They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and that's never been as true as when these products started disappearing from store shelves.
Some fans stockpiled them, others turned to the black market and paid top dollar, a few went so far as to buy the old factory that produced the product in order to keep it on the shelves.
In most of these cases, the outspoken loyalty consumers showed toward these products -- from Polaroid cameras to Chanel nail polish -- convinced their makers to bring them back into circulation, or at least come up with some sort of compromise.
So if you find your favorite breakfast cereal, toilet paper or candy bar is suddenly in short supply, don't worry, there may be hope. After all, the customer is always right.
In the midst of ongoing economic turmoil, consumers remain cautious about spending.
