# Promotions that have the opposite effect of that which was intended **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 3, 2013, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/promotions-that-have-the-opposite-effect-of-that-which-was-intended/651899 "2013-03-03T06:48:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/promotions-that-have-the-opposite-effect-of-that-which-was-intended/651899/21 "2013-03-03T23:10:08Z")
A local bar was running a radio ad campaign that included the line “so round up your alkie mates and bring them to…” Uh, thanks but no. I try _not_ to drag my alcoholic friends out drinking with me. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/promotions-that-have-the-opposite-effect-of-that-which-was-intended/651899/22 "2013-03-03T23:20:57Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > The current ATT commercials with the adult and kids in a classroom. > > Obnoxious, precocious little twits. What was ATT thinking that this would sell phone communications? My kids love making fun of those: “Which would you rather have, a BIG tumor or a LITTLE tumor?” ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/promotions-that-have-the-opposite-effect-of-that-which-was-intended/651899/23 "2013-03-03T23:38:01Z")
All those cell phone commercials where people couldn’t understand what the person on the cell phone was saying… “I said ‘HOW are the kids,’ not ‘FLOUR the kids!’” Cut to a couple kids on a sofa, covered in flour. Another variation on the theme in commercials of “Guys are just a bunch of big dummies who have to be saved from themselves.” Any kind of commercial that causes giddy, maniacal enthusiasm about something that is otherwise pretty mundane… “You know, I don’t think I want to buy furniture polish that makes me dance on the sofa.” ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/promotions-that-have-the-opposite-effect-of-that-which-was-intended/651899/24 "2013-03-04T00:51:28Z")
Job adverts which state ‘Free training’. I’m sure it’s supposed to be indicating ‘Look! We’re not asking for money! We can’t be a scam ad!’, but the mere fact that they considered that as a selling point, rather than a normal part of an entry level admin job pretty much marks it out as dodgy. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/promotions-that-have-the-opposite-effect-of-that-which-was-intended/651899/25 "2013-03-04T01:37:54Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > Then they started a new promo campaign: “_Red Widow_, from the screenwriter of the _Twilight_ series”. Oh, cool…thank you for making it clear that I needn’t waste my time. Yeah, my first thought was to wonder why the producers of _Red Widow_ wanted to call attention to that fact… ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/promotions-that-have-the-opposite-effect-of-that-which-was-intended/651899/26 "2013-03-04T08:01:10Z")
Our (very) local TV station has a weekly show where three (very) local guys banter about local sports stuff. The promo for their show boasts that their inanities are “unscripted.” Yeah, see, that’s you’re problem right there. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/promotions-that-have-the-opposite-effect-of-that-which-was-intended/651899/27 "2013-03-04T19:10:41Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > The current ATT commercials with the adult and kids in a classroom. > > Obnoxious, precocious little twits. What was ATT thinking that this would sell phone communications? ATT? Is that what those ads are for? I’ve seen that ad and all it’s versions but I’d never be able to tell you who or what it was advertising if you asked me. I would have guessed Comcast or DirectTV. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/promotions-that-have-the-opposite-effect-of-that-which-was-intended/651899/28 "2013-03-04T19:17:50Z")
The latest one for me was when Facebook tried to monetize their games by playing an ad beforehand. “Your game will start in 20 seconds” … umm, no. More like “the ad you’re watching will freeze every few seconds trying to load, so you may or may not be able to play your game in a minute or so”. Fortunately, I do at least know who the advertisers are, and will not shop with them if I can help it. ---
**Author:** ![FrankJBN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@FrankJBN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrankJBN)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/promotions-that-have-the-opposite-effect-of-that-which-was-intended/651899/29 "2013-03-04T21:00:12Z")
solosam says: "I want to tell the company, “I am buying this despite your commercial, not because of it.” Gotta tell you, your protest is working much the same for you as the promotion - the opposite of intended effect. The selling company is happy you bought product even if despite promotion. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/promotions-that-have-the-opposite-effect-of-that-which-was-intended/651899/30 "2013-03-04T21:07:38Z")
> [@Filbert](#): > > Job adverts which state ‘Free training’. > > I’m sure it’s supposed to be indicating ‘Look! We’re not asking for money! We can’t be a scam ad!’, but the mere fact that they considered that as a selling point, rather than a normal part of an entry level admin job pretty much marks it out as dodgy. I take it “free training” means, _unpaid_ time at work. ---
**Author:** ![romadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@romadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romadea)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/promotions-that-have-the-opposite-effect-of-that-which-was-intended/651899/31 "2013-03-04T21:09:36Z")
Planet Fitness commercials. I’ve never been there, but I know from the ads that they pride themselves on being a “judgment-free zone,” then proceed to make fun of stereotypical fitness buffs. For example, today I saw one that took place in a locker room, where 3 very pretty, fit girls were having some inane conversation about their bodies where they over-used the word “hot,” while some “average”-looking woman in a towel sat nearby and looked forlorn. The message seemed to be “if you’re insecure and not very serious about getting fit, this is the gym for you!” ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/promotions-that-have-the-opposite-effect-of-that-which-was-intended/651899/32 "2013-03-04T21:11:43Z")
> [@romadea](#): > > The message seemed to be “if you’re insecure and not very serious about getting fit, this is the gym for you!” Maybe it didn’t work for you, but I reckon that _is_ a marketing winner. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/promotions-that-have-the-opposite-effect-of-that-which-was-intended/651899/33 "2013-03-04T21:30:13Z")
