That's right, Aldi's.
No, I do not shop at Trader Joes, nor do I care who owns them. That's just like saying Old Navy owns the Gap. I don't shop at either, so I couldn't care less.
Lol, I'm in the area. Any more phones I can find?
Try some new great taste,
Xperia BBQ
Symbian unsalted
Tasty Texas Tomato (3G)
Horseradish Tomato Chili
Cheesy Android
And many more.
Don't forget LG's chocolate bars!
KarlW = Fail....
AHAHAH!!
Nokia can't even sell phons these days that they have to give 'em for free with a bag of chips!
AHAHAHAH next time dont try to competet with teh iPhonz...
Get off my planet. You're wasting my oxygen.
You know, you could just write "APPLE FANBOY" for every post from now on. It'll save yourself and us time reading it.
@sgt_easton: He's not a fanboy, he's just a troll.
I dont see how he is a troll, hes just very laughably pointing out how bad Nokia is now a days. Sheesh you people. :)
you'll know not to read it when the comments such a bright gray you have to adjust the contrast before you go blind
I once found micro-chips at the bottom of the bag. They tasted just like the bigger chips.
OMG, you win teh internetz, sir.
No cholesterol in potato chips engadget.
Then you wonder how that cholesterol got there... ;-)
Maybe it bounced off a pizza before landing in the chips.
haha thats kinda funny because I love Aldi with their extremely cheap generic brand offerings of popular foods which are delicious by the way...it is also ironic that Janesville, WI is only about 20 minutes from where I live! perhaps I'll be lucky enough one day to find somethin cool in a bag as well!
OK, so where do you live? I'm about 20-30 min too in Lake Mills.
Green bay Here!! I live 5 minutes from an aldis, they have some pretty good stuff.
you guys really post that kind of info on a forum as popular as engadget? i wouldn't even disclose my initials. you deserve any stalkers you get...
I knew i guy that worked in a potato chip factory and he said he went through four or five phones a year, cause they had the tendency to fall off their belts. but usually they would be found before they made it out of the factory.
I think this is where pockets come in handy?
I never did trust those adhesive belt clips.
Funny thing is. I wonder how many calls were made to that phone while it was still on but in the bag. It would have really been a hoot if it still had power when she brought the chips home and someone was calling.
Rodeo Bill bbq potato chips are awesome, some of my favorites out there and an Aldi "off" brand. I might have to stop by and pick up a bag, hoping that maybe someone accidentally dropped a netbook in there.
Is that a Vaio P in your bag of chips or are you happy to see me?
Nope. No cholesterol in non-animal fats. Just sayin is all.
Was going to say the same thing.
Do the original McDonalds fries disprove your statement?
i just re-read your post, my goof, i thought you said non animal products, i jumped the gun.
doing the walk of shame....
manchucka, your avatar is messin with eyes.
i'm freakin out man...
you would think that they have rules about detachable things, like hairnets for hair.