# Does advertizing influence your buying decisions? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 1, 2010, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-advertizing-influence-your-buying-decisions/562554 "2010-12-01T16:49:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-advertizing-influence-your-buying-decisions/562554/41 "2010-12-02T15:37:35Z")
> [@pbbth](#): > > Everyone is influenced by advertising, even those people who avoid it whenever possible. My favorite example is shaving. If you are a woman who shaves her armpits or a man who wouldn’t date a woman who doesn’t shave her armpits then you are impacted by advertising because society was impacted by advertising. Razor companies in 1910-1915 put out ads encouraging women to shave under their arms and now women who don’t shave are considered gross and unclean. I’m not sure how true this is, but I’ve read that the reason that men bribe women into marriage by giving them expensive rocks was because of a massive ad campaign by DeBeers back in the 20s and 30s. Before then diamonds were never associated with marriage proposals. These days it’s the minumum price of admission. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-advertizing-influence-your-buying-decisions/562554/42 "2010-12-02T16:20:22Z")
Sort of. It makes me aware of a product as an option. Something to consider buying. Of course, I can’t afford anything now anyway, so the question is moot. ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-advertizing-influence-your-buying-decisions/562554/43 "2010-12-02T19:18:53Z")
Advertising only affects my decisions in two ways. One way, the advertisement is about a product of which I wasn’t aware, by raising awareness I may or may not be interested in buying it. But that’s not really any different than a friend simply making me aware of the product, so it’s not really affecting my decision, so that doesn’t really count. The other way it affects my decisions is if the commercial pisses me off for some reason or another. Then again, it’s only been bad enough that I’ve cared to boycott a product a couple of times, and in the cases I recall, I hardly used them before that, so it really had no effect anyway. So, as far as I’m concerned, I’d rather just see “here’s a new product, and here’s what it does” ads than trying to be all clever, and ultimately repetitive and boring. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-advertizing-influence-your-buying-decisions/562554/44 "2010-12-02T19:28:55Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I didn’t spell it out too much in the OP, but I’m also talking about packaging. I think of that as an entirely different matter than advertising. Packaging is part of _presentation_, which I do or can find appealing. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-advertizing-influence-your-buying-decisions/562554/45 "2010-12-02T19:35:40Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > I think of that as an entirely different matter than advertising. Packaging is part of _presentation_, which I do or can find appealing. It can be both. And excellent example is Coca-Cola. That red can totally sells the product. And the product is such a brand now that they don’t even have to have commercials explain how good it tastes. Just show some polar bears at Christmas time and continue to dominate the market. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-advertizing-influence-your-buying-decisions/562554/46 "2010-12-02T19:41:54Z")
I buy Coca-Cola in flared glass bottles. And I dislike the polar bears and crap like that. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-advertizing-influence-your-buying-decisions/562554/47 "2010-12-02T20:06:06Z")
No. I buy hard goods based upon both consumer and professional reviews. I buy food mostly according to price and quality. Advertising is just background noise to be muted. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-advertizing-influence-your-buying-decisions/562554/48 "2010-12-02T20:08:18Z")
> [@Gustav](#): > > No, my buying decisions are not affected by advertising in any way, and I’m sick and tired of people smugly telling me otherwise. Stop projecting your own weaknesses on everyone else. Without advertising, how do you know when the items you want to buy are on sale? ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-advertizing-influence-your-buying-decisions/562554/49 "2010-12-02T20:44:52Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > Without advertising, how do you know when the items you want to buy are on sale? This is more like it. I am more influenced by the information in advertising, not all the flash that advertising execs sweat over. If I’m driving down the road and I’m feeling a little hungry, I may start to pay attention to the giant roadsigns to see what restaurants/fast food is coming up soon. I see one for dairy queen and I think about my past experiences of Dairy Queen and say to myself “I would like that.” Now, that sign could have had Mr. Rogers on it saying how much he loved Dairy Queen, but I was really just looking for a big sign with the text “Dairy Queen: Exit 34, turn left.” That was all I needed to know. Overall does it have much effect on me? Very little. I use adblock, I don’t watch television, and I listen to NPR in the car. To a large part, the reason I do those things is because I hate advertising so much. I do acknowledge its place in the world though. Those crappy TV shows wouldn’t get made if it weren’t for obnoxious advertisers and they make the internet mostly free! ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-advertizing-influence-your-buying-decisions/562554/50 "2010-12-02T21:49:20Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > Without advertising, how do you know when the items you want to buy are on sale? Generally, I don’t care (Great! 10¢ off a head of lettuce!). ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-advertizing-influence-your-buying-decisions/562554/51 "2010-12-02T23:15:19Z")
Tonight the doorbell rang. There was a Coca-Cola truck out in the street, and on my doorstep was Santa’s elf, who handed me a very nice red tote bag with three little six packs of Coke in it. Free! Unasked for! I couldn’t believe it! That’s good advertising, my friends (though we are already lifetime Coca-Cola drinkers). ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-advertizing-influence-your-buying-decisions/562554/52 "2010-12-02T23:42:03Z")
