What's wrong with this commercial

[Danus]

[video=youtube;PbYs9sQz7P0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbYs9sQz7P0[/video]


It's that time again! Time for the barrage of Lexus gifting commercials.

Ah yes, I remember when I first gave my wife a Lexus. I had to be sneaky you know.

I stopped by the Lexus dealer and picked it out. I handed over the $60,000 I'd been saving for 3 months and brought it home. Hiding it was a bit tricky, but luckily I found room on the grounds of my idealistic modest but palatial estate.

She was so surprised that Christmas morning,..........OK STOP! I can't even make this up I'm getting so sick! :verysick Back to the question, what's wrong with this commercial? EVERYTHING!

Who buys a Lexus for someone on Christmas? Nobody!

Well, almost nobody. Turns out the Lexus dealers will in fact order you one of these big bows in case you do want to gift your purchase to your young affluent spouse, but for the most part they simply use them for their showroom cars.

This commercial has been running for years around the Christmas season. It's designed to announce the Lexus sales event, but isn't it saying more? It seems to be saying "I got Mine. Where's your's?".

I look down on the Lexus brand for this commercial. Always have from the moment I first saw it. It doesn't make me want to buy a Lexus. If anything It makes me feel the opposite of what the Lexus brand should be wanting me to feel about their product.

I would not be caught dead in one of these cars. When I see people driving them I can't help but think about this commercial, and I chuckle, especially if the driver appears to be someone who could have been in the commercial.

I could go on and on about this, but what are some thoughts? What's wrong with this commercial? Like it? Hate it? Anyone drive a Lexus? Anyone give or get a Lexus as a gift?

 

[reba]

Could you save up for 3 months again i could sure use the gift? :yes

 

[Danus]

Could you save up for 3 months again i could sure use the gift? :yes

No I could not. My point being though, who could? Very few, but realistically many people could buy a car. However, who would buy a car for someone for Christmas?

Lexus claims to order 500 of these large bow during this sale. They say they have ordered more each year since running this ad campaign.

Look at the ad's. The people are young, affluent, healthy and beautiful. The houses they show are idealistic. The snow men you see are perfectly round. Everything in the ad's are perfect to the standards of "man", nothing is out of place, and Lexus orders 500 bows, each costing an additional $80 for those who want them, and every year they order more.

To pull this off, you have to buy the car, most likely finance it, then find a way to surprise you spouse or whatever. SURPRISE HONEY! ....Wow for me? Yes for you. I knew how you always wanted a Lexus so I decided to pick one out and add a $600 a month payment to our monthly budget without consulting you, because I'm all that just like the ad shows! Are we happy now? .....Who does this?

Well, apparently at least 500 people a year according to Lexus, Since these ads have been running.

 

[Mike]

Danus, why didn't you use the small font?

For whatever reason, Lexus kinda does it for me. It looks like a nice car! Being from Michigan, I'd never by a foreign car, but it's nice. Oh, and there's that finance thing. Darn you budget and national pride! Why won't you let me buy a Lexus!?

Whew! I thought you were going to say you haven't ever bought your wife a Lexus for Christmas!

I always thought they weren't really trying to sell this off as a Christmas gift, but they were just using it to advertize the brand. If it wasn't so outrageous, it could be uncomfortable. This goes with all those necklace commercials. If any of these things were a remote possibility, a fella like me could be guilted into buying one for me' lady. But, since it's so far off, it's funny, no guilt here!

I don't see this as much different than all the other "buy this 'cause & she'll love you" campaigns.

 

[handy]

No, I wouldn't buy, nor have a Lexus...pretty...but not up to the winters around here. I couldn't get it up my driveway. Nor am I into overpriced stuff.

I hear you on the general irritating-ness of the commercial.

I'm not sure if Lee Read Diamonds are nationwide or not, they are big here in Idaho, but they have "gag" commercials as well.

According to them, if you don't buy your wife a honking big, $5000 dollar diamond ring, why you just don't love her, man! Their commercials go on and on and on about how hard a woman works for her man and family, how selfless she is, how she sacrifices any and all of her own personals goals and dreams in order to fulfill YOU, YOU DIRTY SCHMUCK OF A USER MAN...AND THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE IT UP TO HER IS BY BUYING HER A DIAMOND FROM LEE READ!!!!!

