# Ad pitchmen who undercut their own message **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 25, 2011, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-pitchmen-who-undercut-their-own-message/583186 "2011-05-25T18:22:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-pitchmen-who-undercut-their-own-message/583186/1 "2011-05-25T18:22:34Z")
[This is a local Cincinnati area car dealer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpxWIHwWti4). His dealership might be fine, but the unctuous vibes he gives off in this commercial definitely hurt his ad. I’m sure there are lots of local (or even national) ads that feature pitchmen and women that have an air of insincerity that kills the effectiveness of the ad. Show them! I’m not talking about just plain annoying ads, just ones where the BS stink is overwhelming. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-pitchmen-who-undercut-their-own-message/583186/2 "2011-05-25T18:48:21Z")
There are a lot of business owners who think that they can make their own ads, and star in them, and have those ads look professional and be effective. Most of these people are wrong. Your example puts me in mind of a stereotypical used car salesman…and I’m sure that he doesn’t want to project this image. But he does. Now, I’ve seen professionally made commercials with professional actors in them that are bad, too. But these self-made commercials are in their own little niche of oiliness. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-pitchmen-who-undercut-their-own-message/583186/3 "2011-05-26T01:23:00Z")
I have a special loathing for business owners who insist on having their kids pitch – particularly when the kids are five years old, can’t read and are forced to mumble through some “cute” dialog they had to memorize. ---
**Author:** ![Khan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3ab097/32.png) [@Khan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khan)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-pitchmen-who-undercut-their-own-message/583186/4 "2011-05-26T02:31:47Z")
“We’ll deal with the government, you have enough to worry about.” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/6wpsa-oCeXE/hqdefault.jpg "Binder & Binder® — The National Social Security Disability Advocates®") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wpsa-oCeXE) That commercial makes me want to punch a hole in the drywall. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Jocko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uncle_jocko/32/2932_2.png) [@Uncle\_Jocko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Jocko)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-pitchmen-who-undercut-their-own-message/583186/5 "2011-05-26T02:42:50Z")
Not _exactly_ what you’re looking for, but a car dealer here in Cedar Rapids is running radio commercials that just … don’t make full financial sense (yeah, I know, big surprise, right?). You’ve no doubt heard of the “Push, Pull or Drag” offers that dealers sometimes have. You know, where they promise you at least $2000 in trade-in value for whatever heap o’junk you can bring in. Well, this sounds something like that. But not really. The guy runs through his radio spot saying he’s a “dealer for the people” because he’ll give you up to $4000 for your trade. “And it doesn’t even have to run!” Yeah. _UP TO_. Those are two pretty important words, there, because $50 would still qualify as “up to $4000.” And even better, he says if your trade-in is in good condition, “you could get even more!” That’s right. He’s guaranteeing “_up to_” $4000 … or “_even more_” … for your trade. Completely meaningless, if you give it even a second’s thought. Which I suppose does undercut his “car dealer for the people” message - so yeah, I’m right on topic. ---
**Author:** ![Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speak_to_me_Maddie)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-pitchmen-who-undercut-their-own-message/583186/6 "2011-05-26T02:52:31Z")
> [@Khan](#): > > “We’ll deal with the government, you have enough to worry about.” > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wpsa-oCeXE](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wpsa-oCeXE) > > That commercial makes me want to punch a hole in the drywall. HA! I love the different hats for the different markets. In the version that runs here in Texas he wears a pathetic excuse of a cowboy hat that no Texan would be caughtg dead in. Its funny. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-pitchmen-who-undercut-their-own-message/583186/7 "2011-05-26T12:56:17Z")
> [@Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](#): > > HA! I love the different hats for the different markets. In the version that runs here in Texas he wears a pathetic excuse of a cowboy hat that no Texan would be caughtg dead in. Its funny. Those are regional? Here in New York (tri-state) he wears the ten-pint hat, too. (I love the one where he pulls on his jacket and puts on the hat while giving the pitch. Gives me that warm feeling that he’s “saddlin’ up” and heading off to deal with my claim.) Then there’s Cellino and Barnes… ---
**Author:** ![Dietrich\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@Dietrich\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dietrich_K)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-pitchmen-who-undercut-their-own-message/583186/8 "2011-05-26T13:16:46Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > [This is a local Cincinnati area car dealer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpxWIHwWti4). His dealership might be fine, but the unctuous vibes he gives off in this commercial definitely hurt his ad. > > I’m sure there are lots of local (or even national) ads that feature pitchmen and women that have an air of insincerity that kills the effectiveness of the ad. Show them! I’m not talking about just plain annoying ads, just ones where the BS stink is overwhelming. Sight unseen, I’m gonna go out on a limb and guess that the salesman in question is Tom Gill. Let’s see if I’m right… ETA: Of _course_ I was right. The man’s a damned caricature. A slimy, sleazy, creepy caricature. His latest promotion is giving away a box of Omaha Steaks filet mignons if you but test drive a car. _Buy_ a car, and he’ll throw in a dozen more boxes! Gee, I wonder if one would encounter the hard sell would one deign to venture into his establishment? ---
**Author:** ![Dietrich\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@Dietrich\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dietrich_K)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-pitchmen-who-undercut-their-own-message/583186/9 "2011-05-26T13:24:32Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > I have a special loathing for business owners who insist on having their kids pitch – particularly when the kids are five years old, can’t read and are forced to mumble through some “cute” dialog they had to memorize. You mean like [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct4suxFNl1w), kind of? Christ on a rocking horse, I cannot fucking STAND that girl’s chirpy goddamn voice! ---
**Author:** ![Dietrich\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@Dietrich\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dietrich_K)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-pitchmen-who-undercut-their-own-message/583186/10 "2011-05-26T13:31:14Z")
[Here’s one from a couple years ago](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t3WCSG9yNA). “You’re the Tiger!” “I’m Doug Mann.” (I was Daddy Warbucks in a community theater production of _Annie_ years ago, and his daughter played one of the orphans. Girl was as sweet and non-brattish as could be, but Daddy was (is?) a douche of the very first order.) ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-pitchmen-who-undercut-their-own-message/583186/11 "2011-05-26T13:40:47Z")
> [@Uncle\_Jocko](#): > > That’s right. He’s guaranteeing “_up to_” $4000 … or “_even more_” … for your trade. Completely meaningless, if you give it even a second’s thought. Which I suppose does undercut his “car dealer for the people” message - so yeah, I’m right on topic. Yeah, for a few years now the larger car dealers around here have been offering “at least up to $3000 for your trade-in!”. But the ones that really get me are the dumbass redneck furniture stores that are offering “Bedroom suites”. But the second word, as they pronounce it, is “suit”, like the thing you wear. Dumbasses. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-pitchmen-who-undercut-their-own-message/583186/12 "2011-05-26T13:42:09Z")
> [@Dietrich\_K](#): > > You mean like [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct4suxFNl1w), kind of? > > Christ on a rocking horse, I cannot fucking STAND that girl’s chirpy goddamn voice! Or this: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eruabiSHHRA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eruabiSHHRA) Vom.It. ---
**Author:** ![Dietrich\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@Dietrich\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dietrich_K)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-pitchmen-who-undercut-their-own-message/583186/13 "2011-05-26T13:49:03Z")
> [@Turek](#): > > Or this: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eruabiSHHRA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eruabiSHHRA) > > Vom.It. Must. Strangle. Something small. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-pitchmen-who-undercut-their-own-message/583186/14 "2011-05-26T13:56:15Z")
Any pitchman that interrupts a show that I am watching undercuts their own message. Period. I am automatically biased against any product that is foisted upon me uninvited. If I need something I’ll google it and have it delivered to my door. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-pitchmen-who-undercut-their-own-message/583186/15 "2011-05-26T14:56:25Z")
Any of the ads promoting use of corn syrup, with trim, healthy-looking people laughing condescendingly at their friends “hysteria” concerning corn syrup. “Research has shown that consuming corn syrup _in small amounts_ is no more harmful than the same amount of sugar!” ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-pitchmen-who-undercut-their-own-message/583186/16 "2011-05-26T15:45:37Z")
> [@Turek](#): > > Or this: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eruabiSHHRA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eruabiSHHRA) > > Vom.It. > [@Dietrich\_K](#): > > Must. Strangle. Something small. I’m imagining him as a sinus specialist… ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-pitchmen-who-undercut-their-own-message/583186/17 "2011-05-26T19:24:33Z")
> [@](#): > > But the ones that really get me are the dumbass redneck furniture stores that are offering “Bedroom suites”. But the second word, as they pronounce it, is “suit”, like the thing you wear. > > Dumbasses. Even if the people who are involved in making the ads know how to pronounce suite, their customers don’t. My inlaws are convinced that the word is actually pronounced suit, and have corrected me when I say sweet. No amount of explanation will make any difference. I’ve talked til I’m blue in the face about how it comes from the French, and that there’s an e at the end. And the irony is, of course, that they’re Cajun. ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-pitchmen-who-undercut-their-own-message/583186/18 "2011-05-26T19:36:39Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > I have a special loathing for business owners who insist on having their kids pitch – particularly when the kids are five years old, can’t read and are forced to mumble through some “cute” dialog they had to memorize. There used to be a furniture store here with ads that had the owners’ grandkids running rampant and jumping on all the furniture in the background. Their tag line was something like, “Home of great furnishings…AND the little dumplin’s!” I avoided that place like the plague. Who wants to buy stuff that purports to be new when you’ve seen video evidence of it being pretty well used? ---
**Author:** ![Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pine_Fresh_Scent)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-pitchmen-who-undercut-their-own-message/583186/19 "2011-05-26T19:54:53Z")
Mr. Klee Irwin’s pitch for Dual Action (Colon) Cleanse is disturbing on many levels. He’s just so earnest. Blech. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OppvPEM0wEQ&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OppvPEM0wEQ&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-pitchmen-who-undercut-their-own-message/583186/20 "2011-05-26T20:01:37Z")
> [@postcards](#): > > Then there’s Cellino and Barnes… Wow, Cellino and Barnes. If chutzpah could be burned, Cellino and Barnes would be America’s #1 energy source. You know Cellino got struck off the bar for a year for improper behavior, leaving Barnes to soldier on for a year as The Barnes Firm. And when Cellino came back, their first ad campaign was all about how much you could trust Cellino and Barnes… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-pitchmen-who-undercut-their-own-message/583186.md?page=2)