> [@romadea](#): > > Planet Fitness commercials. > > I’ve never been there, but I know from the ads that they pride themselves on being a “judgment-free zone,” then proceed to make fun of stereotypical fitness buffs. For example, today I saw one that took place in a locker room, where 3 very pretty, fit girls were having some inane conversation about their bodies where they over-used the word “hot,” while some “average”-looking woman in a towel sat nearby and looked forlorn. > > The message seemed to be “if you’re insecure and not very serious about getting fit, this is the gym for you!” And the “I pick things up and put them down” guy. Really, I think he was probably a perfectly reasonable guy, and he served as a good example of what kind of development it’s possible to achieve, and the guy in the ad shoved him out into the alley just because he might have been a little slow? ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/promotions-that-have-the-opposite-effect-of-that-which-was-intended/651899/34 "2013-03-04T21:44:41Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > The 2 morons in a car ads for [Sonic](http://www.ispot.tv/ad/7w6w/sonic-drive-in-ultimate-grilled-cheese-business-class). God damn they seriously make me not want to go there. Amen to this. I have come to the inescapable conclusion from these ads that eating Sonic food makes you stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2013, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/promotions-that-have-the-opposite-effect-of-that-which-was-intended/651899/35 "2013-03-04T23:26:59Z")
In general I think I react the opposite to what "mush advertising intends. I find this to be true particularly in aspirational type marketing - advertisements where the message is “buy this and you’ll be just like these cool beautiful people!” Ah, no - instead I think, “Well, that is obviously not meant for me, because I’m not cool and beautiful like those people!” ---
**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:** [March 5, 2013, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/promotions-that-have-the-opposite-effect-of-that-which-was-intended/651899/36 "2013-03-05T21:32:13Z")
I remember once emailing a radio station about an ad, saying it was so annoying that it made me switch over to another channel. The next day it was gone. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/promotions-that-have-the-opposite-effect-of-that-which-was-intended/651899/37 "2013-03-05T21:47:07Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > That series of Hardees ads where they’d show somebody chomping and slurping and smacking their way through a huge burger with all kinds of shit running down their chin, wiping their hands on their shirts, etc. If I’m eating fast food, it’s usually because I’m out and about, and in those situations I generally like to keep my clothes reasonably clean, ya know? “Our food is a super-messy grease bomb for mannerless boors!!!” doesn’t exactly appeal. Yeah, seems kind of odd that you want to _nauseate_ me with your commercial for _food_! We also avoid restaurants that advertise live music, since we might want to hear our own conversations during dinner. And last but not least, since working in a fast food restaurant, I never eat at one on a day when they’re advertising 49 cent burgers or whatever. The day when it’s a madhouse in the grill area is the day you drop my food, but pick it up and serve it anyway! ---
**Author:** ![Furious\_Marmot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dfb087/32.png) [@Furious\_Marmot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Furious_Marmot)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/promotions-that-have-the-opposite-effect-of-that-which-was-intended/651899/38 "2013-03-05T22:03:07Z")
Any advertisement which mentions half price sushi night. Come get it before it spoils! Hurry up! I drive past tons of billboards for strip clubs every day and I’m not the least bit enticed by the ones that advertise: 18 to enter (also BYOB), open Christmas day, and my WTF favorite- lunch buffet. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/promotions-that-have-the-opposite-effect-of-that-which-was-intended/651899/39 "2013-03-05T22:22:23Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > They mark the stuff up so they can mark it down, later. Every now and then some fool will buy the crap at the full markup, so, even more profit than usual. But yeah, if I’m constantly hearing about how there’s a sale going on at a mattress chain (THIS WEEK ONLY! and then it’s EXTENDED FOR ANOTHER TWO DAYS!!), then I tend to think that this chain is probably ripping people off. That’s basically the same idea as a coupon though. Some proportion of the population is willing to pay the regular price on non-sale days, or without a coupon in-hand, so that’s what they price the item at. However, there’s another segment of the population that’s more price-sensitive, and who will buy it at a lower price. So what does the retailer do? They mark the product down via a coupon or sale, and make it more or less onerous to the consumer to get that price by making you clip the coupon, or go to the store on that one day, or whatever. Gouging and ripping off only really apply in captive markets where there aren’t alternatives and the demand is inflexible, such as gasoline around a hurricane, or heart medicine to a heart patient. Back to the OP… I personally get annoyed with computer and electronics commercials that revolve around the “cool” factor of the device without any mention of specs or performance. That’s a sure sign I won’t consider their products. There’s a laptop commercial that shows a bunch of people in gray cubicles and a gray world, and then the camera zooms up to a beautiful penthouse with gorgeous people and their laptop, and I think the point was that their laptop comes in colors or something like that. I’ll be damned if I look at their equipment if that’s how they choose to market it- they’re obviously aiming for the style over substance crowd. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/promotions-that-have-the-opposite-effect-of-that-which-was-intended/651899/40 "2013-03-06T00:50:19Z")
To be fair to the computer advertisers, PCs have pretty much reached the point where it is style over substance. A cheap netbook probably has more processing power than most people will ever use for email and looking at picture of their friends’ dinner on Facebook. The average person doesn’t know or care the difference between a 2.9 GHz i5 or a 2.8 i7, and they’ll either pick the one with a bigger rebate or the one that looks nicer to them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/promotions-that-have-the-opposite-effect-of-that-which-was-intended/651899.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/promotions-that-have-the-opposite-effect-of-that-which-was-intended/651899.md?page=3)