Halloween costume advert...no, this is NOT spam

I have purchased one or two things from this company before: Gadgets and Gear. I originally thought this was spam with the subject line reading: "Be a Giant Penis This Halloween!" But it was not. It is funny though.

 

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That's all I got to say about that!
 

Choices...choices

This is from a recent Fry's Electronics sales ad. What's more important, necessary or are both frivolous?

Redbox Scratch Off

This is a pretty neat way to market to people. I texted to a number a particular phrase and I get a text back with a link. I visit the link and what you see in the video is what happens.

I'm easily amused and enjoyed the digital scratch off. It's still a pretty cool but simple way to interact with customers...at least it keeps people (me) involved.

Best advertisement ever

...for men, of course. I've ordered gifts for the wife (is it really for the wife? Hmm...) from Victoria's Secret before so I'm on their email list. I get email ads from them probably every other day but at least twice a week. I usually just delete them since I'm not looking for anything to purchase from them at this time. I opened today's email and was wonderfully surprised by the image you see (click it to view in all it's wonderfulness.

Does it make me want to purchase whatever it is they are selling (as I didn't even read it to see what they were promoting)? Somewhat, yes, it does. Does it make me just want to stare at my computer screen gawking at this image? Yes, yes it does! However, I cannot since I'm at work.

Bummer for me!

I really don't want the product but what is wearing the product...or is it what the product is wearing?

Anyway, it's definitely eye-catching.

Email deals from TigerDirect

I am on the email listserv for TigerDirect. The above image is from their latest email blast. I can't say that I've ever purchased anything from the TigerDirect sales email. I may have purchased something from TigerDirect.com in the past which is probably why I'm on the email list.

I don't understand why they would put an item in their sale email blast that is ALREADY sold out. What the hell is the point? Are they trying to show that they are that good at deals and the products sell out quickly? I just don't get it.

I'm not a marketing professional and I certainly wasn't a marketing major but I really don't think there is a need or a good reason to place an item in a sales email blast that is not available.

And just so you're sure, the email does not reflect real-time. So if the product sold out after the email was sent, it would not have reflected the sell out.

Anyway, just thought I'd say something about the stupidity!

New advertisements in Yahoo?

Is this the new way that Yahoo is advertising in its email? I don't know if they decided to minimize their ads like Google does or what. I noticed it first in the Yahoo app on my Samsung SIII about a week ago—I think it was after a Yahoo app upgrade. I then noticed it on my computer via the browsers.
 

 
If they wanted to be like Google, they need to move the ad a few lines above the emails list. Google at least separates the emails and ad by a couple of lines.

Anyway, this is just me sharing my powers of perception.

Blockbuster really needs help

Blockbuster should seriously reconsider their marketing plan and business model. If they want to survive, Blockbuster is going to have to come up with something WAY better than this!

Why would I want to rent three movies to get ANYTHING at a Blockbuster store for free? The popcorn, candy and/or Coke have usually been around the store for a while that's why they are "giving them away for free." But they already make their money off of you by making you pay $1.99-$3.99 for each of the three rented movies.

I guess that's smart business if you can get the stupid customer to do it. I'm not a stupid customer and no one else should be either!

If you haven't read any of my other Blockbuster rants, I am a Blockbuster Total Access Plan member. So, I don't speak from inexperience or from an outsider looking in. I have a pretty good grandfathered deal with my Total Access Plan but the moment they increase it or get rid of it, I will no longer rent movies from Blockbuster.

I've recently used Red Box a few times and although it has to be watched within 24 hours, I think $1.20 (total with tax) isn't a bad deal—especially back in the day when there was a dollar movie theater. I also got a free movie rental for signing up and after my initial rental. Then I got a free online credit for one movie. Basically I've watched seven movies from Red Box for the price of four. Granted they don't have a lot of new releases and sometimes I have to find the movie I want at different Red Box locations but overall it's not been too bad.

Outbeak Steakhouse ad on Facebook

Saw a Facebook status for Outback Steakhouse mentioning they brought back their special of Sirloin and Lobster Tail (see image).

I don't find the image very appealing. Both the sirloin steak and lobster tail look dry to me. I don't know if this is a "low-calorie" meal but it definitely looks low appetizing from the image. Where's the dripping butter from the lobster tail or the succulent juice from the steak. I honestly saw this image and thought, "I'm gonna have to drink a lot of water/soda to help wash that meal down."

Now, I haven't tried the meal and I probably won't get around to ever doing so. I'm just making my observations from the image alone and if the image doesn't make my mouth water, I don't think it will get me in the doors to an Outback Steakhouse! It's common sense marketing—it needs to make the potential customer WANT to go eat this meal now! This image and advertisement did not do it for me.

Groupon advertising

I'd have to say this is a pretty good advertisement for boob enhancements...err...skydiving.

It doesn't make me want to purchase the Groupon or go skydiving but it does make me think the boobs!

Wear It. Mount It. Love It.

What do those six words sound like they are describing?

Yeah, that's where my gutter mind took me as well. Who's mind wouldn't think of that?

