Category Archives: Advertising

Ad Repetition

Posted in Advertising by

Most times through the day, I listen to WREC. In general, their programming is good. However, for some reason they have latched onto I-Heart as a primary advertiser…I guess. Well, to be sure, someone does need to pay the bills. However, they seem to be one of the best examples of how to annoy a listener by repetition in advertising.

It’s getting irritating. Moreover, no matter how much they advertise I-Heart, I’ll never do business with them. I don’t like their product. Even if I did, I hate repetition. There is one ad they have played and have been playing that just irritated me when I first heard it and they insist on playing it, it seems a minimum of once an hour since.

If they continue to insist on playing it, I will leave the station. Not sure where I’ll go but I’ll find somewhere or I’ll simply stop listening to radio. I suspect I won’t be alone. If nothing else, I just might find somewhere on the internet.

As an aside, the best way to keep AM on radio is to make sure they don’t drive the listeners off.

This Is News?

Posted in Advertising by

Just finished watching what was loosely called overnight CBS news. My best guess was about some comedian discontinuing his late night program.

They called it news. Looked a whole lot more like an info-mercial to me. Wish they would really do a better, more informative job of labeling their programming. Then too, it was just that. A wish. I should know better by now.

Yesteryear and Now

Posted in Abuse of Power, Advertising, Biden, Christian values, Lawyers and Representation by

In the 1950s and 1960s, if my memory serves me correctly, there were more guns per capita than now. Moreover, the so-called assault rifle, the AR15 more easily purchased then than now. Yet, it is only in the last couple of decades that the gun started being used as now. What do you suppose the reason is.

Well, let’s see. Back then people respected life. The respected law. And, of course, they spent much more time praying. They spent a lot more time in church. Abortion was not available on demand. Most children had both mothers and fathers. Divorce was not nearly as easy or as prevalent as now.

People can deny it all day long but I do believe the evidence is before us.

Oh yes. One more thing. Back then, you commit a crime, especially with a weapon, you generally went behind the big walls. It was something of a foregone conclusion. Now, you shot someone in NY, NY, you’re out on the street the next day, without having to pay a penny in bail. Sort of negates the teeth in the law, doesn’t it? It does advertise, crime without punishment.

Then again, it is that way because it is the way Joe and the dems like it.

Nullifying Advertising

Posted in Advertising, Priorities, TV Advertisements by

It’s crazy nuts. Big corporations, mostly restaurants spend fortunes on advertising to draw customers in. Then they let their staff stand around and chat while we, the hungry customers wait.

I know it happens because I have seen it. I don’t expect to be treated as royalty, but when I stand and wait a full 3 or 4 minutes and watch, it does make me suspect they’d just as soon I visit some other establishment.

In one case, I waited five minutes for the food and another five minutes for the drinks. Still trying to figure out that one. Then there’s the nice big restaurant (used to be my favorite). I waited close to 1/2 an hour for the food. Then, twice I asked for a knife and fork. The nice hot food was lukewarm by the time I was able begin eating.

Why do they do things like that. How long does it take to draw 2 drinks. Why should it take 30 minutes to fetch forks and knives. I was even willing to give the waitress a break. If she’d have gotten me something to eat with right away, I would have ignored it. However, the wife and I had to remind her twice and it would have been nice to have a good hot meal. I mean the cook did make it.

There are dozens of times this sort of thing happened. I don’t wonder why the employees act this way. Given the chance most employees have a tendency to be slack. My question is, why do the employees think they can get away with it. I suspect the managers are sending the wrong signals.

The restaurants have a lot of competition. They ought not treat customers like that. It sort of nullifies all their expensive ads. I mean, do we believe our eyes or the ads?

Young Experts

Posted in Advertising by

When I approached 65, I realized it was time to check into Medicare. I admit I knew very little. However, by the time I was eligible for Medicare I was well versed in it. Now, it seems every few days some young man or woman calls under the pretense of telling me all about these wonderful benefits I’m can receive.

Sorry. Not going to happen. In the first place, they are implying that this 73-year-old can’t figure it out all by myself. For those young’ns that don’t know what that means, I don’t need their help.

And, by the way, I don’t like them calling right in the middle of my nap time!

Something New… For Me

Posted in Advertising, Cable TV, Compromise, TV Advertisements by

I was under the wrong assumption that all TV stations transmitted 1080 video on all channels. It’s simply not so. Most of the main channels are 1080, or at least 720. However most of the others are, at most 720 and even 480.

On my little 30 inch screen it’s difficult to see the difference. Naturally, old reruns, especially b&w don’t fill the screen. There is generally a few inches of blank space on each side of the image.

Apparently, the stations transmit the information and my TV displays it at the bottom of the screen 4 or 5 seconds after changing channels. On the other hand, the cable hid it from me all these years.

So, near as I can tell, I should have saved the money and bought a 720 TV. As I said, can’t tell the difference. More over, I don’t have it on 1080 channels that much. Most of the time I’m looking at 720. Right now, I’m on 480 and it looks just fine.

