How Stupid Do They Think We Are?

quasar · #1 10-06-2001, 05:28 PM

I don't expect intelligence in advertising. I don't expect truth. But there is a new radio ad that's really really annoying me. It goes something like this:

New XXX brand paint available only at Lowes home stores. It's a bit expensive but worth every penny.

so far so good...but then...

A cranky sounding lady asks "how do I know it's worth the money?"
The narrator replies "Because Lowes has a price match guarantee. If you can find it cheaper anywhere else we'll give you 10% back of the difference."

Hello! Didn't you just tell me it isn't sold anywhere else? So what good does a price match guarantee do me? It could be $100 a can and you'd never have to give me a cent.

Furthermore, she didn't ask if she could find it cheaper somewhere else. She asked if it was worth the money you wanted for it. That's an entirely different question.

How stupid do they think I am?

Does anyone proof these ads? Do people think about whether they make sense or just say it has the three buzzwords I want so go with it?

Do people actually fall for this crap? It just makes me want to never step foot in a Lowes store. Does anyone proof these ads?

Janice

foxfroggy · #2 10-06-2001, 06:04 PM

Of course people fall for that crap-that's why the keep doing it. It's like all those "Going out of business" sales that last for years.

Got to admit that is pretty rich-if you find it cheaper when it is only sold in one place.

My favorite is the money people spend for brand-name canned vegetables. (OK-there are some fancy blends that are different, llike sauces, but I'm talking about standard stuff.) Most canned veggies come from a very few packers, and only the labels are different. An old family friend worked in a factory like that, and said they'd fill the cans from one big vat, occasionally stopping the line to change labels from "Libby's" to "Del Monte" to "Uncle Mugwump's Cheapo Store Brand." I prefer fresh, but when i buy the canned ones, i stick to whatever's cheaper.

What's also funny is "New and Improved!" Especailly since just before they were claiming their product was the best possible.

Pat

#3 10-06-2001, 06:18 PM

Out-stupid them. Tell the store manager you found somewhere else that's selling that product. Tell them that the prices were better there and that you're telling all your friends and posting to all your discussion boards that you're on that you're shopping there from now on.

If you're in a purchasing role at your company, tell the store manager that your company will shop at the other place instead of at Lowe's for furnishings from now on. (I used to do that to Compaq and Dell now and then to shake them up when they got cocky).

realtraveller · #4 10-06-2001, 07:21 PM

Peas please

I always wondered why anyone would buy the more expensive brand of milk. I mean milk is milk is milk. And a friend who worked in a milk bottling plant said that they just changed cartons from one brand to another in the same processing plant. The milk was the same, only the carton was different.

But the ads that really get me are the airlines. They'll advertise in huge print "$89 from LAX to Portland"!!!. Then in the fine print that takes two magnifying glasses to read, it says "price is each way based on round trip purchase. Well, if I have to buy a round trip ticket, what the heck does the $89 mean? I can't get any sort of ticket for the advertised price.

theeye · #5 10-06-2001, 08:55 PM

Hey, I live in a neighborhood where sushi restaurants proudly proclaim that their sushi is "50% off every day -- Dine In or Take Out!".

I've always thought I could make a killing by opening a rival sushi joint across the street and offering 75% off.

CeeJay62 · #6 10-06-2001, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by quasar
A cranky sounding lady asks "how do I know it's worth the money?"
The narrator replies "Because Lowes has a price match guarantee. If you can find it cheaper anywhere else we'll give you 10% back of the difference."

Hello! Didn't you just tell me it isn't sold anywhere else? So what good does a price match guarantee do me? It could be $100 a can and you'd never have to give me a cent.

That is a trick used in the mattress industry as well. They promise money back if you can find the same mattress cheaper elsewhere, but then they don't tell you the manufacturers quite often make different lines for different chains of stores, so you won't FIND the same mattress anywhere else........period!

