I've been to two trick or treating events so far (Thursday, Saturday) and I'm noticing a definite theme with the candy. It's all been the cheapo stuff -- dum-dum pops and smarties -- almost exclusively. In the entire haul, I would estimate that a good 80% of it was dum dums and smarties. The remaining 20% was mostly 3-inch twizzlers, those packets of 2 sweetarts, and the itty-bitty (1/3 the size of "fun size") candy bars. My kid got one mini pack of M&Ms, one reese's cup, one package of McDonald's cookies, and a bag stuffed full of ads and useless coupons and other nonsense. What kid is going to give a rat's ass about "20% off all shoe purchases over $150 before November 2nd"?
One lady gives out dum-dums every year, but I give her credit...she wraps each one in a white paper napkin, ties it with an orange, black or purple yarn bow, and draws a little face on it. I have no idea how long it must have taken her but she had a large box full of hundreds of little lollipop-ghosts.
But screw those jerks who list their store on the trick-or-treating map and then just give the kids an ad stuffed in their buckets