It's actually the slogan from this week's Best Buy Weekly Deals ad describing the GOPRO.

Random...I know.

A few Mother's Day gift suggestions from Buy.com

I'm on the email list for Buy.com's daily/weekly/specialty deal notifications. Today's specialty notification was for the upcoming Mother's Day. The subject title was "Gifts for Mom..." I don't think Buy.com is making too many friends with this particular email...at least I wouldn't if I were a mother.

The first gift is this:

Wouldn't you know that this is the top choice of your dear old mother or even your wife, mother of your children? It subtly says, "Get your ass in the kitchen where you belong and fix my dinner...bitch!"

Let's move on to exhibit number 2:

Once again, a stellar choice for Mother. It says, "After you fix my dinner, get your ass in there and clean the place up...bitch!"

And finally, if you truly want spend your days in the doghouse, exhibit number 3 will complete the task for you:

The bestest gift of them all that says, "You're fat, fucking exercise and lose some weight. You're an embarrassment!"

All loving gifts to spend your hard-earned money on.

Side note: Don't get me wrong. I shop at Buy.com often. They have many good deals and I have never had any issues with the shopping and buying experience. I'm merely commenting on the funny ways marketing is done.

Speaking of advertisements

I am a Buy.com customer. When they have them, they have some of the best deals. I think most of the prices are pretty good deals but I'm cost-conscious and I compare prices through multiple mediums such as online store, driving to the brick-and-mortar store, eBay, etc. However this is not about that.

I get daily email "deals" from Buy.com and I always browse through them to see what they are. Today, like other days, the specials on lingerie caught my eye. What, I like women in sexy lingerie. Shoot me! Sadly, sometimes, I think that many women probably look better clothed than not. And I'm talking all sizes of women. I've seen some thin, or skinny, or even athletic bodied women that look 100% better in clothing, whether it be gym clothes, business clothes, or lingerie. Of course, EVERYONE looks great in the dark! Anyway...

Here is the link to the lingerie (and models) that kind of crack me up. They are all stunning but they're like eunuchs with the way some of them have had their nipples airbrushed out of the photo.

It's just weird.

Walgreen's email ads are sometimes weird

I've written a few times or more about the power or powerlessness of advertising and product placement. I received this advertisement in an email because I'm on their email listserv as a willing participant from Walgreens. I just thought it was funny on the mix of the products they put in this ad.

I would like to think they had some kind of theme for the email blast but I'm not totally sure. I was thinking it was about summer, the beach and the like. I guess it follows that theme...sort of. You got your sun care products, your sunglasses, baby and children toys and then...what? Sexual wellness? I guess that could be a summer beachy thing.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 at GameStop

I get an email from GameStop since I'm a PowerUp Rewards member stating I am privy to a "deal" for COD:MW3. I click on the link and the screen capture below is the landing page I am directed to.

It's a rockin' poster but really? I don't know about you but this is not a "deal" to me. You get an exclusive poster? Really? That's their big selling point for pre-ordering through GameStop? Oh yeah, "and a chance for future MW3 exclusives." Oooooooooo.

Give me half off the price. Give me $20 off. Give me something respectable but don't insult me by saying I can get an exclusive poster.

I guess they may be mad at me since I haven't purchased anything from them in a while.

Victoria's Secret, Shantel VanSanten, Laura Vandervoort

Nothing really of substance to type. I was catching up on some email and TiVoed shows which made me think about writing about what I've read/seen. So...

The following is an ad that I got in my Yahoo email. I don't subscribe to Victoria's Secret. I have purchased a gift certificate in the local store in the past. Why I received it, I don't know but I wasn't and am not complaining. The advertising in this image is so fantastically appealing, and arousing, to me that I would love to purchase this lingerie for my wife.

Smallville is on its 10^th and final season. I'm a big fan of Superman and this series had a lot of potential. The writers, producers and whoever just wrote too many tangents and never got to Clark Kent's potential of Superman soon enough or at all. I mean I know they wanted to see his growth and shit but to not have Clark know how to fly for ten seasons is just pure stupidity! I kept thinking the friends and fellow super heroes that knew Clark's secret would start chanting, "Think happy tawts! Like budderflies and berfdays!" Anyway, they've had some really hot girls star/guest star on this show. One of them that perked my interest was Kara, Kal-el's cousin and fellow Krypton destruction survivor played by Laura Vandervoort. She's aged somewhat since her first appearance (I think it maybe she lost some weight and looks more sunken in the face) but she's still freaking hot.

I also watch One Tree Hill (it's the teenage girl in me secretly coming out in my male adulthood) but I am tiring of this series too. I find that it has become too much like the lame revamping of 90210. They added a character a couple of seasons ago by the name of Quinn, played by Shantel VanSanten, who is Haley's older sister. They've gone off on some wild stories and stretches of the imagination with the story line but Quinn is still hot.

Why would I subscribe to my local paper...online or paper?

I get the Dallas News through my Google Reader. I don't always click on the headlines to read them but occasionally a story does catch my interest.

I guess it's been a while since I have clicked on a story because today I saw this page after clicking on the "Read the rest of the story" link on the article page.

