Consumerist
hype
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badvertising
Is It Me or Do All Hyundais Look Alike?
What's wrong with this Hyundai ad (which appeared on Huffington Post earlier this week)? More » -
advertisements
Updated: PS3 Racing Game Update No Longer Doubles Load Times To Show Ads
This generation of game consoles has adapted the PC tradition of updating games with downloadable patches to smooth out glitches and add new features. With an update to its PlayStation 3 hovercraft racer Wipeout HD, Sony added yet another facet to the experience — pre-race commercials that caused longer-than-necessary load times. More » -
credit card reform
CARD Act Includes Limits On Not-So-Free Credit Report Ads
A less-reported provision of the CARD Act, the credit card reform bill signed by President Obama on Friday, puts limits on ads promoting that old Consumerist nemesis, "free" credit reports.
The law calls for the Federal Trade Commission to issue new rules that will force free credit report advertisers to inform consumers that the only place for a free credit report is AnnualCreditReport.com.
Television and radio ads will also be required to include a pretty deflating statement: "This is not the free credit report provided for by Federal law."
YAY! Wait, though. That's not the funny part. More »
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desperation
Comcast Wants You Back, Leaves Comcastic Love Notes
Kevin abandoned Comcast and switched to FiOS. Since then, his jilted cable/Internet company has made it quite clear how badly they want him back. They can't believe it when they hear that he won't see them. Denial is tough to watch. More » -
badvertising
FTC To Require Advertisers Using Testimonials To Show Typical Results
Subway spokesman and occasional thin guy Jared Fogle may soon be out of work thanks to a new FTC rule banning commercial testimonials that warn "results not typical" or "individual results may vary." Under the new rule, marketers using, say, body builders to advertise weight loss pills are also going to have to show an average lardass whose results might be more typical. You can guess how advertisers are reacting to the change... More » -
guerilla marketing
Top 5 Guerilla Marketing Mishaps
In the never-ending quest for free publicity, guerilla marketers have gone through great lengths to try to make a big splash. Many guerilla marketers will often concoct stunts that are risky or illegal to grab the publics' attention. Some stunts go over better than others while a few completely backfire. As a tribute to these foolhardy souls, WebUrbanist has put together their top 5 mishaps in guerilla marketing. The list, inside... More » -
health risks
Darque Tan Prevents You From Dying Of Vitamin-D Deficiency
According to an article in The Daily Texan, law student Emily Prewett, has filed a complaint with the Texas Attorney General against the company Darque Tan because of their misleading and irresponsible ads. One of their television commercial begins with a man in white lab coat saying, "Science has discovered that UVB from tanning converts cholesterol into Vitamin D." Then the narrator says, "Mmm yeah. Vitamin D-licious. Come get yours with a free week of level 1 tanning." The TV ad and more details, inside... More » -
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don't forget
Super Bowl Ads Are Designed To Fuel Mindless Buying
Companies are paying $90,000 per second tonight to get their products before our recession-fearing eyes, and they plan to get their money's worth. Tonight's advertisers will use an array of tactics designed with one purpose: motivating us to buy their products. More » -
badvertising
Disturbing Cheese Ads With Luis Guzmán And His Fellow "Cheddar Hunks"
Okay, we're just going to say it: calling men of a certain age "cheddar hunks" just sounds like they all smell like stinky feet. That's a table I want to stay far, far away from. Nevertheless, Cabot Cheese of Vermont has launched a new television campaign featuring Guzmán and his Stinky-Feet-Friends sitting around drinking beer and eating cheese. It's weird. And though we have always liked Cabot Cheese, now it's going to be hard not to think of middle-aged toes (and werewolves) whenever we go cheddar shopping. Urg. More » -
happy endings
UPDATE: Circuit City Apologizes For Not Honoring Call Of Duty Advertisement
Adam writes us to say that Circuit City has apologized for not honoring their advertisement and have offered to compensate him with both games for free. More » -
lawsuits
CheapAssGamer.com Subpoenaed By Circuit City
According to Consumerist's sister-site Kotaku, CheapAssGamer.com has beensuedsubpoenaed by Circuit City over some leaked advertisements posted to their forum. More » -
unacceptable food
Chili's Awesome Blossom Menu Picture Vs Reality
The Chili's in Tuscaloosa, AL served Mike an "Awesome Blossom" that looks like it was run over by a truck. Mike didn't complain to his waiter or the manager, but he did write to us: More » -
complaints
US Air Tray Ads Annoy
US Air has boasted ads on seatback tray tables for many months now, but they still have the power to irk some customers, as reader Cameron writes:I took these photos on my return flight from New Orleans this past Sunday. It appears that, in order to bolster revenues, US Air has turned to placing advertisements on the top surfaces of your seat back tray. Not only that, but they are "self-aware", sporting beverage spill graphics and touting the safety of Ford SUVs. I was settling into my seat and was going to lower my tray to hold my book and iPod when I was confronted by this - I must say this should be stopped and I've already contacted US Air complaint line.
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videos
Visa Tap-N-Go Ads Piss Us Off
We loathe these Visa commercials. They show commerce going along like clockwork. People paying with their tap-and-go Visa card. Getting their donuts. Until one guy pay with cash. Everything screeches to a halt. He gets looks from the cashier and other customers. He leaves with his goods and his quaint "change," chagrined. Man, you don't wanna be that guy. No, you wanna be like the efficient credit card bots. They're cool. Being in debt is cool. Who cares if they have 20% APRs. More » -
ads
Top 10 Worst Marketing Gaffes, Flops, and Disasters
The Consumerist's guide to the top 10 worst gaffes, flops, and disasters in the history of American marketing and advertising. More » -
clips
David LaChapelle's Boots Commercial
Yes, Virginia, there is a true meaning to Christma: looking ab-fab. — BEN POPKEN -
halloween
Red Cross Wants You To Open Your Veins In The Supermarket
Taking a cue from the Australian Sperm Bank Association's successful 2003 ad campaign, we proudly present this Red Cross advertisement from the Land Down Under. They want to suck your blood!
