# Marketing Bloopers **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 8, 2007, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-bloopers/407302 "2007-06-08T20:26:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![PerditaX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@PerditaX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PerditaX)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2007, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-bloopers/407302/61 "2007-06-10T17:18:58Z")
Maybe it’s just me, but I never quite understood the Toyota campaign advertising them as “everyday,” with Sly & the Family Stone’s “Everydate People” as the theme. To me, at least, describing something as “everyday” implies that it’s plain, ordinary, utilitarian or (dare I make this pun?) pedestrian. Is this _really_ how you want people to view your cars? Am I the only one who thought this? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2007, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-bloopers/407302/62 "2007-06-10T17:37:31Z")
[QUOTE=Rayne Man] Another famous UK marketing disaster dates back to 1959 when cigarette commercials were still allowed on TV. The advert depicted a man walking down a street all alone, in the dead of night . He stops and lights his cigarette and a voice-over intones “You’re never alone with a Strand”. This bombed because many people associated the brand with loners who could not make any friends. It soon disappeared off the market [/QUOTE] As I remember, the Campbell Soup Company had a similar problem when it introduced a product called Soup For One, because people didn’t like to be reminded that they were single. ---
**Author:** ![neorxnawange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f4b2a3/32.png) [@neorxnawange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neorxnawange)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2007, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-bloopers/407302/63 "2007-06-10T17:56:49Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] And did exactly nothing to inspire me to want to buy a VW. The only reason I remember it was because it was just mentioned on the episode I’m listening to of “Says You” on NPR. [/QUOTE] This is similar to the Taco Bell chihuahua (Yo quiero Taco Bell). While it was one of the most popular ad campaigns of the decade, Taco Bell’s sales actually declined during its run. Shows that it is possible to create an iconic and wildly popular marketing campaign that does nothing to boost the sales of the actual product you are advertising. Taco Bells sales began to increase as soon as they dropped the dog and focused their ads on the actual food they sell and their low menu prices. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2007, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-bloopers/407302/64 "2007-06-10T18:00:05Z")
[QUOTE=PerditaX] Maybe it’s just me, but I never quite understood the Toyota campaign advertising them as “everyday,” with Sly & the Family Stone’s “Everydate People” as the theme. To me, at least, describing something as “everyday” implies that it’s plain, ordinary, utilitarian or (dare I make this pun?) pedestrian. Is this _really_ how you want people to view your cars? Am I the only one who thought this? :dubious: [/QUOTE] Maybe. For me, the connotation it’s getting across is that Toyota is a working man’s vehicle. Toyota’s not selling high-end luxury cars or SUVs; they’re selling reasonably priced cars and trucks that will get you where you need to go inexpensively and reliably, something you can use for everyday work. Some people don’t need high-class, fancy stuff; hitting the utilitarian, point A-to-point B market isn’t necessarily a bad thing. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2007, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-bloopers/407302/65 "2007-06-10T18:08:52Z")
[QUOTE=neorxnawange] This is similar to the Taco Bell chihuahua (Yo quiero Taco Bell). While it was one of the most popular ad campaigns of the decade, Taco Bell’s sales actually declined during its run. Shows that it is possible to create an iconic and wildly popular marketing campaign that does nothing to boost the sales of the actual product you are advertising. Taco Bells sales began to increase as soon as they dropped the dog and focused their ads on the actual food they sell and their low menu prices. [/QUOTE] Nissan had a similar problem with the “doll” commercial. Everybody loved it, but nobody bought their cars. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2007, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-bloopers/407302/66 "2007-06-10T18:13:03Z")
[QUOTE=neorxnawange] This is similar to the Taco Bell chihuahua (Yo quiero Taco Bell). While it was one of the most popular ad campaigns of the decade, Taco Bell’s sales actually declined during its run. Shows that it is possible to create an iconic and wildly popular marketing campaign that does nothing to boost the sales of the actual product you are advertising. Taco Bells sales began to increase as soon as they dropped the dog and focused their ads on the actual food they sell and their low menu prices. [/QUOTE] Well to be fair to the puppy, at the time Taco Hell started this promotion TH served breakfast. A damn good fast food breakfast I might add. Now one odd ball thing about TH’s breakfasts, they had lots of 24 hour operations, but did not serve breakfast until 6 AM. So if I left my house at 5:45 I could not get breakfast from TH. :rolleyes:. Then about 1/2 way through the campaign, TH stopped serving breakfast. They then killed the campaign because their sales went down. Gee you restricted your customer’s choices, and you wonder why your sales went down? Hint dude it wasn’t the dog. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2007, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-bloopers/407302/67 "2007-06-10T18:26:22Z")
Hong Kong had to change its tourism slogan from “Hong Kong will take your breath away” to “there’s no place like Hong Kong” after the SARS outbreak. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2007, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-bloopers/407302/68 "2007-06-10T18:34:48Z")
