Upgrade: Travel Better blogger Mark Ashley sends in this ad he spotted at the Oak Hollow Mall in High Point North Carolina, exhorting shoppers to use their stimulus payments in a selfish splurge on depreciating assets.
The sign reads, “It’s time for you to do your part to stimulate the economy. And there’s no better way to kick the economy up a notch than with a really great pair of pumps. Or a new flat screen TV. Or a fabulous bag. Or whatever you’ve been dying to get your hands on! So don’t delay. CELEBRATE THE STIMULUS. TREAT YOURSELF TO SOMETHING SPECIAL TODAY!”
Mark says, “I enjoy how excessive consumerism is framed in patriotic terms.”
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Is the concern here that the ad is seriously impugning your patriotism? Because “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask ‘does this come in a size seven’” looks like it’s pretty obviously meant in jest. I mean, maybe I’m not understanding it, but it looks to me like they’re just playing with the whole idea of the stimulus check. They’re not actually out to attack you if you don’t spend it.
@Steaming Pile: Of course, I wouldn’t be caught dead in a shopping mall these days.
Well, shutting yourself in isn’t exactly a good thing either.
@algormortis: 2)they’re not a durable purchase.
That’s a good point. Buying a new more economical washing machine or refrigerator is actually a decent use of the check provided you have little or no debt.
@snakeskin33: Yeah, I’m thinking we should ask not what our country can do for us, we should ask some of our fellow commenters to lighten the fuck up.
@battra92: You know, I’m thinking the stimulus payment would go to good use if you buy something that you were going to buy anyway, but spend that money to go up a tier or two.
It bugs me that too many consumers just look at the shelf price and not consider the TCO, especially on stuff like computers and home appliance. If the gubmint check can let you spend more now so you can save over the long term, everybody wins, I think.
If anyone were truly interested in being patriotic, we wouldn’t have sent out these checks that forced us to the highest national debt ever. Once all the credit and money-printing mentalities catch up with people in this country, it’s going to be a much more serious wake-up call than we’ve seen in these last 2 years of rising prices.
I used my check towards bills, period.
I’m one of those who didn’t qualify for a stimulus check.
Now that I’ve gotten over being angry about it, I say why not spend it on pumps?
Especially if you are one of those who didn’t pay any taxes and got a stimulus check… don’t thank those of us who paid for it, just buy some snazzy pumps or some sassy blouses. You deserve it for all your hard work.
If you did earn enough to pay taxes and you got a stimulus check, I’m not referring to you.
BTW, yes the ad is offensive to me.
Writing as someone who has spent much time as a creative in the ad game and whose stimulus check went to help out with the random needs of life… this ad is disgusting.