Have you ever purchased NEW something based on a social media ad?

[robinb]

I was listening to a radio show this morning and they were talking about how they were looking forward to the end of political ads for a while. One of the hosts talked about social media ads and commented that we have so many of them because they worked.

I started to scoff at that as I think I try to be immune to social media advertising. I have ad blockers on my browsers and I have developed a habit of skipping ads on FB and Twitter apps without seeing them.

And then I remembered the two Tiki mugs we bought off a FB ad from Tikiland Trading Company:





So, have you ever purchased something new based on a social media ad?

 

[tvguy]

Ad blocker is your friend.

 

[Micca]

The only social media I have is a few forums related to Disney and a couple of other things I'm interested in. I have no Facebook, Insta, Tik Tok, etc. I have ad blocker so I don't see too many on-line ads and would not be purchasing anything.

I thought it was interesting how much political ad mail I got, it all went immediately to the trash(even the candidates I actually voted for.) The concept of getting swayed one way or the other by, what is essentially a postcard, is lost on me.

 

[robinb]

Ad blocker is your friend.

Yes, I know. As I stated, I have ad blockers. I also have a browser extension called "F.B. Purity" which gets rid of a lot of FB's junk.

Unfortunately, ad blockers don't work in the native social media apps and I prefer the setup of the apps on my phone/iPad so I simply scroll.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I have AdBlock Plus, but I still occasionally see ads on Facebook. I saw one for Goose Creek candles and then promptly forgot about it because I was a Bath and Body Works candle girl. Some time later I saw another ad for Goose Creek right around the time I was becoming unhappy with B&BW's candles, both the price and the strength of the scent. On a whim, because of the ad, I tried Goose Creek. Now I only buy from them.

Weirdly, I look at the Microsoft news feed on my computer every day (which isn't covered by my adblocker), and I always seem to see ads for things I'd been discussing buying. It's like they're listening in.

 

[Southernmiss]

I just ordered 3 t shirts for Thanksgiving and Christmas and a generic one that I liked off of an ad on Facebook. They shipped and I am waiting delivery.

Have shopped other places and haven't found any that I like as much as these. Hopefully, I get what I see in the pictures.

When Covid first started and we needed masks, I found a local person who was making good masks and ordered one for each of my family from her. That worked really well.

 

[tvguy]

Yes, I know. As I stated, I have ad blockers. I also have a browser extension called "F.B. Purity" which gets rid of a lot of FB's junk.

Unfortunately, ad blockers don't work in the native social media apps and I prefer the setup of the apps on my phone/iPad so I simply scroll.

Yup. This, and my 65 year old eyes, are the main reason I don't use apps or my phone or tablet for any serious internet work. I need my 17 inch screen on my desktop.

 

[Dan Murphy]

The only social media I have is a few forums related to Disney and a couple of other things I'm interested in. I have no Facebook, Insta, Tik Tok, etc. I have ad blocker so I don't see too many on-line ads and would not be purchasing anything.

I thought it was interesting how much political ad mail I got, it all went immediately to the trash(even the candidates I actually voted for.) The concept of getting swayed one way or the other by, what is essentially a postcard, is lost on me.

The same here for me. And I just added the Firefox browser for my Android mobile devices, so when I visit the dis, I use FF and no longer am overwhelmed with the swarm of ads on mobile.

I will say though, that there are a pretty good number of things I have purchased or tried over the past 23 years based on reading here on the dis, and most have proved good. Not from ads though, just the forum discussions.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

On my FB especially mobile you can't really get away from the suggested ads and such and the reels pop up a lot.

But it was how I found my sports bra that I cannot workout without it and love them (have 3 now and am about to get a 4th) and I also found a workout equipment that I really enjoy so it's not all that bad.

My husband admitted he found the urge for the espresso machine because of FB and now is wanting more gadgets for it for Christmas from relatives but it was a good purchase at about $120 or so with most being an Amazon gift card and we do like having it. He enjoys making stuff and I enjoy seeing him enjoy it

And after seeing gadzillon restocking reels and videos admittedly got some storage stuff for the pantry. I replaced our sugar, flour and powdered sugar jars that sit out on the counter with more airtight clear ones (the prior ones were honestly more decorative stuff but were a gift and now they will just be decor only). I like the pantry ones because though they take up more space than the boxes the items come in I can more easily see how much we have of something and it's much easier to get stuff out especially rice and instant potatoes. Plus we can buy a few of a package at one time and fill up a container which with unpredictability in inventory I've come to appreciate that.

