ADVERTISING HAS BECOME A WORLDWIDE OBSESSION, IT IS EVERYWHERE AND POORLY REGULATED
Have you noticed how "FREE" no longer means free? For example FREEVIEW, costs £145.50 per year (£49 for black & white) just over £12 per month and all to subsidize one broadcaster, the BBC.
1. Disinfectants - One company plays on maternal fears and claims to kill 99.9% of all household germs. We should thank them for giving us children with weak immune systems..
2. Toothpastes - At least two toothpaste manufacturers play on our fears by trying to convince us that unless we buy their product, all our teeth will fall out. They use actors who are made to look and act like proffesional dental practitioners giving us "essential advice". Cleverly at least one manufacturer has capitalised on the governments 5 a day program by now telling us that the acids in fruits etc.erode our teeth and that their product is the only remedy.
3. Broadband/phone providers - This works by trying to convince you that you can get their services at a bargain price while neglecting to mention (except in small print) that you also have to pay a "line rental" which can, in some cases, triple the price. Why can't they simply tell you the full amount (service + line rental) up front? This is made worse when you realise that the government proposed abolishing line rental some years ago. They also use the "up too" max speed ruse to avoid committing themselves to providing a specific level of service.
4. Don't even get me started on insurance, litgation and compensation (PPI, injury etc.) ads. Even banks are now trying to re-paint themselves as good guys while still giving us nothing and taking as much as they can.
5. Britain has become a nation of gamblers with so many lotteries it makes your head swim, not to mention the many online opportunities to lose your money, all widely advertised. The lotteries of course are a government cop-out, lottery money now pays for many things previously funded by government money, there's even a health lottery.
6. Charities seem to think that us brits have money to burn judging from the increase in requests and flood of charity bags coming through our doors, Of course thier ads play on our guilt, invariably showing us image after image of sick children or animals.
7. Have you noticed that when insurance companies send a renewal letter it is always more expensive. This is because insurance companies know that most people simply renew because it's easier. However, you will always get a far better deal by shopping around again and getting your insurance elsewhere rather than renewing. Doing this can even get you a far better deal with your existing company, wierd huh. All because companies no longer reward loyalty, they are only interested in aquiring new customers so it pays to pose as one at renewal time.
There are no depths that advertisers won't sink too, to sell product.