By the way, does anyone know where I can buy a copy of that image of the valley they show to sell that noise for sleeping. Don’t have any use for noise but I’d really like a copy of that winter evening scene of snow covered mountains with the road going between them. Wonder what they might charge me for a 1080i copy.

Who knows? Maybe, perhaps, conceivably others would like a copy or two of that image.

Revisiting Tide Alergy….

Posted in Advertising by

I can’t help noticing the recent Tide commercials pushing the detergent for sensitive skin. It is highly unlikely that the new detergent is the result of my post a good while back.

As a small reminder and explanation, the post was about irritations all over. After a few doctors and a multitude of tests, none came up with the reason for the problem.

Then, one day, out of desperation, we switched from Tide and the problem went away. If the new deternent is the result of my remarks, my hat is off to them for listening. On the other hand, where is the public warning?

Doesn’t really matter. Just glad if my post might have done some real good. I do wonder how many others went through the suffering my wife did.

Still, I wonder if a CEO read my little post or is it simply vanity.

An afterthought: Maybe an allergist read my post and told the manufacturer of tide. I know. It’s a reach. Any way to convince myself I did some good.

Water Spots

Posted in Advertising, CEO Princeple, Customer complaints, FOC, GMC, Microsoft Windows problem, Pride, Priorities, Reporters by

Over the years, working in the Marines and then in a few different civilian organizations, one thing I have learned is the importance to detail. Being a large picture person, I realize that I must constantly remind myself of the importance of dotting all the “i”s and crossing all “t”s with precision.

Maybe one of the best examples I’ve heard is the story of the couple that went to a classy restaurant where they were given nice flatware wrapped in high quality napkins. Once the couple took the flatware in hand, they noticed water spots on the flatware.

They each took a few seconds and the nice napkins to rub out the water spots and soon the spotless eating implements were set neatly in place. They then sat and enjoyed the dinnner. When done, they left without mentioning the water spots at all. Then, of course, they never returned.

As for me, the water spots would have not mattered. On the other hand, I have seen folks that would have asked for “clean” silver. Then others would have simply walked out before ordering.

Regardless of anything else, it is an example in 2 ways. First, as in a previous post, it speaks of competition. It seems, in this case, the lacking in one detail causes the loss of repeat customers. There are any of dozens of such details that can cause a restaurant owner, or any such businessman grief.

Worse, the managers might not be aware, which brings me to my second point, the un-voiced complaint. Every owner, every manager should seek complaints vigorously. Otherwise, how will he become aware thar something needs correction?

If the couple in the little story complained, the restaurant might have still lost the customers, but it might allow the correction before the loss of others.

Yet, I look this way and that way, and I find one business after the other where the owners seem to continue to try to remain oblivious to any problems in their business. In the long run such businesses will surely suffer. They may continue but not strong as they could. Mostly, they will fall behind the competition.

It would seem to some that encouraging complaints from a customer is contrary to success. However, how can a person hone his ability to compete if he doesn’t see where honing is truly necessary.

You might consider the following. There are customers that will notify the management of of a messy restroom and those who won’t. On the other hand, there are businesses that will clean the restroom when notified and there are others that basically say, “So what.” There are those who simply don’t care about customer complaints, even when they are meant to be helpful.

The question, “Do you really want to lose customers over water spots?”

Who is Talking?

Posted in Advertising, Biden by

I’ve seen the same commercial dozens of times. I’m sure the man or woman that designed it will be glad to know that I am well aware that there are 2 scoops of rasins in the rasin bran.

On the other hand, I never bought for a second that the sun was really talking. It was some man speaking into a microphone and pretending. I have it on good authority that suns, moons and planets lack voices or brains. Besides, they are horrible at taking direction.

Hence, I will never have any idea of who the voice is behind the sun in the commercial. On the other hand, I do have a few guesses as to who the puppeteers are that control the puppet in the oval office. It seems to take a team. Some control what he says. Some control where he goes, when he sits or stands. Occasionally, someone tells him to raise his voice or when to whisper. Truth is we all know. All we need do is look to see. It’s sort-of casual to the most obvious observer.

A Word on AARP

Posted in AARP, Advertising, FOC, Growing Old, Uncategorized by

I noticed AARP has started an ad campaign, for purposes I know not why. However, before you blindly buy their line, permit me to explain what they did for me.

They endorsed Obama care, which very likely pushed it over the edge of success, which caused the American health care system to take a huge nose dive.

However, as I said, this is about what they did to me. It was sort of bad timing. After I retired, my wife was required to subscribe to Obama care. That meant on average, one grand a month for over three years. The math is simple; $36,000. It drained a good percentage of my IRA.

Thanks Obama.

Thanks AARP.

Thanks dems.

Needless to say, I don’t believe their ads. Needless to say, I flat don’t believe them and their ads. Besides all this, I refuse to do business with any organizations they endorse. When I sign up for insurance, I tell my agents I don’t want anything to do with AARP, no matter the cost.

I would hope others would do likewise.

I don’t want any apology. I don’t want any compensation. I just want AARP to just go away.