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controversy
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Badvertising
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controversy
badvertising
Court: Tyson Can No Longer Claim Chickens Are "Raised Without Antibiotics"
Tyson Foods has 14 days to stop claiming that their chickens are "raised without antibiotics." The deceptive nationwide campaign was brought to an end after rivals Sanderson Farms and Purdue filed suit claiming that all three poultry processors use antibiotics, and that Tyson was trying to steal an undeserved appearance of health. More »
whoops
Disney Upset About Risque Hannah Montana Pics, Underaged Girls On Their Billboards In China
So Disney is all upset over some slightly saucy photographs of 15-year-old Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus, but it seems in their haste to toss out accusations (Disney spokeswoman Patti McTeague told the New York Times that "a situation was created to deliberately manipulate a 15-year-old in order to sell magazines"), the company neglected to consider the appropriateness of using obviously under-aged girls on their underwear billboards in China. More »
badvertising
Skyy Tastelessly Tries To Capitalize On Absolut's Mexican Gaffe
Skyy vodka issued a crass press release declaring their support for the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in response to an ad from rival Absolut that featured pre-Mexican-American War borders. We had no problem with the ad. We put up a poll. A majority of you had no problem with the ad. Not Skyy, though! They're drunk with outrage and felt compelled to "[decry] Absolut vodka's suggestion to redraw North [America's] map." More »
Apparently, Microsoft is thinking about using Johnny Knoxville to sell PCs to "jackasses." [CajunBoyIntheCity]
shrinking packages
Readers Write In With Examples Of More Shrinking Products
Brawny's not the only product skimping on size to sneakily increase profits. Here are two more items readers have noticed recently.Henry writes:
Our house uses Skippy Peanut Butter, but i just found out they changed their jars from 18 ounces to 16.2 ounces for the same price. I know 2 ounces is not a huge amount of peanut better, but still.And Matt writes:
I have noticed this same thing with Quilted Northern. I don't know what the price used to be but i noticed while shopping at sams club now you get less quilted northern than you used to.If you know of another company that's downsized a product without passing along the savings, let us know. Maybe we can put together a single reference post so shoppers will see which products are the worst offenders. More »
shrinking packages
Brawny Paper Towels Shrink By 20% While Price Goes up 6%
Yet another common product has been hit with the shrinking ray—this time it's Brawny paper towels, which Jason noticed recently received a new package design, apparently to disguise that there are now fewer sheets and a higher price.More »
badvertising
Great Moments In Commercial History: Fred And Sharon's Movies
badvertising
The once-popular—surely it isn't still?—teenaged sexpot clothing store Abercrombie & Fitch is shelling out $10 million to build a new emergency room and trauma center at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Now a group is speaking out against the idea of prominently naming the kids' ER after the store, which the hospital has been hinting at in announcements. The reason the hospital is called "Nationwide Children's Hospital" is because Nationwide Insurance gave it $50 million. Up next: the Budweiser End Zone Birthing Center, and then the American Apparel Teenaged Pregnancy Wing.
More »
Would You Take Your (Really Hot) Kid To The Abercrombie & Fitch Emergency Department And Trauma Center?
The once-popular—surely it isn't still?—teenaged sexpot clothing store Abercrombie & Fitch is shelling out $10 million to build a new emergency room and trauma center at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Now a group is speaking out against the idea of prominently naming the kids' ER after the store, which the hospital has been hinting at in announcements. The reason the hospital is called "Nationwide Children's Hospital" is because Nationwide Insurance gave it $50 million. Up next: the Budweiser End Zone Birthing Center, and then the American Apparel Teenaged Pregnancy Wing.
More »
how to
Lisa made her kids impervious to advertising by asking pointed questions that forced them to think about the source and truthfulness of ads. She knew action was needed when when her kids, who weren't old enough to read, stopped in front of the bleach while shopping to ask the advertiser's dream question: "Mom, aren't we going to buy some Clorox?" Hit the jump to see how she responded.
More »
Inoculate Kids Against Advertising
Lisa made her kids impervious to advertising by asking pointed questions that forced them to think about the source and truthfulness of ads. She knew action was needed when when her kids, who weren't old enough to read, stopped in front of the bleach while shopping to ask the advertiser's dream question: "Mom, aren't we going to buy some Clorox?" Hit the jump to see how she responded.
More »
videos
Worst Promotion Ever Causes Riot In Union Square As Hipsters Fight For Cash-Wrapped Tomatoes
Cash Tomato, a would-be YouTube! competitor, tried to drum up free advertising by handing out tomatoes wrapped with wads of cash in New York's Union Square. The event was scheduled to kick-off yesterday at 2:29 p.m. to honor the leap year with giveaways of up to $29. Predictably, a riot ensued as a mob of over 100 overwhelmed the three workers dressed as tomatoes who were holding the cash. Video of the riot, after the jump. More »
badvertising
Discover The Fairsley Difference!
This fake ad-battle from "Mr. Show"—a big city supermarket chain squares off against a naïve local grocer—perfectly captures a certain type of aggressive, scorched-earth advertising style usually reserved for political campaigns.
badvertising
Just got this PR spam in my inbox. I can't wait to not buy this godawful ring. I just love the body copy. I think my favorite part is where they say that the fact the ring is only sold over the internet further enhances its uniqueness.
Special Ring Sold Only Online, Wowie Zowie!
Just got this PR spam in my inbox. I can't wait to not buy this godawful ring. I just love the body copy. I think my favorite part is where they say that the fact the ring is only sold over the internet further enhances its uniqueness.CODE ROYAL is the first jewel brand worldwide that combines a costly engraved white agate with a rose golden frame (massive) in 18 carat. White is the color of purity and innocence, of the unbroken light and the absolute truth. What accentuates the color white in a more beautiful way than the deeply symbolic agate gemstone?More »
funny
Stephen Colbert Weighs In On McDonald's Sponsored Report Cards
Stephen Colbert interviewed Susan Pagan, a mother offended by McDonalds' sponsorship of her daughter's elementary school report card, for his segment "People Destroying America." More »
badvertising
Congress Asks Pfizer: Why Did You Have A Stunt Double Row For Dr. Jarvik ?
Congress has been asking some tough questions while wearing their serious faces about why Dr. Robert Jarvik (inventor of the Jarvik artificial heart) is shilling Lipitor when he's not actually licensed to practice medicine. More »
badvertising
Salesgenie.com President Apologizes For Offensive SuperBowl Commercials
Salesgenie.com president Vinod Gupta has apologized for two offensive SuperBowl ads featuring animated pandas that spoke with painfully stereotypical "Chinese" accents and an "animated salesman named Ramesh who speaks with an Indian or other South Asian accent.":"We never thought anyone would be offended," said Mr. Gupta, who developed and wrote both commercials himself.More »
stupid
