A couple commercial rants

6 years ago

I know I have brought dumb commercials up before, but really, some of these are a joke, not in a good way. There is an ad out for something called the worlds greatest cooking pot, or something similar. Its basically a pot that comes with a removable, rotating strainer in it. It looks ridiculous. I have a Bialetti pasta pot that does great and doesn't require fiddling. And its pink! Anyway, the rant is not about the product, but about the commercial. In it, a woman declares "I am a working single mother, and this pot is a LIFE SAVER!"

Really? A life saver? how? How will this pot save your life? Oh, OH I get it, you mean its like a time saver, or something, or makes your life easier. How? How does having a pot with a removable strainer in it make your life easier than having a pot and a strainer? You still have to wash both. What does your status as a working single mother have to do with a pot? Does it provide more income for your family? Babysit? Help with Homework? I know I am being dumb, but its a dumb selling point. I know that this is typical for these gimmicky type of products and infomercials. But I would think they would see what a joke they are by now. I mean, if you like it,great,but its not a "life saver." Its a pot. Calm down.

The next rant: Everyday stuff being touted as the perfect Christmas Gift. I saw a commercial late last night for Flex Seal. Apparently Flex Seal is now the perfect gift for your loved ones. They even have it in a "gift set" to make it more festive. Yes, That's just what I want for Christmas. Flex Seal.

I see it in stores too. Gift sets of everyday things. Shampoo and Conditioner, toothbrushes, etc. What's next, motor oil? Mulch? Toilet Paper? I know this is the season for such foolishness, and commercialism in and of itself doesn't faze me because I am going to buy what i want regardless of season,but really.....FLEX SEAL????? AS A GIFT????? A bit of a stretch, no?

Ok, I am done. Back to my annual Scrooge movie binge....

Featured Answer

matthias_lang

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Not everyone buys what they want regardless of the season. For those of us who are more toward the lower end of the income rage, practical items for Christmas can still be special. I'm not sure what flex seal is, but assume it is some kind of glue product that ends up flexible. If I could use something like that to glue up the heat crack in my car's visor and make it look better, or maybe to seal up the sole of my shoe that somehow sucks up a little water, I'd be pleased.

As a gardener, mulch would make me super happy. Really!

I think for some, especially teenagers, a gift of name brand shampoo and conditioner could be appreciated. If a kid is from a family who gets by with "generic" toiletries most of the time, or maybe even has to skip the conditioner or make do with handsoap or dish detergent, then I think that shampoo and conditioner set might feel pretty special.

This reminds me of having read that during World War II, the most common Christmas gift in England was simply soap. I imagine those soap gifts were mostly given at some sacrifice, too

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Comments (34)

cooper8828
6 years ago
LOL I did ask for mulch for Christmas. I don't think I'm getting it though. :)
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amylou321
Original Author
6 years ago
I did too! Definitely not getting it. Maybe if it came in a "gift set" we would have a better shot???
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Iris S (SC, Zone 7b)
6 years ago
I also have to look up Flex Seal. I mostly watch everything recorded so I speed through commercials. Slowed down at the Hobby Lobby one with the sheep though :) Add me to be another one very happy to find 12 yards of mulch under the tree. Not going to happen, but all I need.
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breenthumb
6 years ago
Speaking of soap, DD recently took donations into one of the very inner city ministries. She said one of the men huddled outside snatched a bar of soap right out of the box saying "soap! I can use that for leverage." Said it broke her heart to see the elderly men out there like that.
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matti5
6 years ago
lol I guess I'm foolish as I bought Flex Seal to put in DH's xmas stocking last year. It's really a great product and he's getting the tape this year. I also buy mini bottles of shampoo/conditioner/soaps to put in my DS and DIL's stockings as they travel frequently, plus other useful, fun and yummy items.
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amylou321
Original Author
6 years ago
Really matti? We have tried flex seal in its different forms for different things and we were NOT impressed with it. At all.

