Comments on: Making Buyers

By: Ryan K

Ryan K — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:07:17 +0000

I just moved in with a new roommate recently. Even though he’s in his mid-twenties he still watches Saturday morning cartoons. Moving in with him was my first exposure to kids’ programming since I myself was a kid twenty years ago.

I became indignant. It was the fact that these sly marketers are pressuring these children’s malleable minds.

I think after years and years of growing up with that unmitigated we are in for some trouble. I can’t put my finger on it, but I think it’s real trouble.

By: Patty

Patty — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:03:15 +0000

I like how a few people mentioned using tivo or netflix to ‘skip’ commercials. But a large part of advertising is included in the SHOW. Product placement for one and just different lifestyle viewing for another creating ‘That character has, I want’. Skipping the commercials is a start to reducing your ad intake but don’t discount the subliminal ads in movies and tv.

By: Claudia

Claudia — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:41:25 +0000

When my husband and I were younger and very poor trying to raise our 3 children; I would want SO many things! But once our children were out of the house, we both had progressed in our jobs, had a paid off house and vehicles and no other debt, we could pretty much afford whatever. Just knowing I had the $300 to buy those cool boots if I wanted to, seemed to dim my enthusiasm. I could choose to buy them or not and they weren’t so appealing anymore. I suppose some of that is maturity in knowing that those boots won’t make me cool, just $300 poorer.

Teaching children that isn’t easy though. I am trying with my grandchildren, but my daughter does not always cooperate and gives in to their cries. They will spend a few minutes playing with their new toys and then leave them to get lost and mixed up with all their other toys. However, they have blast at our house with the toys they have here. I’ve bought a lot of Polly Pockets at rummage sales and we still have our children’s lego sets. I think they have fun here because there are not boxes and boxes of toys scattered all over the house and they can actually find all the parts here (it helps, that I am very anal about finding lost parts!)

By: Jo

Jo — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:17:37 +0000

I am able to tune out a lot of the commercials. Plus, I use that 2-3 minutes to get a task done prior to bedtime. Time well used….

I do have cable, however, of which I do not feel one bit guilty about. You mention PBS – probably because of the limited ads – but I much prefer watching the Science Channel. Last week I learned about the very beginnings of earth’s birth, going back 4.567 BILLION years ago. Absolutely astounding! What I learned is truly mind-boggling.

For me, it isn’t those worthless ads that stand out the most in my mind. It’s watching a show like that on the Science Channel that I keep revisiting over and over. I still am unable to wrap my head around this.

I will never apologize for having cable. I totally avoid the shopping channels. Mindless blathering; the monotone voices do nothing but get on my nerves. As an adult, I have the freedom to choose what it is I want to watch, and am easily able to tune out ads. By doing this, I have learned so much, for which I have no regrets.

But I clearly understand the point of your post, Trent. Thanks!

By: Lenetta @ Nettacow

Lenetta @ Nettacow — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:28:35 +0000

Very, very interesting. I’ve not even really been letting my little one watch PBS and this just reinforces why. I linked to this on my weekly roundup, post is under my name. Thanks!

By: Money Dieter

Money Dieter — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 01:36:08 +0000

That’s a great idea. I definitely want stuff by seeing things in magazines, televisions, etc.

By: Vicky

Vicky — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 01:32:29 +0000

Another reason I love the Netflix instant queue.

No commercials :)

By: Amateur

Amateur — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 20:21:55 +0000

Trent, you forgot to mention not doing things like taking a walk to the shopping center or mall or any specific store if there is nothing pressing or necessary to buy. Some people like window shopping and wandering around, but looking at things and the sale prices, and demo bars to try out new gadgets will ultimately weaken some better judgment. I’m not a fan of window shopping because it just encourages purchases with thoughts that run through my head like, “You’re going to buy it in a few months anyway, and you’re here already, you may as well just get it now and get it over with.”

The few months could sometimes turn into a year, especially for non-essential items, items that I would like to replace but I’m not in a rush to immediately replace. I’ll usually wait out the few months in hopes a good deal comes along and know that because I did not rush it, I actually got what I wanted at a reduced cost. This works for housewares, electronics, and clothing items. Window shopping plus a bit of advertising usually destroys that for me personally.

By: Devon T.

Devon T. — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:31:41 +0000

Yeah, I have that problem too. Especially when I’m broke and feel a need to buy something to feel better like starbucks. Although usually, if it’s over $5, I have made a promise to myself to sleep on it. If I still really want it in a couple days, then I budget for it. It’s been working really well.

By: Anne KD

Anne KD — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:06:10 +0000

Flashy internet ads are irritating to my eyeballs, and as soon as we found out about Firefox and Adblock, we loaded them on the boxes. Since then my brain has been blissfully free from seeing the ads (sorry, Trent!). I watch very little tv, and we usually record shows that we want to watch. Our remote has a handy dandy button that lets us skip forward 30 seconds at a time. So, we’ll watch the Mac vs Windows ads for the chuckle factor- but everything else is missed.

Since we started doing these things I don’t feel guilty about not buying certain brands of pasta sauce (I’ve always preferred making my own), new cars, etc. Just avoiding candy commercials is a big plus.

By: John DeFlumeri Jr

John DeFlumeri Jr — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 17:26:25 +0000

That same advertising works the same way for adult impulse buying.

John DeFlumeri Jr

By: Bavaria

Bavaria — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:17:19 +0000

Beautifully written article Trent! Thank you. Around our house we call advertising “seductive brain washing”.
Happy, sane holidays to you and your family!

By: alanna

alanna — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:10:28 +0000

Love this post! So true.

By: Holly

Holly — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:18:21 +0000

An average American adult sees about 3000 advertisements every day (research estimates vary). When you recognize their power, that’s a sobering number.
I have what I call “Shiny Object Syndrome” so I use Ad Block to turn off all internet ads, and if I watch commercial television I record it and start watching 16 minutes late (or a few days!) so I can FF through ads.

By: Courtney

Courtney — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:11:09 +0000

Our kids only watch a few shows (Spongebob being the perennial favorite) and we tivo them and fast-forward through the ads. That way, they miss out on all the cheesy toy commercials, as well as the oh-so-inappropriate-for-family-viewing erectile dysfunction ads. Wish those things would be outlawed.

By: Jon

Jon — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:01:09 +0000

I find myself reacting that way with restaurant advertisements for their food, even if I’ve just eaten. The worst is the DQ Blizzard.

By: KC

KC — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:01:00 +0000

For us, adults, its the car ads – and they are very popular this time of year. They have such nice music and pictures of snow and a big red bow on the car. Then someone, inevitably a female, comes out and is so happy with her new gift. I’m particularly found of the BMW ad that has the car racing around in the snow as the bow eventually ravels and falls off the car. I’m not interested in owning a high-maintenance BMW, but for those 30 seconds I think about how cool it would be to own and drive one. And don’t get me started on the new Porsche Panamera ad that I’m seeing on CNBC! Again, they know their market and how to get after us.

By: RC@Thinkyourwaytowealth

RC@Thinkyourwaytowealth — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:28:44 +0000

This just happened with my 3 yr old daughter a few minutes ago- it was a commercial for “aqua sand”! Advertisers definitely know who their market is, when it comes to commercials during kid’s shows.
I agree with your thoughts- once the trigger or visual is removed, the desire quickly wanes. I notice this in my kids as well as myself.