Have you ever..........?

UffDa

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Sep 11, 1999
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Have you ever bought anything based only on an advertisement or commercial? The last thing that I can recall was a Sky King Secret Decoder.
If it wasn't for advertisers, there would be much less in the way of radio and TV programs,* but I have never bought anything because I saw it
on TV. My usual thought is, "Is someone actually paid to come up with this crap?" As I drive by a car dealer and see balloons attached to cars
I wonder if anyone says to their wife, "Oh look Martha! Balloons! Let's go buy a car!"

So, you may ask, "What brought this on?" I just read an article in a local paper called 5enses by Alan Dean Foster on the subject.

http://www.5ensesmag.com/fallacies-of-advertising-8c-eight-cylinders/

Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!™



*Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing. ;)
 
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A blast from the past! I remember reading Alan Dean Foster's science fiction stories. :D
 
Ever used Oxyclean or a ShamWow? Well, you likely found out about it by the late, great Billy Mays. Both products are genuine and work as advertised, and you likely saw it on late night TV first. Billy Mays was not some paid to do everything drone who promoted whatever paid the bills, he got to pick and choose what and where he promoted. He believed in his products. Him being a coke addict made it much more believable ;), but I have tried and still use both thanks to TV advertising.


-Xander
 
I was thinking of getting one of those X-hoses that expand as seen on TV. Then I read the reviews. :eek: I have never seen a product with so
many bad reviews. Ain't gonna buy it. Nope.
 
Of course I have. Everybody has, whether they realize it or admit to it. Food is the most common, probably. A new burger or pizza or Lobsterfest or whatever. For other things, it's mostly about awareness and persistence in mind. Everybody is aware of Coke, but advertising it keeps it in people's minds. And nobody ever went to a car dealership or furniture store because the owner was a dumbass and ordered too much inventory (yeah right) and needs the space, but putting out commercials makes consumers aware of their business, and if/when a customer needs said things, the most prevalent commercial is likely to be the first that comes to mind.
 
A long time ago I ordered a set of CDs from a TV commercial; now I never watch any advertising with the advent of the PVR with the ability to efficiently skip past commercials. I have no idea what is being sold during advertisements anymore and have no desire to know.
 
The first Busse knife I ever bought, in 1994, was because of an ad in a gun magazine.
 
I want to buy the burger stuffer as seen on tv based solely upon the ground chicken, ham and swiss cheese cordon bleu burger. It looks delicious!

But I am trying not to buy more gadgets for the kitchen. I've tried to make stuffed burgers before and getting the patties to seal hasn't always worked.
 
While watching late night TV, I fell for the old, you can believe what they are saying because the seller is speaking with a British Accent, so he must be honest.
The next thing I knew I was rattling off my credit card information to a stranger over the phone, to subscribe to a Bacon Of The Month Club. :o

Later after receiving soy based fake bacon bits in the mail, I Googled the (1234) Bacon Of The Month Club and found the companies headquarters was in Sweden and the salesman wasn't even British. :eek: :D
 
While watching late night TV, I fell for the old, you can believe what they are saying because the seller is speaking with a British Accent, so he must be honest.
The next thing I knew I was rattling off my credit card information to a stranger over the phone, to subscribe to a Bacon Of The Month Club. :o

Later after receiving soy based fake bacon bits in the mail, I Googled the (1234) Bacon Of The Month Club and found the companies headquarters was in Sweden and the salesman wasn't even British. :eek: :D


Send me your Social Security number and bank account numbers and I'll get you a refund.
 
Send me your Social Security number and bank account numbers and I'll get you a refund.

:D

I think it should be asked if anyone has bought a knife from a TV show.
In their hayday, there was 4 to 5 (different shows) being aired every week for some of us who could receive them on our TV sets. :eek:
Broadcast every week, to the weak knife junkies, who can't sleep.
Call Now! :D
 
Magic Bullet - for fruit smoothies. Waited until it came on sale in Canadian Tire and love it. More recently just bought a simple, economic brand copycat as a gift to a friend, for their health related nutrition issues. My counter space is gold to me. Only what works, lives.
 
BTW: Nothing sells cars like exposed light bulbs dandling on exposed wiring.
It tells the buyer, the salespeople are bright and have nothing to hide. :D
Subliminal or in your face messages on signs and banners helped break the distrust barrier with the buyer as well. :D

used%2Bcar.jpg
 
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