C'mon February!

At the risk of offending my dear grandmother in heaven who frequently warned me against wishing my life away, I'm ready for February 1. In fact, it can't get here soon enough.

It's not just that the political ads and phone calls and mailings will stop although that's part of it. We had four messages on the machine the other evening and we were only gone a few hours. I'd like to think people don't make their decision based on a recorded message they hear over the phone but apparently that's not the case or the politicians wouldn't keep calling. We've already voted but that doesn't stop the calls.

There's another reason though. I'm hoping those stupid screaming commercials that J.C.Penneys is currently airing will disappear when their new pricing policy goes into effect on February 1. Apparently they're taking a page out of Walmart's book and offering discounted prices everyday although you'd never figure that out from the commercials. It's just one person after another screaming from the screen. I rarely use the mute button on my remote but it's gotten a workout the last few days.

I know, I know...any commercial that creates a buzz is considered a successful ad campaign, even if the buzz is all complaints but I have to wonder if they aren't alienating a number of potential customers too. I actually discovered a website set up just for complaints about the ads when I went looking for commentary on this advertising strategy and people were threatening to boycott the store and cut up their credit cards. Sounds like the screaming is motivating people...just not in the way they intended.

Surely this type of commercial won't become the norm. But then people probably thought the same thing when the first recorded phone messages started for political races...and look where that got us. I may have to wish beyond February 1.

Comments

[Jude.x]

Oh how I sympathise! :-) Our elections are run differently from yours in the USA and we tend not to get the phone calls - ours are leaflets through the door telling us what a great party they were last time they were in power (total lies from one party!) or what bad things the current party in power are doing - straight into the re-cycling box usually!
What we do get are the annoying adverts - two that immediately spring to mind are for insurance comparison sites; but I make it a rule that I NEVER use any company with an annoying advert. I think I must be an advertising companies worst nightmare because I don't think I've ever bought anything on the strength of seeing it on TV.... :-)
I am taking a greater interest in the presidential race this year because DS2 came back from California to announce that his girlfriend has begun the application for his residential visa! He's helping me understand your system and it seems much more sensible than ours. But I wouldn't enjoy the constant phone calls - how DO they get your number? Just random dialling? It'd drive me nuts! LOL. Jude.x

[MilliD]

Oh, did you hit on 2 hot buttons for me! I can't stand ANY kind of unsolicited phone call so I've devised a system. I bookmarked a screaming metal band radio station on the computer and when those calls come, I crank up the volume and place the phone next to it for at least 1 minute. They usually don't call back!
As for annoying commercials, I can hardly watch any TV show now when it actually airs. I prefer to DVR it so I can skip every single annoying commercial! My sons hardly believe me when I tell them that TV shows used to have MAYBE 2 commercials total! Those were the days! Ahem. Off my soapbox now and I said all that to say I am on the same page with you! lol

[Sandi]

My sister's #1 complaint is the studid Dairy Queen commercials. She wrote them a letter and said she wouldn't buy there because of the ads. They don't care. The JCP commercial reached a new low when it got my husband's negative attention. Negative stuff doesn't help me buy from them that's for sure!

[Suzeyq]

Haven't seen a one of these! However, we mostly use our DVR because we are so busy during the week.