But the vast majority of ads are something that you may find a passing interest in but are easily able to withhold purchasing.

I have adblocker on my computer and an adblocker browser through my phone but my main social media is FB.

 

[Moliphino]

I have those mugs, too. But I follow Tikiland Trading on FB/Instagram, so I saw them post about them before I ever got an ad.

I've only ever bought one thing from an ad on social media. It's a shirt with Disney villains on it that says "Resting Witch Face". I love it.

 

[_19disnA]

Nope. Even the ads the randomly show up on other websites with adblock aren't things I would ever buy. Seems they are paying a lot of ad $$$ for things most people choose to ignore.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

Other, because I may see the ad, but then I'll do research on it before I buy it. The ad might bring my attention to it, but it is not the reason for the purchase

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Other, because I may see the ad, but then I'll do research on it before I buy it. The ad might bring my attention to it, but it is not the reason for the purchase

That's true I'd say with my sports bra and equipment I bought. Neither of those were something to purchase without researching it but without the ads I doubt I would have come across them.

We always look at reviews though of the products but with the two items above I really had to make sure that it was worth it. I sat on the workout equipment for months before making a decision (good thing too because a few months after I bought it it went up by $100 as it's gotten more popular). And with the sports bra I appreciated they showed women of all shapes and sizes and actually doing activity thought I didn't sit on that one quite as long, didn't feel the need to.

Actually on the ads the comments were also very helpful not just in product review by people but looking at how did they resolve customer inquiries.

 

[TippyThomas]

Yes, I've got some Taylor Ham on the way due to a thread right here.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I have those mugs, too. But I follow Tikiland Trading on FB/Instagram, so I saw them post about them before I ever got an ad.

I've only ever bought one thing from an ad on social media. It's a shirt with Disney villains on it that says "Resting Witch Face". I love it.

lol that's awesome!

That reminds me one night years back my husband, whose name is Aaron, had had a wee bit too much alcohol (a rarity for us really) and he saw this shirt online...plum forget he actually ordered it til it arrived..but he does actually wear it and like it so drunken order from a FB ad actually worked out for him. Can't remember if this is the exact design but it's pretty close if it isn't. Ahhh that skit makes us laugh every time we watch it.

 

[soccerdad72]

Not social media, per se, but I have bought some things pitched by YouTube channels.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I have an army of Adblockers installed so I don't see the majority of ads. I even have an extension installed that skips past sponsored sections of Youtube videos so I don't even see those. The only place where I see ads is Facebook though I will be downloading Facebook purity thanks to this thread. I've gotten ads for those exact mugs on my feed but I didn't buy them.

I did actually buy a product that I saw on a Facebook ad - Bones Coffee. I'm a big fan of flavored coffee and theirs are really good. Their pumpkin spice is the best one I've tried, better than variants that I can get at grocery stores. I stock up on it to drink year round. Now my feed is full to the brim with other coffee brands.

 

[robinb]

I have an army of Adblockers installed so I don't see the majority of ads. I even have an extension installed that skips past sponsored sections of Youtube videos so I don't even see those. The only place where I see ads is Facebook though I will be downloading Facebook purity thanks to this thread. I've gotten ads for those exact mugs on my feed but I didn't buy them.

I did actually buy a product that I saw on a Facebook ad - Bones Coffee. I'm a big fan of flavored coffee and theirs are really good. Their pumpkin spice is the best one I've tried, better than variants that I can get at grocery stores. I stock up on it to drink year round. Now my feed is full to the brim with other coffee brands.

Happy to suggest FB Purity! What is the extension that skips YouTube ads?

 

[Smugpugmug]

Happy to suggest FB Purity! What is the extension that skips YouTube ads?

I use Adblock for Youtube to skip ads that play before and in the middle of videos. I also use SponsorBlock for Youtube - this will automatically skip over sponsored content. So if a Youtuber is advertising Nord VPN or Hello Fresh, it'll skip over it and continue the video. It's a lifesaver.

Both of these work for Chrome (and any browser that uses Chromium like Brave) and Firefox.

 

[OrangeBirdGirl]

The only thing I recall ordering was these rip tie hair things. Basically an add for surfers with long hair so it doesn't get all tangly like in a pony tail. Almost like the idea where you'd put various hair ties down about 2" in your pony tail. But this is a hair tie at the base of your head for the pony tail then you wrap it around your hair all the way down and another tie at the bottom. I have found it works great for water sports. I also use it for running as I hate the feeling of my hair hitting my shoulders. And, I hate braiding as it easily comes out. I might try them hiking the next time we go on a vacation with hiking.