#7 10-06-2001, 11:20 PM

"I always wondered why anyone would buy the more expensive brand of milk. I mean milk is milk is milk. "

I totally agree! I get so annoyed when the store has these fridges with two different brands of milk, one at four bucks, the other at 1.50 and not even look at the prices and grab the higher priced one because it is the one that they see first.

I also kinda boggle that someone would pay 3.00 for a half gallon of organic milk...

Ander

magenta321 · #8 10-06-2001, 11:43 PM

Ok... sue me. I pay more for milk, hoping that it will somehow be cleaner. But, then again, the whole idea of milk really skeeves me... ever see a cow get milked? Ever see one deficate onto those milk-suctiony things? And then see the farmer use it to milk the cow? EEK! I honestly can't swallow milk as it is, but there are some reciepes that really need it.

So. thanks for shattering my illusion that expensive milk is cleaner milk. The four times a year or so that I actually use it for something will be even more traumatic. YUCK!

(don't bother telling me the germs die in pasturization and that I am even safer because I only use milk for cooking, I'm still skeeved)

Margaret
Who hopes milk is not milk is not milk and hopes they can one day invent non-deficating cows who do not get infections and sores on their udders. Dirty, disgusting creatures that they are...
Blech!

theeye · #9 10-06-2001, 11:48 PM

Ok, guys. Be nice. Don't tell Margaret what they grow vegetables in.

#10 10-07-2001, 12:41 AM

"Ok, guys. Be nice. Don't tell Margaret what they grow vegetables in."

Umm... Milk?

Ander

theeye · #11 10-07-2001, 12:48 AM

And while we're worrying about milk and vegetables, let's not forget about meat.

The son of a friend of mine became a vegetarian at the age of 3. Yes, that's right: three. He's now 11 and still a vegetarian.

When asked (at the age of 3) why he was a vegetarian (at the time, he wouldn't eat meat, milk, eggs, fish or animal crackers -- after about a year, he decided that animal crackers were ok), he answered with the following rather interesting explanation:

"All those things come from an animal and all the parts of the animal are all connected to the part that the poo-poo comes from."

wivabef · #12 10-07-2001, 01:32 AM

Swinging back on topic, a bit, the price match bit that stores advertise are a waste on large appliances. Typically, the stores get slightly modified models that are unique to their chain only. For example, LG178 fridge has wood accents on handles. So, if you find the same fridge, except no wood handles, it will have a modified number LG176, so they won't price match.

So, I love to go into Sears (the store I love to screw the most) and talk to the manager about a price match. I say, "Gee, except for the wood accents, this fridge is the same" The manager argues, and then I say, "Oh, well, then I will get it where it is cheaper. Bye."

When we were burglarized and reequipping our house, that Sears set of managers saw my backside more often than they'd please, I bet.

frazzledspice · #13 10-07-2001, 08:57 AM

Radio is apparently one of the most effective forms of advertising.
But obviously it's a lot easier to talk out of both sides of your mouth on radio than it would be in a print ad.

As for me, I continue to be amazed by Wal-Mart. I am somewhat surprised that they haven't put even more stores out of business than they have.

Yesterday my husband had a bad canker sore. I went to the pharmacy section of Wal-Mart and asked for advice about the best medication.

"Save your receipt," they told me. "In case you need to try something else."

"But how can I return something we've already used?" I asked, knowing that I would never return a product I'd used that only cost $4.00 anyway.

"If it doesn't work, you can return it," they said. "People do it all the time."

So, once again, I am amazed. Not only can you bring in grocery ads and get the sale prices of the other stores (which in many cases are still higher than Wal-Mart's regular prices) but they will give you the lower price automatically if they know something's on sale somewhere else (this happened to me when I bought a music CD for my daughter.) They are friendly and helpful and honest.

They wouldn't even have to advertise in our town. They have the fullest parking lots any time of day or night.

quasar · #14 10-07-2001, 10:45 AM

I've only been in a walmart twice. There was one I could get to after an hour on the bus (three different buses actually) when I lived in Las Cruces. It was too painful to get there. The prices didn't seem cheaper than places like Target or KMart.

