February 18, 2005
FOUR FOR FRIDAY
Q1: Which is a bigger waste of time in your life... being stuck in traffic or being placed on hold during telephone calls? Which do you find more annoying?
Q2: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently rejected a petition from a consumer group asking that product placements on TV be clearly labeled as such. The FTC said that the use of products by characters in fictional television shows or contestants on reality TV shows like American Idol or The Apprentice does not constitute an objective claim to the quality of the product being shown on screen. What do you think... have the lines become blurred on this one? Should television shows be barred from using overt product placements, or should they at least be made to disclose these sorts of practices before, during, or after (in the credits) the shows in question?
Q3: With just about every business under the sun now accepting bank check cards and debit cards, do you find that you carry more, less, or the same amount of cash as you did 5 or 10 years ago?
Q4: What's the last song you downloaded from the Internet? If you've never downloaded music, what's the last CD you bought at a store or received as a gift?
Posted by Mikal at February 18, 2005 6:08 AM
Q1: Forget 'road-rage'... 'phone-rage' is where it's at! The bigger waste of time in my life is definitely being made to wait on hold during telephone calls. Thank G-d for speaker phones; otherwise I'd go ballistic. Companies who think they're helping their customers by giving them voice prompted options thru their customer service phone lines are doing little--in my opinion--to show they value us. What I think theyíre saying is thisÖ
ìYou so stupidÖ why are you calling usÖ donít you know that the answer to your question was explained in the small-print of the service agreement, or that itís available by looking at the 150-point FAQ on our poorly-designed website? Stop wasting OUR time. We donít really want to be bother by you right now.î
It's almost gotten to the point where if I'm not able to speak with a live person within one or two minutes, I seriously consider whether I want to do business with the company anymore.
Q2: I think product placements on television have become overbearing. While I'm not in favor of banning them altogether, I would like to see television fess up and be a little more authentic. There was a reality TV show a while back called The Restaurant, which was sponsored in-part by American Express. It was so obvious that the show's producers had taken money from Amex above and beyond what NBC normally would have taken for commercials. The show profiled this joker of a restaurateur named Rocco, and every opportunity to buy something was done so using his Small Business American Express Card, with voice-overs pumped in during the show's editing just so it was absolutely clear that he was using his "American Express for Small Business" card. This, of course, was immediately followed by an American Express commercial. Arrr!
Q3: I carry way less cash now than I did five or 10 years ago. In fact, I think I only carry cash when I travel or when I know that I'll be going out for a meal with a large group of people, where dividing up the check is more of a hassle than anything else when people toss their card into the mix.
Q4: The last two songs I downloaded from the Internet: ìThe Luckiestî by Ben Folds, and "Ah! Leah!" by Donnie Iris (both downloaded on Wednesday evening from iTunes).
(1) My biggest problem is people on hold on their phones in traffic. If someone cuts me off, 9 times out of 10 they'll be on a cell phone. God forbid they should use their directional signals.
(2) Ever since the days of the Texaco Star Theater, TV has been one big product placement, so I don't know why some people are up in arms. Seeing a Coke or a Depends during the course of a show doesn't faze me. The problem isn't the product placement, the problem is viewers not be discerning enough to recognize product placements when thy occur, and to switch channels when they become overbearing.
(3) I don't carry cash simply because I spend it when I have it. Have only credit/debit cards means that I thnk a lot more about purchases, and spend less.
(4) Last album purchased: "Everyone is here" by The Finn Brothers. Last Gift: Mozart Piano Concertos 9 & 18, Leif Ove Andsnes is the soloist.
1. Definitely being on hold. It's a little more acceptable if I'm at work where I'm kind of tethered to my desk anyway and can be getting something done while I'm waiting. It's infuriating when it's personal biz at home, even if I can have the speaker phone on in the kitchen and be making dinner or something while I'm waiting. I hate being confined to just one room.
2. I don't mind product placements, but I do think they should be required to list all sponsors in the credits of the show. I thought they already did this.
3. Almost never carry cash unless I'm traveling somewhere where I'll need to be able to tip a bell hop or pay for a cab.
Hugh's comment about thinking more about the purchases when he is using a credit or debit card is intriguing to me. I've always heard financial advisors say that you "feel the spend" more when you spend actual cash rather than a card. The money goes out right away instead of disappearing from your checking account a day or two later or showing up on your c.c. statement at the end of the month.
4. It was a Laura Love song-- "I Want You Gone" a couple of months ago.
1. Definitely being stuck in traffic. I find it infuriating because I'm just that, stuck. I feel claustrophobicly boxed in, angered because it's going to make me late for an appointment (which is going to throw that person's schedule off), and on and on. In other words, being stuck in traffic doesn't happen in a vacuum; it generally affects someone in addition to myself. If I'm on hold on the phone, as frustrating as it is, I always have the option of hanging up.
2. I agree with Melody and don't mind product placements, and I too think all sponsors should be listed in the show's credits.
3. Definitely carry less cash than I used to, even when I'm traveling. I've always heard the same about carrying less cash because you'll think more about buying something if you're putting the purchase on a credit card. Haven't found that to be the case for me whatsoever. I still buy it, if I want it. I then just pay for it when the bill comes in; either way, I'm spending money.
4. Never downloaded music from the Internet. Last purchase was Ray LaMontagne's "Trouble" CD.
1. Being stuck in traffic is a bigger waste of time, definitely takes more time away of my everyday life... but more annoying is being on hold on a phone call... because the company in the other end can do something about it to give a better service. I also find very annoying to be placed on hold while the other person picks another call (with call waiting), but I digressed.
