Opinion on Car Dealership Billboard

[sonofanarchy]

The biggest dealer where I live is a dealership called Herb Chambers. He has at least 1 store for every make of car you can think of. I've actually bought a couple cars from them in the past, but don't anymore due to shady business practices. Anyways, I'm driving to work this morning and I see one of those big billboards that simply reads:

"Herb Chambers: We won't screw you." Only the word screw is replaced by an actual screw. On one hand, it's clever marketing. On the other, I found it incredibly low class (not to mention a complete lie).

So, your thoughts?

 

[SueInBoston]

I know of the Herb Chambers franchise, it's exactly their level of classless advertising.

 

[sonofanarchy]

I know of the Herb Chambers franchise, it's exactly their level of classless advertising.

LOL - Very true.

I guess if you know of them, you know how fitting the billboard is.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

The biggest dealer where I live is a dealership called Herb Chambers. He has at least 1 store for every make of car you can think of. I've actually bought a couple cars from them in the past, but don't anymore due to shady business practices. Anyways, I'm driving to work this morning and I see one of those big billboards that simply reads:

"Herb Chambers: We won't screw you." Only the word screw is replaced by an actual screw. On one hand, it's clever marketing. On the other, I found it incredibly low class (not to mention a complete lie).

So, your thoughts?

Since you say they have "shady business practices" maybe they are marketing to that type of clientele.

 

[sonofanarchy]

Since you say they have "shady business practices" maybe they are marketing to that type of clientele.

Well, obviously that's just my opinion. And let's face it - Many dealers have what people would refer to as shady business practices. I only point it out with them because they're the biggest.

 

[okeydokey]

I wouldn't think twice about it.

 

[sonofanarchy]

I wouldn't think twice about it.

Well, you opened the thread and posted on it. So technically, you DID think twice.

 

[Squirlz]

You're talking about it so it works.

 

[Micca]

Two things come to mind: The first is that "Herb Chambers" would be a great name for a marijuana dispensary.

The other is that the job of a billboard is to attract attention and create top-of-mind awareness. In addition to whatever kind of buzz the message may be creating locally, it compelled one person to post the message on the internet.
That's some viral marketing for you.

 

[happily single]

You must bein Westboro! herb Chambers also has a billboard on Rt 9 about "we wont strong-arm" you.

Personally I thought they were slightly clever and didnt offend me.

Ohh, and I purchased my car from them in February.

 

[sonofanarchy]

Two things come to mind: The first is that "Herb Chambers" would be a great name for a marijuana dispensary.

The other is that the job of a billboard is to attract attention and create top-of-mind awareness. In addition to whatever kind of buzz the message may be creating locally, it compelled one person to post the message on the internet.
That's some viral marketing for you.

I don't think the old slogan "all news is good news" applies in marketing. If you read that a restaurant was known for having mouse dropping in their food, would you eat there?

 

[sonofanarchy]

You must bein Westboro! herb Chambers also has a billboard on Rt 9 about "we wont strong-arm" you.

Personally I thought they were slightly clever and didnt offend me.

Ohh, and I purchased my car from them in February.

Yeah, I saw that one too. That one I didn't think was a big deal.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I bet they're lying.

 

[EMode]

Its pretty low class but look around, society today loves low class.

 

[kwelch10377]

There is another one on 95 in Dedham that says something like "We're not full of <picture of a bull>" I thought it was kind of clever, won't make be buy from them but not a bad advertising campaign.

 

[sonofanarchy]

There is another one on 95 in Dedham that says something like "We're not full of <picture of a bull>" I thought it was kind of clever, won't make be buy from them but not a bad advertising campaign.

That one isn't bad. It's a blatant lie, but not low-class.

 

[Arielle22]

I have seen the billboards up and thought they were clever. I worked in HR in a car dealership (not Chambers) for many years. I have never heard that Chambers is that bad to deal with.

Now Ernie Boch ads I find really annoying. He needs to cut his hair and grow up. No one who is buying cars cares about his band or his kids.

 

[kathie859]

We seem to excel in classless advertising anymore (adult, ahem, lotions advertised on TV during prime time viewing comes to mind and we have some local home remodelers who feature a shrill speaking daughter in their ads--so annoying and the lawyer who has a comb-over soliciting business via national TV ads are examples). But to the question of the OP, I wouldn't be offended--just "put off" and pretty sure I wouldn't choose them as my dealer if other options were available.

 

[soccerdad72]

I wouldn't have a problem with it, personally.

 

[sonofanarchy]

I have seen the billboards up and thought they were clever. I worked in HR in a car dealership (not Chambers) for many years. I have never heard that Chambers is that bad to deal with.

Now Ernie Boch ads I find really annoying. He needs to cut his hair and grow up. No one who is buying cars cares about his band or his kids.

Chambers USED to be fantastic. They were honest, friendly, and treated us very well. In return, we bought 4 cars from them over the past few years. Then I came across sites like Truecar and learned more about the real price and interest rates, started calling other dealers and realized that we were getting ripped off there.

I bought 1 car from Boch a few years back. Had a good experience with them.

FTR, the billboard doesn't offend me. I just found it kind of classless.