Dentist Offers To Buy Back Halloween Candy From Trick-Or-Treaters


A dentist in Canada has decided to buy back candy from his trick-or-treating patients in one of the more creative moves to promote dental health that we’ve seen.

According to CBC, the dentist, who did not want his name mentioned on national media but is located in Saskatchewan, was spreading the word to all of his local patients that he would pay them to dress up in their costumes one last time and bring in their candy haul for a cash reward.

The dentist said that he would be paying right at $1 per pound, which the news site notes works out to around 1.8 cents for a mini chocolate bar.

While the idea to buy back candy from trick-or-treaters is certainly an innovative one, it doesn’t appear to be hugely successful with readers. Putting the question to its audience in an online poll, CBC asked the following.

“Would you like to see your kids’ Halloween candy sold for cash?”

As of Sunday night, there were 2,600 votes with 1,349 (or close to 52 percent) stating, “No, that would ruin Halloween.”

Exactly 672 (around 26 percent) said they “maybe” would if the price was right. Last but not least, 579 chose the “Yes, I’m worried about cavities” option.

Commenters were also considerably against the idea.

“Are there no candy producers who recognize the need for healthier ‘treats’? Obviously, people can’t be handing out baked goods at their doors but surely there is a market for pre-packaged candies made from seaweed and alfalfa sprouts or other ‘yummy’ stuff like that… How about using social media to set up a route in your neighborhood such that your kids can go to people’s houses and get homemade goodies?… There has to be better options than trashing Halloween.”

“What those choc bars are like 10-25 cents each… bad deal sorry ill pay double 3.6cents”

“I feel bad for todays kids. Everything fun for kids has had the fun sucked out of it or kids do not have freedom like we did they are all going to grow up resentful and unable to enjoy life without the aid of a device.”

“At $800 an hour I think he/she is being cheap.”

“What a cheapstake[sic]!! A dollar a pound?? If he really wanted to prevent cavities instead of stockpiling candy for himself, he would pay the retail price. And withholding his name means he knows how unpopular (and unfair) his offer is. Hmmm… that chocolate tastes so goooooood.”

And American readers, if you think this sort of thing is just specific to Canada, well, here’s a service in the States that does this very thing.

What do you think, readers? If the price was right and a dentist offered to buy back candy from your kids, would you take him up on it?

[Image via Shutterstock]

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