The problem with WalMart in urban areas is that they put them in really hard-to-get-to locations, places that generally have no public transportation or poor transportation. Couldn't get to a Walmart in Philly. None of the Walmarts in the Boston area are anywhere near a T station (subway/El). I could get to one with two trains and two buses, a 90+ minute trip not counting time for transfers, waiting for buses, etc.

Most of the people who really need to save money can't get to them (and no, I am not counting myself in that group although I certainly would like to save money).

It's nice to have great customer service, but it's hardly going to drive everyone else out of business if half the population can't get to the stores.

Janice

frazzledspice · #15 10-07-2001, 11:54 AM

I agree, Jan. I never visited a Wal-Mart until I moved to Missouri in 1989--they didn't have any on the East Coast or Long Island.

Now that I live in Arkansas, there are 4 Wal-Marts in my city of about 85,000, and one in the adjacent community of 17,000. 3 are superstores--groceries, department store, pharmacy, auto and lube, photo studio, vision center--with a bank, nail salon, hair salon, Auntie Anne's and McDonald's.

One is a neighborhood market--a regular-sized supermarket, smaller, cozier, easier to maneuver--free Millstone coffee by the deli. It has a Pharmacy and Photo Processor, but that's all.

One is just a regular Wal-Mart, and, not surprisingly, I suppose, it's in the poor part of town.

But now that I have become a regular Wal-Mart shopper--it's actually the Wal-Mart shopping center is the closest set of stores to my home, about two miles away--I have learned that the prices are lower, much lower, in almost every category.

An Albertson's was thinking of moving into town, and changed its mind.

I think in many cases it's the cities who keep Wal-Marts out, not vice versa. I know in St. Louis (home of the two "food boutique" supermarkets--Dierberg's and Schnuck's--which are luxurious to shop in but fairly pricey) Wal-Mart wasn't allowed to sell groceries in St. Louis City or County (except for Eureka, right by Six Flags, because they were kind of rural.)

roymeo · #16 10-09-2001, 11:01 AM

Lowes' 10% thing applies to all products. And that part of the ad is probably repeated after a variety of products....you just happened to hear it after a particular product that isn't supposed to be available elsewhere.

roymeo

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #17 10-09-2001, 11:18 AM

My major radio advertising irritant is for a mattress company who has ads every stinkin' morning for their One Day Sale. That's right, for One Day Only. Except it's the same ad every single day - except on holidays, when it becomes the One Day [fill in the name of holiday here] Sale. I keep wondering who monitors truth in advertizing and if they're ever going to check out this one!

mj

*emeleel* · #18 10-09-2001, 01:41 PM

Here in Alabama, they have laws about the "Going Out of Business" sales. I'm not sure of the details, but it boils down to, if you advertise a GOOB sale, you'd better be going out of business! I'm not sure what kind of trouble the law-breakers get into.

**mtomm**[$] · #19 10-09-2001, 07:47 PM

I suppose cow manure in milk seems bad and the fact that they use that manure to grow vegetables is rather disgusting, but what I read in my paper recently really takes the cake. Farmers use human waste to fertilize fields, too. Yes, human waste from waste processing plants. This stuff is cooked for so many days at a certain temperature and then given away to the farmers to fertilize their fields.

I don't know, but even as a "farm girl" this seems a bit much for me, even with all of the regulations surrounding it. I feel like I've been going around with my head in the sand....I never knew!

And I only have a problem with RAW milk. However, I was raised on it and was pretty darn healthy, cream and all.

#20 10-09-2001, 07:52 PM

Heh

I thought about this thread when I was listening to commercials in the last couple days.

Lottery commercials. (Lotto actually but basically the same thing). The guy pops up and says something like you have a chance to win a million dollars. The old guy that won the Lotto replies 'That's a good chance of winning'

Well, they never mention the chance of winning in the commercial. They just say that the people have a chance to do it. Odds of winning aren't really that great.

Ander