News

Advertising Stupidity

by Buddy 'Friendly' Wachenheimer
Sunday, June 29, 2008. 01:09PM
236 Views 13 Comments

Who is dumber, the client, the agency, the consumer, the lawyers, or the FCC? In case you needed further proof that the human race is doomed through stupidity, here are some ACTUAL label instructions on consumer goods.

On a Sears hairdryer: Do not use while sleeping. (Damn, and that's the only time I have to work on my hair.)

On a bag of Fritos: You could be a winner! No purchase necessary. Details inside. (The shoplifter special?)

On a bar of Dial soap: "Directions: Use like regular soap." (and that would be how???....)

On some Swanson frozen dinners: "Serving suggestion: Defrost." (but, it's "just" a suggestion.)

On Tesco's Tiramisu dessert (printed on bottom): "Do not turn upside down." (well...duh, a bit late, huh!)

On Marks & Spencer Bread Pudding: "Product will be hot after heating." (...and you thought????...)

On Nytol Sleep Aid: "Warning: May cause drowsiness." (and...I'm taking this because???....)

On most brands of Christmas lights: "For indoor or outdoor use only." (as opposed to...what?)

On a Japanese food processor: "Not to be used for the other use." (now, somebody out there, help me on this. I'm a bit curious.)

On Sainsbury's peanuts: "Warning: contains nuts." (talk about a news flash)

On an American Airlines packet of nuts: "Instructions: Open packet, eat nuts." (Step 3: maybe, uh...fly Delta?)

On a child's superman costume: "Wearing of this garment does not enable you to fly." (I don't blame the company. I blame the parents for this one.)

On a Swedish chainsaw: "Do not attempt to stop chain with your hands or genitals." (Oh my! Was there a lot of this happening somewhere?)

Now that you've smiled at least once, it's your turn to share your favorite piece of advertising stupidity below...

(login to vote or comment.)
Monday, August 18, 2008. 01:09PM by Bret Carpenter
making me work....sheesh
Monday, August 18, 2008. 12:21PM by Buddy 'Friendly' Wachenheimer
Bret, part of your message got clipped off. Where is the rest of it?
Monday, August 18, 2008. 08:02AM by Bret Carpenter
How to use brands to gain and sustain competitive advantage Companies today face a dilemma in marketing. The tried-and-true formulas to create sales and market share behind brands are becoming irrelevant and losing traction with consumers. In this book, Gerzema and LeBar offer credible evidence--drawn from a detailed analysis of a decade's worth of brand and financial data using Y&R's Brand Asset Valuator (BAV), the largest database of brands in the world--that business is riding on yet another bubble that is ready to burst--a brand bubble. While most managers still see metrics like trust and awareness as the backbone of how brands are built, Gerzema asserts they're dead wrong--these metrics do not add to increased asset value. In fact, by following them, they actually hasten the declining value of their brands. Using a five-stage model, The Brand Bubble reveals how today's successful brands--and tomorrow's--have an insatiable appetite for creativity and change. These brands offer consumers a palpable sense of movement and direction thanks to a powerful "energized differentiation." Gerzema reveals how brands with energized differentiation achieve better financial performance than traditional brands have. Plus, Gerzema helps readers develop energized differentiation in their own brands, creating consumer-centric and sustainable organizations. John Gerzema (New York, NY) is Chief Strategy Officer for Young & Rubicam Brands. He joined Y&R from Fallon Worldwide, where he created that firm's global expansion strategy. A member of The Council of Foreign Relations, he is the recipient of more than a half-dozen industry awards and has appeared frequently on/in CNBC, Newsweek, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and various industry publications. Ed Lebar (New York, NY) is the CEO of BrandAsset(r) Consulting Group for Young & Rubicam Brands. He oversees the implementation of BrandAsset(r) Valuator, consulting across all lines of business, global accounts, a
Wednesday, August 6, 2008. 07:24AM by Rebecca Wulfeck
One of my favorites is for the car sunshades that you cover your windshield with: "Remove before driving" What idiot got in a wreck because he/she forgot to remove the sunshade??!!??!! LOL
Wednesday, July 9, 2008. 05:58PM by TJ Swafford
"an erection lasting longer than 4 hours"...I dunno about the rest of you...but if I had a 4 hour long erection...I'm ALSO going to be using it to serve bagels to her in the morning...in my SUPERMAN DR.Dentons.
Saturday, July 5, 2008. 02:04PM by Jules Emerson
too funny
Saturday, July 5, 2008. 10:37AM by Christian Messer
Ah the society of stupidity! My favorite there - the hairdryer, Do not use while sleeping" - LOL. Sad but true, People are quite stupid - this is why I don't enjoy the 4th, all the illegal "professional only" type fireworks going off. Lord help us if Johny rocket has to many Coors - boom goes the neighborhood. These labels clearly are a direct affect of such stupidity. Companies have been sued for amazingly idiotic things -ie "McDonlads cause I'm over weight."
Tuesday, July 1, 2008. 12:34PM by John Q Public
Wrong post, right message----sorry a_holes
Tuesday, July 1, 2008. 12:33PM by John Q Public
TRY SAYING: She's an aggressive go-getter. INSTEAD OF: She's a ball-busting bitch, much the same as Sherry, Anneke, and Maggie.
Monday, June 30, 2008. 01:04PM by Richard Track
on a washing detergent : this product is not to be eaten (maybe its to be sniffed)
Monday, June 30, 2008. 09:15AM by Bret Carpenter
No more lawsuits……what are the firms going to do with all that extra time?
Sunday, June 29, 2008. 03:50PM by michael Iva
On Children Cough Medicine: "Do not drive a car or operate machinery after taking this medication." (We could reduce the rate of construction accidents if we could just get those 5-year-olds with head-colds off those forklifts.)
Sunday, June 29, 2008. 01:45PM by John Q Public
On packaging for a Rowenta iron: "Do not iron clothes on body". . . but wouldn't this save me more time?