[Golden Legacy]

The idea for this topic came from an interesting (and amusing) article about the effects of prices on wine-tasting and such.

So, have you seen any catchy advertisements or some interesting ways products are presented to the consumer? How do they toy around with the consumer's mind (without them realizing it)?

[TheEnglishman]

One that immediately springs to my mind is the phrase that ASDA used to use (though it's probably cause my mum works there). At the end of the advert they'd say "That's ASDA price!" and pat the back pocket of their jeans. I never understood why they did that until just now (cheap prices leave change in their pocket), but a catchphrase like that will stick in your mind.
I've also seen the Sega advert from the early 90's "Genesis does what Nintendon't." It's catchy, though it turned out to be pretty embarrasing in the years of self destruction that followed. :) I guess they were good enough to be arrogant back then.

[Caael]

Rhetorical questions are THE worst advertising ploy there is. They make you like the product even less. I find surreal or subtle adverts are the best, like that car one yeaaars ago where the car would turn into a snake, then a spider, then something else, then a car again.

[Eugine]

http://www.youtube.c...e?user=mualchon
The insurance commercials there are the best I've ever seen. But really, it's sad how a commercial can toy with my mind, and make me feel that I need health insurance.

[Quacnar]

That was the saddest commercial I have ever seen.

[TheEnglishman]

If I can revive this topic for a moment, I'll provide you with some amazing advertising:
'It's the Legend of Zelda and it's really rad...'

[Saturos S.]

Sumbliminal [give] messages [me] don't [money] exist.

[Moonear]

Why do I feel the urge to throw hundred dollar bills at SS?

[Saturos S.]

On a sidenote...

Best commercial ever...: http://www.youtube.c...h?v=SeCoIWvaon8

[Golden Legacy]

One simple example of marketing ploys is pricing. Never is it a round, whole number (such as 10, 200, etc.), it's always 9.99 and 199.99. That one cent difference makes it seem disproportionally smaller. As in, the difference between 10 and 9.99, though it's actually one cent, seems a lot more than that, because 10 is the next "level" and 9.99 is as close to that "level" without actually surpassing it.

If that makes any sense.

[Wiflewood]

Although I find that with lower prices if they are a whole number it makes it seem cheaper (to me anyway). E.g, if you say "Oh, its only 3 quid", it sounds cheaper than saying "Yeh, thats 2.99".

[Moonear]

What's a quid?

Anyway, I love commercials that make you laugh.
This is my favorite and it makes me want to eat Starburst:
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=DfnFE1bCQfM

[Golden Legacy]

Wiflewood, on Feb 26 2008, 06:25 PM, said:

Although I find that with lower prices if they are a whole number it makes it seem cheaper (to me anyway). E.g, if you say "Oh, its only 3 quid", it sounds cheaper than saying "Yeh, thats 2.99".

It's not about saying it, it's about the consumer visualizing it and seeing the price displayed. And 2.99 seems less - a "lot" less - than 3.00 when seeing it on a price tag.

And yes, what's a quid?

[Gio]

ihatekraden, on Feb 26 2008, 04:35 PM, said:

What's a quid?

Anyway, I love commercials that make you laugh.
This is my favorite and it makes me want to eat Starburst:
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=DfnFE1bCQfM

That was a random commercial. I liked it though. lol

[Eugine]

ihk. awesome commercial!

lolz, I usually just say that in real life. My friends always ask me to do the dance. Unfortunately, I have to much pride =)