Irritating Commercials

I don't watch many commercials. As a rule, I either mute the TV when they come on (in the rare instance where I am watching live TV) or I brush right past them. Heck, I even pay another $3/month to get the Hulu with no commercials. (Best money EVER spent.)

But on occasion I will see a commercial here or there that just make me wonder, and some of them have inspired this post.

Now before you say - They're just commercials, it's not serious - you're right. It's not serious. But it DOES make me NOT want to use their products, which I think is kind of the opposite effect you want when spending dollars and dollars on a TV commercial. Just a hunch.

* Dominos Pizza - Order online instead of calling us

This is an "oldie" that came out a while ago, but when I was thinking about this topic it immediately came to mind. For those who didn't see it, the gist was - the Dominos employee says that instead of calling them to order a pizza, you should do it online. Because basically, their people are either too dumb or too lazy or whatever to get your order right, so just email us.

AHEM.

What marketing person gave this the A-OK? You mean NO ONE in that presentation raised their little paw in the air and said, "Uh guys? Maybe we shouldn't be telling our customers that we're inept and can't get their order right?" It really threw me for a loop, so much so that I actually REWOUND the live TV and watched it again, thinking I couldn't possibly have heard it correctly.

I would guess that what they were going for was the message that you can order online, it's easy, you can make sure you get what you want, etc. But they totally missed the mark.

Pro tip - When advertising your company, it's best to inspire confidence about your brand, not tell people you're not bright enough to take a pizza order over the phone.

* Any car commercial over Christmas

I should have put this first, because this is my #1 "GOOD GRIEF, Charlie Brown" commercial.

You see it all holiday season. Nearly every car company does it. The "story" lines vary but the general idea is - man surprises his lady with a brand new Lexus or Mercedes or Range Rover, complete with giant red bow. They embrace, then run to the car to take a spin around the neighborhood.

Now, I think we all have lists of "If I had the money, I would do such-and-such." Bucket list purchases, if you will.

But I can 100% guarantee you, right here and now - I don't care how much money we had, if my husband surprised me on Christmas morning with a Lexus, we would NOT be smooching on the front lawn.

With me, it could go one of two ways (neither of which would be good, by the way):

"Gee honey...thank you for spending $50,000 of OUR MONEY and not talking to me about it!"

OR

"Gee, honey....thanks for taking out a loan and not talking to me about it!"

Mr. Lexus would go right back to the dealership, big red bow and all.

* Cable and Internet for the Grandkids (I think it's XFinity)

This commercial is a recent one this year, and oh boy is it a doozy.

Let me set the stage for you. The grandparents are home, preparing for their holiday guests and are reading Granddaughter's tweet about going to her grandparent's house for the holidays. The little cherub is just beside herself because it's SO BORING at their place since they don't have internet, and how is she ever going to survive?!

So what do Granny and Gramps do? Why, they call their local telecommunications provider and hook up a sweet cable and internet package! Because the right way to reward a snarky, nasty grandkid is by giving into them, right?

OH MY WORD. That would not fly in my house.

First - you do not talk trash about your grandparents. Period the end. Your grandparents, if they're anything like the great ones I have, have poured into your with their time AND money over the years, and they adore you. The last need they need is your entitled hiney giving them hassle about the internet.

Second - why are the grandparents giving into this little monster? I get it, they want her to be happy.....fine. But what will she throw a fit about next? Not getting a $400 purse as a Christmas gift? Where does the insanity end?! (Oh and designer purse marketers, if you take that last part as an idea for Christmas Ad 2017...you're welcome. That little gem is all yours.)

Again, I know it's not meant to be serious, they're trying to sell TV and internet packages. And I get the idea behind it - you'll have guests around, and they might want to surf the internet or watch TV while at your house so time to load up the offerings. I get it. But come on, guys. What a ridiculous commercial.

So what about you? What commercials are your least favorite? Share with the class!