Do commercials that insult the competition actually work?

I've just been wondering if these commercials actually sell the product. Because whenever I see these commercials it doesn't make me want to buy the product at all, in fact it makes me want to buy the other product because it's obvious the product they're trying to sell isn't good enough on it's own and have to resort to dissing the competition.

Another thing I am wondering is are there enough 18 - 25 year old males out there with insecurity issues that continue to buy this stuff to continue these commercials? Because most of the commercials I see that insult the competition use the Mac formula of cool guy > nerd guy. Besides Mac itself the only other company I can remember off the top of my head that does this is Alltel where the cool "good-looking" guy is Alltel and a group of four "nerdy guys" are the other companies. Seriously? That's the best you can come up with.

Of course companies doing this is nothing new, dating back to before 1980 when Coke and Pepsi fought with each other. But at least those commercials were a little better than the one nowadays.

I'll admit I might be a little biased when it comes to Coke and PC, but the Alltel thing still annoys me even though I don't use any of the companies they insult or even Alltel itself.

Anyway, it seems like I've gone off into a bit of a rant, I was wondering whether I should place this here or in the Angry Dome, but it doesn't so much make me angry as it does make me wondering.

So, do these commercials actually work?

Probably. That's why they make them. I remember in gym class all the dudes slather on that nasty smelling Axe spray pomegranate. Don't tell me they hoped for similar results to the ads/commercials. :f6:

Probably. That's why they make them. I remember in gym class all the dudes slather on that nasty smelling Axe spray pomegranate. Don't tell me they hoped for similar results to the ads/commercials. :f6:

My ex actually loves the smell of some of the axe sprays.

This one gave me a good giggle when I saw it in London.

I don't really care either ways, just as long as they are jabs to the competition, and not downright insulting/slandering. In that case it's just amusing.

For commercials like Apple poking fun at PCs, just remember which computer can play more games.

This one gave me a good giggle when I saw it in London.

That is awesome.

brb Whopper

My ex actually loves the smell of some of the axe sprays.

SOME. The ones you see guys putting on are horrible smelling. I actually went and picked out a good smelling axe. I personally like the Phoenix, it smells good IMO.

Probably. That's why they make them. I remember in gym class all the dudes slather on that nasty smelling Axe spray pomegranate. Don't tell me they hoped for similar results to the ads/commercials. :f6:

Ever since that chocolate one came out, my locker room has smelled like it.
I hope whoever is using that graduates soon so i don't have to smell it again >_>

Ever since that chocolate one came out, my locker room has smelled like it.
I hope whoever is using that graduates soon so i don't have to smell it again >_>

Chocolate... deodorant...?

Everything in marketing at this point is meticulously calculated to make you more likely to purchase the product. They've seriously got this down to a science -- that $hitty music that plays in pharmacies such as Walgreens and CVS has been shown through studies to make a shopper more likely to buy. Notice how near the cash register they have stuff like Altoids, gum, candy, and bottled water. That's literally called the "impulse counter" because they're trying to get you to tag on a small purchase that you don't need on impulse. The whole "As Seen On TV" company is about making people buy essentially useless stuff for bloated prices -- and they're doing pretty well for a company that should not be in business.

If attack ads didn't make you likely to buy, they wouldn't use them.

As far as Axe is concerned, I like Instinct (leather smell), and Shock. They both smell a hell lot better than the rest. I only use those two deodorant scents.

They work... to an extent. Too much makes you look like an ass, too little makes you look ignorant to the competition: See '08 American Election.

*Points to every MAC ad*

*Points to every MAC ad*

Yeah, it's been mentioned.

-points to Mac's 8% market share-