Do commercials/ads etc work on you?

[Jennasis]

Have you ever bought something because you saw an ad for it? I can honestly say I haven't ever bought something because I saw an ad and thought "wow...I need that". I don't watch commercials at all anymore (have a DVR) and I scroll past ads online and delete junk mail from my inbox.

Similarly, I haven't ever changed my opinion due to a political ad, or due to a friend's post on social media.

So I gotta ask...why are ads still a thing? I'm not talking about revenue for programs/networks/sites. Do they actually work?

 

[tvguy]

Have you ever bought something because you saw an ad for it? I can honestly say I haven't ever bought something because I saw an ad and thought "wow...I need that". I don't watch commercials at all anymore (have a DVR) and I scroll past ads online and delete junk mail from my inbox.

Similarly, I haven't ever changed my opinion due to a political ad, or due to a friend's post on social media.

So I gotta ask...why are ads still a thing? I'm not talking about revenue for programs/networks/sites. Do they actually work?

Yup. They work on most people when it comes to commercials. THAT is why ads are still a thing. As for political ads or social media, sadly those also influence people.

 

[low-key]

you notice in TV ratings they onyy count people under 50 are close to that age, at first I thought, why are they not counting consumers that have money, but stats show once you get to 50, you seen all the gimmics that anyone can see and they dont work at all on you

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

About 3 years ago, my DH saw a commercial on TV. He paused the TV and started yelling for me to come and see. It was a commercial for a sock slider - a plastic device that helps you put socks on. We both had a good laugh over it. At the time he was only 49, but years of playing football had ruined his hips, and he had lots of trouble putting his socks on each morning. So for his 50th birthday, I bought him that sock slider. I found it in the “as seen on TV” section of our CVS. It was supposed to be a joke, but he used it daily. Then he had both his hips replaced in 2018. During his recovery, he absolutely needed it. Now I had both my knees replaced 6 weeks ago, and I need it to get my own socks on!!! It’s gotten a lot of use over the years!

 

[disneychrista]

On occasion. I am unlikely to change my preferred brands on things. But I might see an add for a new product or a new flavor of something that I might want to try.

But to be honest, I only half pay attention to commercials and I have to watch them these days (only have supported HULU). I am more likely to impulse buy something from seeing an in store display. Last time I did this was when I saw Cherry-Vanilla Coke and I HAD TO have it.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I saw an ad for a Dairy Queen Blizzard (shake with candy bits in it) so I had to visit their drive through. There are worse things to indulge in.

As for political ads:

 

[Christine]

They work on some people. My FIL (now deceased) bought a lot of stuff from those ads. My aunt (late 70s) is hooked by all of them. Her latest is to buy the UV wands. They work on really susceptible minds, I think. Generally, I only watch shows on HBO/Showtime/Netflix so I rarely see commercials, but since I've been home much more with the pandemic and have "expanded" my TV horizons (to also include various news stations), I'm shocked at the amount of ads targeted at seniors (Reverse Mortgages anyone? Tom Selleck SHAME ON YOU!!).

 

[_19disnA]

Most TV ads are just annoying. It seems like the auto insurance companies are in a contest to see who can produce the dumbest ad. Guessing that 90% of the TV ads are for prescription drugs or some 1-800 'legal' ad asking people to join their lawsuit. Its the lawyers who get the majority of any settlement from most of those. Since only doctors can prescribe medications, it seems like a waste of time/money to advertise to the public. Probably doctors spend a LOT of time explaining to their patients why some drug is not appropriate for them, besides the fact all of that advertising increases the cost of the drug for everyone.

The reverse mortgage ads NEVER point out that about ~10% of your money goes to the company who initiates the loan. Typically, they make it sound like FREE money for the homeowner to enable them to live beyond their means. The other ads I find annoying are those targeting seniors with information about Social Security/Medicare benefits and making it LOOK like you are calling a government agency instead of some insurance company. I find those misleading and deceptive for seniors.

I think in large companies the marketing department bends themselves into pretzels trying to 'prove' how spending all that money on ads sells more of their product/service. I think it is very hard to prove your really sold more of X last quarter due to the ads. I use an online ad blocker that prevents most of the ads from ever showing up. However, a few websites now have yet another popup asking you to 'disable' your ad blocker...............ummmm no it's doing just what I wanted!!!

 

[PollyannaMom]

Have you ever bought something because you saw an ad for it?

On occasion. I am unlikely to change my preferred brands on things. But I might see an add for a new product or a new flavor of something that I might want to try.

Same. I DVR a lot of what I watch, so I skip most of the commercials. But occasionally I see something I didn’t know was available and decide to try it.

 

[dazedx3]

My DH always says commercial time is wasted on me. I usually am "watching" TV and on my computer at the same time, so I rarely even notice them, unless it is a really funny one. Even if I actually see and hear a commercial I can never tell you what the company or product the ad is actually pitching.

As far as political ads, I don't believe they change minds, I think they just add fuel to your own beliefs.

 

[disneychrista]

My DH always says commercial time is wasted on me. I usually am "watching" TV and on my computer at the same time, so I rarely even notice them

Isn't that what commercials are for? Well that and potty breaks.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

Remember the Burger King "The King" series from several decades ago? I found them so stupid I haven't been in a BK since then. Honestly, no great loss.

I put the progressive lady in the same category.

And I no longer buy Gillette razors.

 

[disneychrista]

Remember the Burger King "The King" series from several decades ago? I found them so stupid I haven't been in a BK since then. Honestly, no great loss.

I put the progressive lady in the same category.

And I no longer buy Gillette razors.

So basically you use commercials as a way to decide what NOT to buy. Interesting decision making process.

 

[China Expat]

Not television ads. Refuse to watch.

 

[cmrdgrs]

They DEFINITELY work on my DH. Me, not so much.

 

[_19disnA]

I put the progressive lady in the same category.

Same here. It seems to me auto insurance ads are intended to appeal to those too young to drive or have car insurance..........LOL.

 

[Meriweather]

once in a great while, usually not. I tend to zone out on commercials

 

[tvguy]

you notice in TV ratings they onyy count people under 50 are close to that age, at first I thought, why are they not counting consumers that have money, but stats show once you get to 50, you seen all the gimmics that anyone can see and they dont work at all on you

Well, our sales staff doesn't usually sell the over 50 demographic, but that demographic saved my station during the recession that started in 2008. Some of our biggest and longest term advertisers are selling products aimed at the older demographic. Walk in bath tub ads kept my station afloat (no pun intended). Most 30 year olds have no interest in shelling out $15,000 for a walk in tub, but a 70 year old not only is interested, but has the cash to do it. Local HVAC companies have never slowed on their ads. Again, younger folks are more likely to be renters and just call the landlord when the HVAC dies, but older folks are homeowners and don't blink at a $20,000 expense for a new HVAC system.
The pandemic has brought us endless ads for pizza/burger/chicken/sandwich pickup and delivery.
And brace yourself for an onslaught of "wear a mask" commercials. Not the Public Service Announcements from the CDC and state and local health agencies, actual commercials from businesses with a brief mention of their business and the majority of the commercial focusing on the value of wearing a mask. We just had a local advertiser make a 6 figure ad purchase that will feature wear a mask as the primary focus and their product gets a brief mention.

 

[KittyKitty]

There was an old ad about if you buy this car, it will be like you own the road.
Freeway- Sign says "Bob's exit"
Stopped by police- "Oh its you Bob"
etc. It was so funny....................... but don't remember which car company it was...........

 

[Hikergirl]

Yes (not TV ads). I am totally eyeballing The Always Pan thanks to Facebook. I think it will be great for my camper.