What’s up with this deceptive edit in the ShamWow commercial?
marketing
Free Quiznos Subs
By 2.23.09
Quiznos is giving out free sub coupons. All you have to do is give your first name, last name, zip, birthday, and email address for their marketing database and tell them what your favorite sub is. Once the email arrives in your box, it will be equipped with some kind of send-to-a-friend function so they can also exchange their personal information for sandwiches. Order up one for JackB Nimble at mrmixelpixle9292@gmail.com please.
Microsoft "Vista Capable" Lawsuit Won't Be Class Action
By 2.23.09
Last week, a U.S. federal court judge denied class action status to the Microsoft “Vista Capable” lawsuit, on the grounds that “the plaintiffs could not demonstrate that their claims were common to the entire class of consumers who bought computers marked with the ‘Windows Vista Capable’ but without the ‘Premium Ready’ label.”
"Loyal Customer" Backlash Forces Tropicana To Abandon New Packaging
By 2.23.09
The New York Times says that “loyal” Tropicana customers are up in arms about the new packaging, calling it “ugly,” “generic” and claiming that it looks like a store brand. Others say that the packaging makes it difficult to distinguish between the different varieties of orange juice.
By 2.23.09
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I think I figured out why Sprint CEO is always walking around New York, looking in diners, and taking taxis. He’s looking for his lost customers. The black and white is because he’s sad.
How The "Velveteen Rabbit" Company Is Bypassing The Do Not Call List
By 2.20.09
We were wondering how Feature Films For Families, the company that’s randomly calling home lines and cellphones to sell a movie to people who are on the Do Not Call list, was able to get around federal and state telemarketing rules. It turns out they’re hiding behind a non-profit, and non-profits are exempt from following the Do Not Call list. Something similar happened in 2006 between Feature Films For Families and a different non-profit named the Dove Foundation, and the state of Missouri fined them $70,000. It might be time for you to start filing complaints with your state Attorney General and the FTC.
Snuggie Pub Crawl Attacks Chicago, Saturday April 18
By 2.20.09
In that strange hinterland between the awesome and the horrific, there will be a Snuggie pub-crawl in Chicago on Saturday April 18th. People in Snuggies – for the uninitiated, blankets with sleeves – will travel from bar to bar, leaving a trail of slaughtered pints in their wake. It’s strictly BYOS, bring-your-own-Snuggie. All hail The Warm Bringer.
Are Webkinz One Year Subscriptions An Unethical Ploy To Sell More Toys?
By 2.18.09
Reader Christopher bought his daughter a Webkinz stuffed animal — for those of your who are not familiar with these toys — with each animal you receive a code that is good for a one year subscription to a virtual version of the toy. After a year — you need to buy another toy or you lose access to your previous pets. Buying more than one toy per year doesn’t extend your subscription, you have to buy one each year to keep it going. Christopher thinks this is unethical.
This 'Velveteen Rabbit' Teaches You The Triumph Of Love. Also Of Telemarketing.
By 2.18.09
Oh no, someone’s gone and made a terrible looking half-animated, half-live action, religious-on-the-down-low version of this beloved children’s book. That’s bad enough, but then they decided to direct-market it to households by cold calling strangers and offering them a “producer’s guarantee” that if they don’t like it, they can purchase other movies from FamilyTV.com for $4 each. Update: Here’s how the company producing the film is sneaking past the Do Not Call rules.
Why Do These Commercials For Chantix Not Mention The Drug? At All?
By 2.17.09
Our sister publication Consumer Reports Health has posted a new video in their AdWatch series, which examines direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising. This time they’re examining some “stealth” advertising for the quit-smoking drug Chantix.
Amex: "We're Gonna Text Message Your Cellphone And You're Gonna Pay For It"
By 2.17.09
Several readers have pointed out that American Express has made some changes to its contract “in response to the challenging environment” — the most offensive of which seems to be a new clause that gives them the right to call — or text message — any phone you use to contact them including cellphones, for the purposes of offering you American Express products and services.
FDA Forces Pharma Company To Admit That Its Birth Control Pill Isn't Miraculous
By 2.13.09
Bayer, the company that makes the popular birth control pill, Yaz, is being forced to run ads that “correct” some of the claims that it made in commercials touting the pill’s “proven” ability to rid women of acne and PMS. The company settled with the FDA, promising to spend $20 million on the corrections, warning women that they shouldn’t take Yaz hoping to cure their pimples and irritability.
Leaked Document Shows That Pepsi Logo Is Pinnacle Of Human Achievement
By 2.11.09
When Pepsi redesigned their logo, we all just figure that they wanted it to look more like Obama’s. Apparently not. A leaked document shows that actually… the entire history of civilization and the formation of the theory of relativity was just some stuff that lead up to the new Pepsi logo.
Denny's Still Mad Busy After Free Breakfast Promo Ends
By 2.9.09
I went into a Denny’s Sunday and was shocked to see every single seat taken up by customers, from the booths to the counter to this annex room with tables. “Ever since they ran that free Grand Slam thing it’s been like this,” said hostess Krysal. “They’re bringing the business back.” Even after the free day was over last Tueday?
8 Banks Took $153.4 Billion In Tax Payer Money, Spent $845 Million On Naming Rights
By 2.6.09
Should bailout out banks be buying naming rights? Dennis Kucinich doesn’t think so, and last week he urged the Treasury department to cancel one such deal between Citibank and the New York Mets. Now Bloomberg says that seven more bailed out banks are spending money on stadium rights.
Florida AG Examining Cash4Gold Complaints
By 2.5.09
The Florida Attorney General‘s office is looking into nearly 60 complaints they’ve received about Cash4Gold.com. A number of them complain about sending in valuable jewelry and getting pennies back, and then the company not sending their stuff back as promised.
Should Citibank Pay $400 Million To Name A Stadium While Taking Taxpayer Money?
By 2.3.09
The New York Mets are getting a new stadium. It’ll be called Citi Field and that honor cost Citibank (and by extension, one could argue, taxpayers) $400 million.
Consumerist's Super Bowl Ad Liveblog
By 2.2.09
The super fantastic Super Bowl ad liveblog kicks off now! Click this post’s title to go inside…