I'm already a registered member online from years ago but now they want to charge me for content. I didn't read everything but I figure they want me to subscribe to the physical paper and they'll include the online content. Again, I'm not sure but at just a glance that's what I prefer to assume.

I would not pay for information that I can get for free somewhere else.

More on product placement...subliminal advertising...good marketing?

I got an advertisement in the mail today. It wasn't even addressed to me or my wife but after seeing it I had the urge to suddenly purchase a product from the company that sent it, Victoria's Secret. Sometimes I wonder how the hell ANYTHING got purchased with the marketing and advertising of the "olden" days.

Subliminal advertising

I previously blogged about product placement here.

Today, I received an email from CompUSA regarding some advertised deals. I captured just the top portion of the email. Before I present the capture, I ask you to think about a question or two before viewing:

• What is the type of customer/person that pops into mind when you think of CompUSA?
• If there is something that would influence your decision to purchase a product, what would it be?

Okay, so view the capture. Does anything about the ad/graphic/image entice you, influence you, make you think of something other than the product(s)? Is there no effect on you? Are they advertising to your expected customer type?

How effective is product placement?

I don't know. How do you/can you effectively track such a thing? I really don't think they have a sure fire way at this time.

I recently saw some article that said Apple won the award (imaginary, I think) for most product placement in movies, TV shows, and the like.

That's great but does it really make people want to get an iPod, iPad or Mac for themselves just because they saw it in a movie? It's just not trackable. Now, if they had a product that was specifically made for that movie or had something that made it unique because of the movie (something like the U2 iPod even though I don't recall it was in a movie but you get my point, I hope), then maybe it could be tracked.

I'm not saying this isn't a viable marketing tool. I'm just curious on if they take the time to track something like this.

What made me type this is different kind of product placement. The product placement is obviously positioned strategically for certain potential customers but I'd like to know if it really works. I would think somewhat because I'm a male and I know how we think (you'll see the correlation when you see the advertising product placement).

Click here to see the first image. Enticing? Yes. Are you aware of the product that's being advertised? Maybe. Are you thinking about the product that's being advertised? Males = Not really, Females = Maybe. If you know what the product being advertised is, are you interested in buying it? Males = Maybe but probably not for the real reason of liking the product. Females = Who knows?

Click here to see the second image. Enticing? Yes, especially to males. Are you aware of the product that's being advertised? Males/Females = Wha...can almost see boobs. Are you interested in buying the product being advertised? Males = Still can almost see boob, Females = No, because the close up of the actual product was a better view of the product.

I don't remember where I saw this link but product these photos are trying to sell can be found here while it lasts.

So, which is better for sales: product placement in movies/shows or product placement on an attractive model? We may never know.

That's Mr. Frugal to you!

I'm a price snob. I admit it. I prefer to get something good, or even great, for a good, reasonable price. I don't want to overpay but I also don't mind paying slightly more for higher quality. That being said, I can't really justify spending the kind of money retailers want for cologne. I'm sure perfume for women is just as bad but I'm not a woman and I don't use their products...all the time...just kidding.

My guy friends think I'm queer for searching for the best price of the cologne I like online. I've come across some strange sites: some have prices way too low to be true—and possibly not a trustworthy site, while others have prices way too high—if it's more online for the product + s/h or not a large enough discount then I'd much rather get it today at the local store than wait.

In my infinite search for the best price, I've come across FragranceNet and FragranceShop. The websites look frighteningly similar but I'd assume they are different companies because of the many price differences I have come across between the two. Maybe they are the same entity and they have found that some people aren't as diligent as Absent-Minded Jay so they will not find the price difference.

For instance, Dolce & Gabbana 4.2oz spray is $64.19 on "Net" and $56.45 on "Shop." The 4.2 oz tester spray is $55.19 and $52..95, respectively.

A quick side on the not of the "regular spray" and a "tester spray." I'm not sure I'm educated enough in the Eau-de-toilette field to know what the difference between the two are. In the image below, they look pretty much identical to me. The tester looks more like pee than the other but that could be just from the lighting or the closer shot of the bottle. And why is there such a price difference. I mean on FragranceNet it is $9 but on FragranceShop it is merely $5.50. I just don't understand. Someone enlighten me.

My other issue is the price of one of the scents that I really like, although I think I'm losing interest in it...and not just because of the pricing issue. I don't think the scent sticks around long enough compared to how much I initially spritzed with. See the screen capture from FragranceNet.

Yep, that's Creed Green Irish Tweed on FragranceNet...or on FragranceShop. Respectively, it costs $188.19 and $131.95. This is one of the price differences I was mentioning. That's about a $56 difference. Why would I purchase from Net over Shop?

So, that is today's dilemma. It really isn't. I'm probably not going to purchase any cologne, online or otherwise, until I get a chance to run to Dillard's or some place like that locally to infect my nasal palette with different scents to increase my selectivity of those I might get.

Cologne (perfume) is a crazy expensive purchase. I can find a plethora of other uses for my $188 or even $65.

Decisions...decisions...