2. I don't think it's feasible for tv programs to be barred from this. As you said, the line is blurred between showing a realistic setting and subliminal advertisement.
3. I'm definitely carrying less cash. Although when I travel I like to take some cash. Some cities you need to carry cash, specially change, to move around.
4. Haven't updated my music collecton for a while! Last CD I bought was from a local lady (from Bloomington, IN) whose name I can't remember, playing the dulcimer.
1. I'd say being stuck in traffic is a bigger waste of time, since I'm trying to get somewhere. And traffic usually takes longer to get through than a phone call. I don't mind being on hold as long as it's only for a few seconds. If I'm having a conversation with someone and in the middle they get another call and put me on hold too long, I usually hang up. I think it's rude.
2. I remember when movies and tv shows only used generic brands of food or soda. It doesn't affect my decision to buy the brand if it's on a reality TV show or sitcom. I usually don't buy most of the commercial brands on TV anyway. But there should be some kind of explanation for product placement.
3. The same amount. I rarely use a debit card for purchases, only to withdraw from the ATM. I like to use cash because then I can control how much I spend. It's too easy to swipe the card.
4. I downloaded a bunch of love songs from iTunes last week. music is about the only thing I do download.
1. Probably on Hold. I hate going through the three minute spree of "if you are calling about (blank) then press 1, etc" then only to be put on hold because none apply to your call! At least in traffic I can play my music look around and am not stuck with a phone in my ear. However, I guess it could be worse: I can be on hold in traffic!!
2.Product placement is annoying, but I get to chose if I want to watch that show.
3. Here's a question: with debit cards, isn't it annoying when you are in a long line at the supermarket and someone is actually filling out a check!!!!
4. I don't know how to download songs (okay, I'm a little retarded)however, I'm in love with a band called THE KILLERS so I just bought their CD. They are like the CURE meets ECHO AND THE BUNNYMAN, meets OASIS. I love them!
Q1) Hmm. I'll go with being put on hold. At least in traffic I can lick the windows and frighten people.
Q2) You know, I have an ever-growing DVD collection and I find that I watch less and less network/cable television of any kind. I do watch a lot of TV scif-fi, so that avoids any product placement since it's out-of-this-world.
Q3) Less cash. If I have it, it's gone in hours. (Okay, seconds.)
Q4) I have never downloaded music from the internet. I haven't bought a CD in over a year. And the last CD someone gave me was in 1999. I don't like lyrical music, so I don't buy much or listen to much. Singing annoys me greatly. Can't people hum, or learn to play the lute? Geesh.
A1: Being stuck in traffic. Not fun at all!
A2: It's clearly a marketing practice that has steadily evolved over the last 30+ years. I don't believe it's something that will be banned, but might need to be "tempered" in expectation of marketers of products. It should also be dependent upon the type of show it is. Sitcom's are clearly a venue applicable to this form of advertising, but not public education or programs dedicated to a more "historical" nature.
A3: Less cash...more cards (ugh)
A4: Cheryl Wheeler : Unworthy, purchased and downloaded off Apple iTunes. I've not bought a CD in over a year because of being able to purchase and download "selected" music online.
1. Getting stuck on the phone is probably more annoying.
2. I don't watch TV so I'm not sure how bad this problem is. I suppose if there is deliberate product placement, they should put some sort warning/disclaimer somewhere.
3. About the same.
4. I don't remember.
Traffic is a bigger waste of my time, but being on hold annoys me more. Mostly because I use the time in traffic to listen to music (or an audio book / language course), and unwind. Being on hold is just ... sit & wait.
I think making TV shows worry about in-show product placement is going a bit too far. People DO use products... it's not unreasonable to expect the characters in a show to do so as well.
I carry less cash.
Even the economy airport parking lot takes plastic now-a-days.
...um... I dunno.
I think it was for my neighbor... and I don't know what the heck it was. :)
1. Stuck in traffic. When I am put on hold, I just turn on the speakerphone and go about my work.
2. As Hugh said they have been around since the beginning of television, so why the big deal now?
Now, having bogus reporters in the White House briefings and columnists on their payroll is another matter. Maybe they should have a disclaimer ìSome questions were pre-arraigned by White House Staff.î
3. Less cash. The only times that I find I am using cash now is where I canít use my ATM or credit cards. Also cash is still handy when you go out with some friends for dinner, itís a little hard to split up the bill if everyone has credit cards. What do you do, ask the waiter to split the bill up on five different credit cards?
4. I donít down load music and I canít remember the last time I bought a CD. I usually just listen to ìClassic Rock radio stations.
This is a great one for me - being a semi-luddite.
1) I don't own a car, so I guess that would mean being put on hold is the big time waster.
2) With the exception of the Super Bowl, the Oscars, and special events (elections, 9/11, etc), I don't watch TV. It's all pretty pointless and mind-numbing. They don't call it the Great Wasteland for nothing.
3) I have a debit card, but I try to keep that just for online purchases (bills, etc). I probably carry around more cash than I did 10 years ago, because then I was a poor college student. I'm still poor, but I'm employed.
4) They Might Be Giants - Istanbul (Not Constantinople) off of the net, but I just bought The Who's Then and Now 1964 - 2004 (kind of a Greatest Hits thing) at Borders downtown
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