NETWRK@harvarda.bitnet (Steve Thornton) (12/07/90)
I specifically changed service *from* AT&T because of their stupid, insulting ads. I also change the channel whenever they come on. I don't know exactly what it is about them, but I have a strong visceral reaction against them. Steve
david@mcnc.org (David Link - Lenoir-Rhyne College) (12/10/90)
> I specifically changed service *from* AT&T because of their stupid, > insulting ads. I also change the channel whenever they come on. I > don't know exactly what it is about them, but I have a strong visceral > reaction against them. AMEN. I don't like the AT&T ads. One would think they have something better to do. I asked AT&T to put it in writing and they did not! They said they would, but never did. I asked SPRINT to put it in writing and they gave me a list of the rates the next week. I have NEVER gotten a call from ANY other telephone company asking be to switch. I have AT&T and like the service, but HATE their ads. I am thinking about switching to another company in hopes AT&T will stop the ads. David J. Link UUCP: lrc!david@mcnc.org Lenoir-Rhyne College I make no claims. Hickory, NC 28603 (USA)
john@bovine.ati.com (John Higdon) (12/11/90)
Steve Thornton <NETWRK@harvarda.bitnet> writes: > I specifically changed service *from* AT&T because of their stupid, > insulting ads. I agree that some of AT&T's advertisements (as well as many others, including other LD companies) are stupid and somewhat insulting. But never lose sight of the purpose of advertising: the sale of products. AT&T's agency could probably produce much evidence that these commercials are effective in increasing count and volume for its client. If you allow your emotions over advertisements to override your logical and practical decision-making process, you may deprive yourself of real benefits. As a person who is perhaps closer than most to the world of advertising, I would exhort all and sundry to never allow commercial messages to be the basis for any action concerning contracting or purchasing. This goes for both commercials you may enjoy and those you hate. > I also change the channel whenever they come on. I > don't know exactly what it is about them, but I have a strong visceral > reaction against them. I can accept that. But you don't really believe that your reaction to these spots make AT&T's service bad and wrong do you? Also it is discovered in a good many cases that people hold prejudices for or against a particular company's goods or services. When they see advertisements for those goods or services, the reaction that ensues becomes justification for those preconceived notions. Someone please tell me that readers of the Digest base purchasing decisions on price, service, quality, suitability for intended use, and value and not on what some ad agency produces to brainwash the public. Someone please tell me that. John Higdon | P. O. Box 7648 | +1 408 723 1395 john@bovine.ati.com | San Jose, CA 95150 | M o o !
scott@blueeyes.kines.uiuc.edu (scott) (12/12/90)
In article <15367@accuvax.nwu.edu> John Higdon <john@bovine.ati.com> writes: >Steve Thornton <NETWRK@harvarda.bitnet> writes: >> I specifically changed service *from* AT&T because of their stupid, >> insulting ads. >I agree that some of AT&T's advertisements (as well as many others, >including other LD companies) are stupid and somewhat insulting. >I can accept that. But you don't really believe that your reaction to >these spots make AT&T's service bad and wrong do you? >Also it is discovered in a good many cases that people hold prejudices >for or against a particular company's goods or services. When they see >advertisements for those goods or services, the reaction that ensues >becomes justification for those preconceived notions. >Someone please tell me that readers of the Digest base purchasing >decisions on price, service, quality, suitability for intended use, >and value and not on what some ad agency produces to brainwash the How about this: In the minds of many people, AT&T provides service which is essentially equivalent to MCI and/or Sprint. AT&T costs more than either. AT&T has to resort to insulting advertising to woo customers. Perhaps it's little things like this which "break the camel's back," and provide just enough weight on AT&T's "disadvantages" column to cause people to switch to another LD carrier. As you point out, it would be stupid to base a purchasing decision solely upon the advertising. However, I strongly suspect that nobody intelligent enough to subscribe to this digest would ever do such a thing! ;-) Scott Coleman tmkk@uiuc.edu University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
tony@oha.uucp (Tony Olekshy) (12/15/90)
In message <15367@accuvax.nwu.edu>, john@bovine.ati.com (John Higdon) writes: > Steve Thornton <NETWRK@harvarda.bitnet> writes: > > I specifically changed service *from* AT&T because of their stupid, > > insulting ads. > I agree that some of AT&T's advertisements (as well as many others, > including other LD companies) are stupid and somewhat insulting. But > never lose sight of the purpose of advertising: the sale of products. John then goes on to write a set of items I agree with. Now, on to advertising. I used to complain about it, until a friend with a graphics arts and literature background asked me why I didn't "study" it, instead. After all, this would give me something to do while waiting for the commercials to end. With a little help, I was on my way. The AT&T advertisement campaign of the last two or three years has, as you know, consisted of a series of phased advertisements on particular themes. When the campaign summary spot came out a few months ago, and I saw it for the first time, I was awestruck by the technique: slowly builing a public image, responding to market shifts and competitor's counter-attacks, challenging competitor's counter-claims, and then pulling it all together. You (the reader of this group) know way to much to be softsoaped by these ads, but their *purpose* is *not* to sell more telephony to comp.dcom.telecom readers. I doubt that any other LD ad campaign is as familiar to the average USA consumer. The ad campaign, is, IMHO, a candidate for an advertising award. Disclaimer: I tend to watch only PBS and CNN from the USA, except for Letterman, of course. This posting is an amateur's opinion. Yours etc, Tony Olekshy Internet: tony%oha@CS.UAlberta.CA BITNET: tony%oha.uucp@UALTAMTS.BITNET uucp: alberta!oha!tony