Maybe I am the foolish one. Here I am looking for nice gifts and i could get away with wrapping up a box of band aids and some duct tape.....

Learn something new every day.
Kathsgrdn
6 years ago
Every time someone asks me what I want for Christmas, composted cow manure is on the list. I never get any. I'm glad I don't have television anymore.
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jemdandy
6 years ago
And then there is duct tape. Can't figure out what to give your guy? Give duct tape. If your friend is a lady who lives alone, give her duct tape. She can use it to hold stuff together until a real repair can be made. Its a real stuck up.

Another one: I saw a T-shirt emblazoned with the words, "Manure Happens".
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desertsteph
6 years ago
I bought my sister duct tape one yr - Christmas or BD don't remember which (plus something else). several rolls in a set, each a different color. She is very color co-ordinated - always. My sister usually gives me pens, markers and other numerous things like that - that I always lose and forget to buy for myself, plus something nice and fun.
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laceyvail 6A, WV
6 years ago
Another one glad not to have a TV. Never have owned one.
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rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
6 years ago
You don't get it, Amy. Gifts of legitimate usefulness to the givee are always welcomed with joy. I can't tell you the number of times that I've been given gardening supplies and have been happy as can be.

Speaking of band-aids (I know that you were just reaching for a laff.) my dear husband bought me a versatile collection last year. They were welcomed with laughter, as I had just picked up an art form set aside many years ago and had reentered it with enthusiasm. My first wood carving projects, taken on with much gusto, required plenty of good, flexible band-aids, lol. It took awhile for my fingers to relearn this gentle art that happens to require very sharp tools.
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littlebug zone 5 Missouri
6 years ago
Oh, you are my people!! I would be overjoyed to find bags of mulch or composted cow manure under my tree!!! They wouldn’t even have to be wrapped.
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roxanna7
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
LOL, littlebug -- imagining trying to wrap composted manure is a great giggle!
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User
6 years ago
I love practical gifts. I also love to give practical gifts. I'd love a gift of mulch or manure for my flowerbeds. I asked for a leaf blower for Christmas. I'll probably get it since dh thought it was a funny request.
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User
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Or something really special....BAT GUANO! Now that's a gift! giggle I would NEVER spend $12 for a handful of dirt. What you wouldn't buy for yourself...but you WOULD use....right!
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chisue
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Oh, so now Flex Seal is a TAPE? I thought it was a pressure cooker. (Remember that I am very old.)

I'm annoyed at the blink-of-an-eye TV commercials that run in a stream without pause. This is the same 'too fast to comprehend' timing that has been banned in children's TV programming -- because it interferes with the brain's ability to function, even hours later! Have a little STRESS, compliments of these ads.
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crazybrunette64
6 years ago
Maybe the irritation is more that it is touted as the 'greatest gift ever' and 'life-changing' - not the fact that some people might appreciate it. it did not take my dad long to learn that appliances/gadgets were not appreciated by my mom as gifts - lol. They were born in the late '30s and came from families that lived very simply, not much money, but that did not increase the appeal of a new cleaning/cooking/working gadget.
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raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
6 years ago
RE: single working mother -- I had complained about dog poop left in my yard again, which I had discovered by stepping in it -- again -- on my neighborhood's page. One of the people who responded trotted out the "poor working single mother too tired" to pick up her dog's poop excuse, on behalf of whoever might have been at fault. My response was that I WAS a poor tired stressed single parent for 16 years and resented having to make the time and effort to pick up someone else's poop from my yard!

No, that pot doesn't seem like a time saver, and a waste of $ to boot. But I can imagine that my mother would have seen the ad and bought it for me!

RE: duct tape as a gift. Well, it was meant as a gag gift, but once I got local university logo duct tape for one of my co-workers who is a rabid fan of the team -- and she loved it!
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blfenton
6 years ago
I thought Flex Seal was plastic wrap.

I know that everyone has different comfort levels of spending at Christmas be it for gifts or decorations but some of this advertising of something that might make a great gift is ridiculous.

