My manager at my insurance office job and I were agreeing on this the other day. Have you guys noticed that it seems that the WORST products/brands have some of the best commercials? For example, subprime creditor Crapital One...horrible customer service, high fees on their credit card, but kick-ass humorous commercials. Same goes for horror cell phone companies Sprint and T-Mobile. Not only does it seem that the worst products have the funniest/sexiest/most clever commercials, but their commercials also advertise everything good about them that they're NOT. For example, T-Mobile advertises $39.99/month and "no surprises," even though their outrageously priced late fees can be very surprising(they were the worst cell phone company of 4 that I've experienced, but then again my experience with them is from nearly 5yrs ago). Citizens Bank advertises that they're friendly and get to know each customer as a person not a number, yet they've made me feel anything BUT appreciated as a customer there(hence my changing banks just to spite them).
My theory is, the reason that bad/subprime companies have such great commercials, is because some people are gullible enough to choose a brand product based on its cute commercials. Smart people will choose to apply for a credit card based on consumer reviews, rates and fees, company's reputation, etc. Gullible people, however, will choose a credit card for superficial reasons such as their commercial. And aren't gullible people the kind of consumers that a subprime "rip-off" company like Crapital One wants, anyway?...people that they can sucker into paying high fees or manipulate into accepting "ID theft protection" charges?
I noticed that most of these funny commercials from bad companies, occur during the TV commercial breaks of shows such as Jerry Springer or Maury or sitcoms...shows that don't exactly attract an intelligent, older, or high-class audience. LOL it is laughable how many commercials airing during the breaks of the Jerry Springer show are for rip-off Skylight Debit Card, or injury conartists*cough* I mean lawyers, or predatory lenders. Anyone else notice this?


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