[QUOTE=PerditaX] Maybe it’s just me, but I never quite understood the Toyota campaign advertising them as “everyday,” with Sly & the Family Stone’s “Everydate People” as the theme. To me, at least, describing something as “everyday” implies that it’s plain, ordinary, utilitarian or (dare I make this pun?) pedestrian. Is this _really_ how you want people to view your cars? Am I the only one who thought this? :dubious: [/QUOTE] In regards to interpretations of commercials (as opposed to ‘bloopers’), the message I get from the past couple of years worth of Apple computer ads is this: Kids use Apple computers Professionals, even dorky ones, use Wintel computers ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2007, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-bloopers/407302/69 "2007-06-10T20:10:36Z")
> [@PerditaX](#): > > I never quite understood the Toyota campaign advertising them as “everyday,” Ditto on Dodge’s continued use (for years) of the song clip “hit it.” ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2007, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-bloopers/407302/70 "2007-06-10T20:21:14Z")
[QUOTE=Raza] Ditto on Dodge’s continued use (for years) of the song clip “hit it.” [/QUOTE] I remember thinking, “Who approved _that_, the Insurance Underwriters of America?” ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2007, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-bloopers/407302/71 "2007-06-10T20:30:07Z")
Another ad which ran briefly was one for one of the OTC yeast infection treatments. The commercial went through the usual spiel about how wonderful the product was, while a woman sat on her couch reading the pamphlet that came with the stuff. At the very end of the commercial, you see her _putting on a surgical glove!_ WTF? I mean, I suppose that’s what you use for that treatment, but who would check the stuff out and then “suit up” in their living room? Apparently, it bothered other people as well, because they soon clipped that section off the commercial. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2007, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-bloopers/407302/72 "2007-06-10T21:00:58Z")
[QUOTE=KneadToKnow] I remember thinking, “Who approved _that_, the Insurance Underwriters of America?” [/QUOTE] No the body shops. ---
**Author:** ![TJVM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b38774/32.png) [@TJVM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJVM)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-bloopers/407302/73 "2007-06-11T03:03:44Z")
This wasn’t so much a blunder as bad luck, but I believe Snapple had to hastily recall their “Bali Blast” flavor after the[2002 terrorist attacks](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_Bali_bombing) in Bali. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-bloopers/407302/74 "2007-06-11T03:33:52Z")
[QUOTE=TJVM] This wasn’t so much a blunder as bad luck, but I believe Snapple had to hastily recall their “Bali Blast” flavor after the[2002 terrorist attacks](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_Bali_bombing) in Bali. [/QUOTE] Speaking of Snapple, their sales went into a steep decline after they ditched Wendy in their ads. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-bloopers/407302/75 "2007-06-11T04:47:00Z")
[QUOTE=JohnT] In regards to interpretations of commercials (as opposed to ‘bloopers’), the message I get from the past couple of years worth of Apple computer ads is this: Kids use Apple computers Professionals, even dorky ones, use Wintel computers [/QUOTE] The message I get is that Apple is the computer for smug, pretentious jerks. I wonder if Apple has any clue that those commercials reinforce all the negative stereotypes about Mac users. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-bloopers/407302/76 "2007-06-11T05:06:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \mobo85, you’re the only other person I’ve ever met (besides me) who has even HEARD of that book, let alone read it!!! I feel _so_ much better. \ Hey, now. I’m holding a copy in my hands, bought when I was in middle or high school. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-bloopers/407302/77 "2007-06-11T12:20:32Z")
[QUOTE=Full Metal Lotus] In the late 60’s/early 70’s, Reader’s Digest Magazine had a subscription promotion which involved sending outa penny glued to a sheet of cardboard, as part of their gimmick. They planned on mailing out millions of these “offers”, and ordered an appropriate number of pennies. They were stored on the second floor of the company responsible for putting out the mailings. All went well, until the floor collapsed from the wieght. The building was damaged so badlyt from this that it had to be torn down. No one was injured, and the promotion turned out to be one of the most successful campaigns in the magazine’s history. (Information paraphrased from a report in Vol 16 of “Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader”) Regards FML [/QUOTE] I have a hard time believing that. Let’s say they had 1 million pennies. [Each penny weighs 2.5 g](http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/?action=coin_specifications) , so a million weigh 2,500,000 grams or 2,500 kg, or about 5,512 lb. This amounts to about 36 people weighing 150 lb each. If loads of that order of magnitude brought down a building, I would be surprised. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-bloopers/407302/78 "2007-06-11T15:18:48Z")
I just want to add, that this was not a one time thing with the Readers Digest. They sent pennies out for years. When I was a kid, I used to peel them off to add to my spending money. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-bloopers/407302/79 "2007-06-11T15:36:51Z")
Well there was the [McDonald’s promotion](http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/pranks/mcdonalds.html) that didn’t go as planned thanks to kids at CalTech. You may recall a similar shem in the movie _Real Genius_. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2007, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-bloopers/407302/80 "2007-06-11T16:35:15Z")
[QUOTE=Raza] Ditto on Dodge’s continued use (for years) of the song clip “hit it.” [/QUOTE] That never occurred to me until now. :o [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-bloopers/407302.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marketing-bloopers/407302.md?page=5)