I've never seen a commercial for manure....I wonder what that would look like.
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Michael
6 years ago
Flex Seal is a perfect leak stopper for mitered gutter joints, HVAC penetrations, outdoor faucet penetrations, seal gaps around HVAC supply and air return ducts, and more.

Unless you're handy or even notice the above items should be sealed you have no need for Flex Seal or similar products. :)

We have the top Brand Kid band aids including the most liked Pokemon, Frozen, Hello Kitty.....you can't go wrong when approaching a grandchild with one of the above. My 7 year old grandson is looking for Rayman featured band aids. I'm not having any luck.
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jerseygirl07603 z6NJ
6 years ago
This is not about a gift but rather a grocery store commercial showing 2 small children, showering themselves with flour, and making snow angels on the kitchen floor in the flour. I don't find this the least bit funny (call me scrooge) and I'm offended on many levels.
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Michele
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Me too jersey girl!! What!? Is that supposed to be cute? I find it totally annoying.

Another commercial that bothers me is the headphone commercial. The dad is successfully blocking out the noise of his child and friends practicing their music. The music the father is playing is Ave Maria. They should have used a different piece to sell their headphones. IMHO
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Michael
6 years ago
Children's Clothing Ad - SNL

Clothing Ad
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Anglophilia
6 years ago
I've asked for mulch for Mother's Day many times - DH used to ask for mulch for Father's Day. Christmas is not a great time to find it locally.

Last year, I asked for a new mailbox and post as I now have house delivery, instead of street delivery. LOVE it!
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chisue
6 years ago
When we bought our first house I answered an ad from a man selling "New, never-used Maytag washer and dryer". I went to look at it and asked why he was selling, as it was *perfect*...and about half retail cost. He sad he had given it to his wife for Christmas, and she was filing for divorce.

I bought the set, and it lasted over 20 years. Now I wonder if that was just a story. This was years before "The Sopranos" taught me about appliances that had 'fallen off a truck'.
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amylou321
Original Author
6 years ago
Crazybrunette64,yes you get it. The rant was about the marketing frenzy in which everything is the perfect gift, not that someone might want it. If flex seal is on your Christmas wish list,great. Maybe flex seal was a bad example, it was just the last ad I saw insisting how wonderful of a gift it would be. I love a practical gift too(come to think of it,almost ALL my gifts are practical,or at least useful, just not everyday things like toothpaste or dish soap) ,but I would be a little confused if I found some of these things that are being lauded as perfect gifts under the tree. And I don't consider charitable donations of everyday items to the homeless or poor a Christmas gift. These companies are not putting out ads and making gift sets of their products trying to help the less fortunate sectors of humanity,they are trying to get their share of the holiday buying frenzy.
matthias_lang
6 years ago
Is this the Flex Seal commercial that annoys you?
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amylou321
Original Author
6 years ago
Yah. That's the one.
matti5
6 years ago
Michael, the SNL Macy's ad is hilarious and so true!
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OutsidePlaying
6 years ago
Amylou, you crack me up! On the other hand, some of the items in your list sound like stuff I might buy for myself for Christmas, especially the mulch, maybe the Flex Seal, and probably a new electric toothbrush and some shampoo. Still laughing with you at the commercials!
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phyllis__mn
6 years ago
Gift cards are great for buying something beyond your everyday purchases. Thinking back, I have used them for Dawn dissolver (huge amount), king crab legs, new wheels for my office chair (new hardwood flooring so old wheels posed a problem!), etc., etc.
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breenthumb
6 years ago
Local radio show just played a game. They would name a "special for Christmas" product and listener would have to guess if it was a real product or made up. They were demonstrating the same annoying Christmas hype.
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Elizabeth
6 years ago
The ads for charities ramp it up this time of year. They are several minutes long with sad tinkling piano music, sad faces, some tears and an emotional woman begging for donations. So overdone.
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A couple commercial rants

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