People buy things because of ads all the time. Probably you've done it too.
I go out of my way not to buy products advertised to me, but I've definitely fallen to the incessant brain-washing of brand advertising. Probably regular advertising too depending what you include as adverts.
I was surprised speaking to someone the other day, just out and about. They'd purposefully gone out to buy doughnuts they'd seen advertised. Kinda shook me. They seemed happy as Larry about it all though.
The thing that really messed with me recently was when I started thinking deeply about the fact that I’ve been seeing so many Southwest ads about their switch to assigned seating…
I realized that they probably made that whole change, along with all of the ads, because they knew it would spark mild outrage and discussion from people who saw it — they’d discuss if assigned seating is actually better or worse than the previous fist-come-fist-serve system. I can understand either angle but I liked that they were different than other airlines, etc.
But really it’s because they removed the free checked bags that had been their policy forever, now you need to pay like any other airline. Which completely ruins their value prop. But by advertising the seating changes so heavily for months, they make you forget about that part that actually makes a much bigger difference in the experience
Wow - that's a big change, and they seem too savy for it to be coincidence, plus it makes it seem like they're adding something other airlines have taken away. Meanwhile they will make way more as everyone - including the unassigned seat penny pinchers like me - needs to purchase a bag these days.
I too deliberately avoid products from ads, especially ones that annoy me. But I'm under no illusion that ads never work on me, "there's no bad publicity" and all. It takes active effort to avoid defaulting to the options you have already been told about and sometimes you're going to slip up. And since about every company advertises it's not like you really have any other option.
I'm watching March Madness right now, and the Canadian sports network re-broadcasts with their own ads. They show a terrible one featuring a mid female basketball player every. single. break. The only emotions they've raised with me are anger and frustration, but I am well informed that there's a new Google phone out. If I was thinking about buying a new device it would be impossible to not associate that with the new Google Pixel 10a - available now!
I have never once bought a product because of an ad, unless the ad was telling me about something I didn't know existed. Perhaps others are weak-minded enough to do so, but not everyone is.
How do you know? The point of most ads isn't just to get you to make an immediate purchase but to make that brand part of your active memory so you will be more predisposed to choose it when you see it available. There are some ads that don't even mention any specific product at all.
I go out of my way not to buy products advertised to me, but I've definitely fallen to the incessant brain-washing of brand advertising. Probably regular advertising too depending what you include as adverts.
I was surprised speaking to someone the other day, just out and about. They'd purposefully gone out to buy doughnuts they'd seen advertised. Kinda shook me. They seemed happy as Larry about it all though.