I don’t have a television, all of my media consumption is through torrenting. Do not watch commercials. EVER. (Except for the few times a year I visit family and they let the set drone on in the background-haaaaaated it!). I don’t listen to the radio. I have CDs for long car trips, and I prefer silence on my way to/from work. So no radio ads. I have adblock/noscript installed at home so I see very VERY few internet ads (and on the rare occasion that one manages to sneak through once, it won’t happen twice). The only ads I can think that I’d be exposed to are billboards, or if I happen to drive by a business and I see their sign. Or sometimes I see a guy standing outside the cash4gold store who’s all blinged up and dancing, and it makes me laugh (but I don’t own any gold to sell anyway, it’s just a funny costume). I guess signage and billboards do affect me, though I am not sure to what degree. I mean, I see billboards for the McRib all the time, but I haven’t bought one yet. I just kinda do all of my shopping at walmart or meijer (depending on how far I want to drive, walmart has better deals but it’s further from me). And if I want a quick bite to eat I almost always go to wendy’s, because it’s on my way home from work and it’s the closest late night food place to my apartment. If I had more disposable income, I might be more influenced by advertising or designer brands. But as it is, I try to limit my ad exposure so I don’t find myself mysteriously craving items I cannot afford. Targeted tech ads still can make me salivate, as I found out when I deliberately sought out black Friday circulars (I know, I know! but I needed a new computer chair anyway). ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-advertizing-influence-your-buying-decisions/562554/53 "2010-12-02T23:45:21Z")
It’s the ONLY reason I spent 20 bucks on one of those damned pillow pets for my daughter’s Christmas present. Even if I never turn the TV on, my little girl still watches Saturday morning cartoons with her daddy. She begs for everything they sell for kids. I managed to distract her from those stupid Bendaroos, but the unicorn pillow pet is the only thing she’s asked Santa for, so she’s getting it. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-advertizing-influence-your-buying-decisions/562554/54 "2010-12-03T01:03:43Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > Generally, I don’t care (Great! 10¢ off a head of lettuce!). Now that my wife is a stay-at-home-mother, and we’ve got one more mouth to feed, we have to watch our spending. You’d better believe we have to pay attention to when the things we need to buy go on sale. So we do look through the circulars with the coupons etc. regularly. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-advertizing-influence-your-buying-decisions/562554/55 "2010-12-04T09:35:07Z")
> [@Noone\_Special](#): > > So – ad people? Remember that at least some of us **can** be negatively affected by yout ads. Well, of course, you can’t please everyone all of the time. Every product has a target market and the advertisers obviously try to tailor the message to appeal to that market. It’s never going to work for all man kind. And that doesn’t really matter. Take junk mail, for instance. On average, the advertiser only needs a 2% response rate to make it a successful campaign. If you are at the extreme “I hate this product now because of this mailer” end of the 98% who don’t respond, then you just aren’t relevant. ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-advertizing-influence-your-buying-decisions/562554/56 "2010-12-04T12:23:22Z")
Let’s see. I’m not exposed to much traditional advertising; don’t read magazines, don’t watch TV, don’t listen to the radio. AdBlock and NoScript take care of most standard Internet advertising, like banners and pop ups. I do see a lot of billboards, but they’re usually for local businesses that are closed when I’m awake. So, in the sense that most people think of advertising, I’m not even exposed enough to react. However, in the last week, I’ve: -preordered an album (and simultaneously bought a single) on iTunes that an iPhone app alerted me would be available soon (the Tron app sent a message saying the soundtrack was coming for the new movie… yay!) -placed an order for clothing from my favorite clothing retailer after receiving a 25% coupon code in my e-mail -received paraphernalia from a viral marketing campaign for the new Tron movie that I ended up posting on Facebook, grabbing the attention of some friends -happily added several favorite businesses, artists, and retailers to my “likes” list at Facebook in the express hope to receive _more_ advertising from them in the form of status updates (which I can always delete if they turn out to be annoying) -through just such a business-based Facebook status update, discovered that Philo T. Farnsworth’s name is now being licensed, explored the site launching this, looking over some of the wares for sale -similarly explored several artists’ new/forthcoming releases because of updates -refused to buy Charmin at the grocery despite a sale, because even I’m aware of the tacky bears-with-anal-lint marketing angle So, I’m aware that advertising influences me. Hell, I’ve gotten to the point where I specifically request more forms of certain targeted ads, and consciously participate in viral campaigns. ---
**Author:** ![lynne-42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lynne-42/32/3138_2.png) [@lynne-42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lynne-42)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-advertizing-influence-your-buying-decisions/562554/57 "2010-12-04T12:44:39Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Yes, of course it influences my buying decisions. Anyone who thinks it doesn’t _at all_ is really kidding themselves. Advertising comes in many guises, not all of them ‘buy me’ obvious. > > (I work in branding and have been an advertising art director in the past, so I’m very aware of it). And have a vested interest in believing that it has a great deal of impact. I expect that it does more on some than others. Depends on your lifestyle. I am pretty set in my eating ways, don’t tend to be very fashionable (those who know me will be nodding knowingly) or brand conscious, and tune out to advertising. Especially celebrity endorsements. Basically, I don’t trust advertisers at all. I shop in the local small town almost exclusively, because supporting local small businesses, along with the chatter and friendliness is far more important than chasing specials or brands. Cheaper on petrol anyway! ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-advertizing-influence-your-buying-decisions/562554/58 "2010-12-04T15:12:09Z")
I hit “Yes, and I’m very aware of it.” I think a lot of you are confusing being influenced with some sort of mind control. Every time I purchase something it’s a decision I made but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t influenced at some point. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-advertizing-influence-your-buying-decisions/562554/59 "2010-12-04T15:30:47Z")
I try to avoid products that are heavily advertised. I figure the ad budget has to be supported by increasing the price or cutting corners, so the advertising lowers the utility/price. I do make a distinction between “getting our name out there” and saturation advertising. Also zero information, pure “branding” type ads annoy me. The intel pentium ads with the actors dancing in technicolor bunny suits had me buying AMD for a decade after they aired. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-advertizing-influence-your-buying-decisions/562554.md?page=2)