Does advertising work on you?

[Boondox]

I took a Critical Consumer Skills class during my undergrad years that completely changed my consumer habits. That one class made me an absolute nightmare for marketing types! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Does advertising influence my buying decisions? Yes, at least somewhat. But I take very little at face value. A clever ad might prompt me to investigate a product or service, comparing it to other options. But most of the ads are trash, and I can't see them working on any skeptical person. That ad where the handsome young black man smiles into the camera and says with a big grin, "I feel great! I'm taking an anti-depressant with a low incidence of sexual side effects!" just makes me laugh. If I was depressed a pill with sexual side effects is the LAST thing I'd want to try!

Even my recent tractor purchase started from scratch. I've been a devoted Kubota driver for ten years...but looked at other local options (JD, NH and Kioti) again this time before settling on the L4630HST. Brand loyalty? What's that? Even my gasoline purchases come from different brands. I tend to be more loyal to a small local vendor than a big chain.

Television ads have become so pervasive and stupid that when a sliding snow load took out our TV antenna a couple weeks ago we never repaired it...and have not missed broadcast television. We have Netflix and a stereo. Evenings are a lot more peaceful these days...

Pete

 

[_RaT_]

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif You can't have one what, a Victoria girl or the underwear?

 

[_RaT_]

Since we moved, I have not put up an antenna to pick up the "free" stations yet. I missed the USC/Texas game last night but then, I have not watched a single football game yet this season. I may be influenced sub conciously about products, but when for example I go to the store to get some window cleaner, I get what is on sale, not necessarily the one that advertises with birds hitting windows because it gets the windows so clean. While I may remember the ad and sommetimes the product the ad is promoting, I don't feel it influences my decision process.

 

[billbill1]

Can you hear me now? Good!!

 

[_RaT_]

I hear ya, but I still have my other company for cell phone service. Its not so much that I am not aware of other brands, but rather that it seems to rarely if ever impact me to either switch or become a dedicated buyer of the advertised brand. I am still thinking of a circumstance where I was influenced to really want to buy the brand of the product being promoted.

 

[jim_wilson]

They sell underwear?

 

[billbill1]

RaT, I try to buy something other than the annoying ads, no matter what. That's just me and I'm sure many other people are the same. These ads (some are humorous) catch me the first 2 or 3 times I see/hear them but after 100 or so times, they start to pi$$ me off. Probably what they intend to do to us.

 

[Bird]

Advertising works both ways for me. It's sold me a lot of things over the years. However, there are also a number of products or brand names that I will not buy, or companies that I will not deal with, under any circumstances because of their obnoxious TV commercials.

 

[HammerFour]

I do my best to avoid advertising all together if I can.

I don't listen to commercial radio at all anymore, either listen to the satellite radio or public radio stations.

We watch some movies off DVD but I refuse to watch one from the broadcast channels as they stack so many commercials near the end of the movie that I get so mad I turn it off.

We rarely watch broadcast tv much either, only time we do is when we have company over and we all end up sitting around staring at the tv....odd how that happens.

I need to think of some things to do when folks come over...maybe break out he monopoly or some cards again.

 

[reb]

I would like to think I am not affected by advertising, though I really know better.

There are two companies advertising extensively on TV who wouldn't get my business if I were in the market for their services. Both are running very negative ads. I find myself associating their names with bad experiences. ("Lost another loan..." and "No" to all credit card service requests)