Does anyone here buy stuff because you saw a TV ad?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

Sam Waterston, among others, have remarked about the TV culture which seems to make TV watchers 'buy' whatever is being sold, most lately that product beiing Bushco.

I was just wondering how many DUers:

1. Watch TV

2. Buy products based on something you've seen on TV (if so, how often?)

[FormerDittoHead]

1. A friend of mine STARTED SMOKING upon seeing "Virginia Slims"

Hey, it's a great tool for communication which, IMO hasn't really been put to much good use.

[Orangepeel]

2. nobody BELIEVES they are influenced by advertising...

but obviously, many people are. it's kind of like Lake Wobegon, where all the kids are above average.

[dr.strangelove]

3. Advertising works very well

There are many goals of television advertising. Name recognition, introduction to a new product, product ideation and new product use are all just as important, possibly more important, than drawing someone in immediately to buy a product. We had some work don eon our house recently and in the store that afternoon my wife and I were buying cleaning products to get up the construction dust. We bought one of those "swiffer" mops. The only reason we thought of it was the commercials. We also bought Murphy Oil wood cleaner, and I know the only reason I thought of that product was the old commercials when I was a kid of the women cleaning a church with it. anyway, I know advertising works on me, I think it works an lots of other people too.

In answer to your questions, Yes I watch TV and yes I have bought products based on something I saw on TV.

[Pithlet]

4. I have.

Usually it is products for the home, or new food items that look like they might be good. Sometimes I've been glad, and sometimes I feel like I've been suckered. I skip through a lot of commercials, though, since I bought TiVo (which I bought because of a commercial :silly:)

[kaitykaity]

5. I wanted a laptop because that's what they

used in the show "Pretender" and I thought it
was sexy.

Oh, yeah, I wanted to try some of that new hazelnut
coffee that one of the coffee companies was touting,
but none of the stores in my area have it.

Those are the only two I can think of right off. I
try to be conscious about it.

[ernstbass]

6. I haven't eve rbought anything

but those food and beer commercials get my taste buds begging!

[Phentex]

7. No, but I have always wanted The Little Giant Ladder system.

:)

[Longhorn]

8. Yes and yes.

I watch TV whenever I'm home. Or I should say, the TV is on. I was raised this way. :shrug: It is mostly background noise and helps me keep track of time. Much of what I watch (i.e. actually pay attention to) is noncommercial TV like TCM or HBO.

I have definitely bought things that I saw on TV in a commercial. But TV was the just the means of informing me that a product exists. I'm more often turned OFF to a product because of it's advertising than turned ON.

I spend so much time ignoring TV that often I'll comment on a "new" commercial and my husband will tell me that it has been running for months! I hear them but don't usually see them as I am doing other things, such as reading DU! :D

However, I must admit that I bought a Smart Spin food storage system for $19.95, plus a pair of these:



They don't work as well "as seen on TV" or maybe I'm just a klutz!

[imenja]

9. we all do

Whether or not we are aware of it. When you go to the grocery store, you likely pick up a brand you've seen advertised on television, even if you're not consciously thinking about it at the time.

[Rhiannon12866]

10. Yes, to both.

But I only buy products that I would have been interested in, anyway. The ads kind of give me a "heads up" about new products that are out there.:shrug:

[Longhorn]

11. Me, too.

In fact, some commercials turn me OFF so much that I go out of my way not to buy the product!

TV informs me but doesn't necessarily convinces me to buy.

[Rhiannon12866]

12. I agree! There are some that are just so annoying that you wouldn't use

What they are selling if it was a gift. And then there are the ones that are just so artsy or complicated, that you can't figure out what they're even about!:shrug:

[lady lib]

13. Yes, although my husband likes to tease me

because I bought a Turbo Cooker and a Showtime Rotisserie. They were really good purchases, though. My picky kids actually like the food cooked with both. The Turbo Cooker recipes are good for busy week nights, and on holidays we make delicious turkey breasts in the rotisserie.

[sandnsea]

14. Oh absolutely

Swiffer, bagless vacuum cleaner, new hair color, new food; I've bought alot of things that I first saw on tv. New stuff. The brand marketing doesn't mean a thing to me.