Yes. Yes they do lay it on that thick.

Steve...he has better ways of "proving" his love to me than going into debt to buy a "rare" stone that's available in every jewelry store in every shopping mall, in every town in every state and nation of the world. ;)

 

[Danus]

Danus, why didn't you use the small font?

..........

I always thought they weren't really trying to sell this off as a Christmas gift, but they were just using it to advertize the brand. If it wasn't so outrageous, it could be uncomfortable. This goes with all those necklace commercials. If any of these things were a remote possibility, a fella like me could be guilted into buying one for me' lady. But, since it's so far off, it's funny, no guilt here!

I don't see this as much different than all the other "buy this 'cause & she'll love you" campaigns.

Fixed the font. That seems to be the result of a mad copy past at my office. hum

So you see it more as a tongue and cheek thing? I've thought that as well, and it does have the element to it, but it seems more. Granted I only posted one example.

No, I wouldn't buy, nor have a Lexus...pretty...but not up to the winters around here. I couldn't get it up my driveway. Nor am I into overpriced stuff.

I hear you on the general irritating-ness of the commercial.

I'm not sure if Lee Read Diamonds are nationwide or not, they are big here in Idaho, but they have "gag" commercials as well.

According to them, if you don't buy your wife a honking big, $5000 dollar diamond ring, why you just don't love her, man! Their commercials go on and on and on about how hard a woman works for her man and family, how selfless she is, how she sacrifices any and all of her own personals goals and dreams in order to fulfill YOU, YOU DIRTY SCHMUCK OF A USER MAN...AND THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE IT UP TO HER IS BY BUYING HER A DIAMOND FROM LEE READ!!!!!

Yes. Yes they do lay it on that thick.

Steve...he has better ways of "proving" his love to me than going into debt to buy a "rare" stone that's available in every jewelry store in every shopping mall, in every town in every state and nation of the world. ;)

Well, as far as the car itself goes I like it. Let's face it, it's a nice car no doubt, but you see what I mean. For me it's a statement about our consumer culture, and how advertising seems to set the standard. After all, more people are buying this car for Christmas. Why? I think to emulate the image that this commercial is trying to convey.

This is bothering me more and more over the years. Ever hear of a term called "affluenza"?

Affluenza is a painful, contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of more. The bloated, sluggish and unfulfilled feeling that results from efforts to keep up with the Joneses. An epidemic of stress, overwork, waste and indebtedness caused by the pursuit of the American Dream. An unsustainable addiction to economic growth.

The biggest spreaders of this disease are advisement, and the one most susceptible to catching it are the young, and the lost.

Affluenza does not just affect the upwardly mobile and economically advantaged among us, no sir. It also affects the poor and disadvantaged as they look upon others who have more with covetousness.

How do I know this? Well, I used to suffer fro it myself. In fact, it is this deadly disease that ultimately brought me to the Lord in desperation as I realized I was chasing nothing but a foggy idea.

I see people suffering from this all the time. I work with them, they are my friends and neighbors. I know people who can only hang certain colored ornaments on their tree in order to be stylish and have it all match. I know people who must have their boat the same color as their truck to pull it. who are not satisfied with the house they bought because nicer homes are being built up the way. People who order shoe strings on line from the maker of their shoes...not kidding. These people suffer greatly over the holidays, and commercials like these do not help.

Over the years I have lived a simpler life. It's not been easy being a recovering sufferer of "affluenza". You have to take each day one step at a time. You have to learn how to say NO; how to fix things when they break; how to buy only what you need more so than what you think you need.

Over the years I've done quite well, and the center piece to my recovery is my 1999 Isuzu Rodeo with 170,000 miles on her! I even wash it. But, nothing last forever. I'm getting close to needing a new car ....I must be strong Must...not....give ....in....to .....advertising.

 

[jasoncran]

me ranger will be the last american car for some time. i try not to be influenced by things.

sadly society defines man by what he own not by how he is or what charachter.2

 

[Lehigh3]

Isn't Lexus made by Toyota?

Anyhoo, did you see the tv commercial where this young, very young female exec or something surprises the guy with the Lexus Christmas gift?

No say it isn't so. Who could even find a bow like that!

 

[jasoncran]

if i buy two lexus or is lexi or lexussss? cant never get that right. help.

 

[Christ_empowered]

I think part of the appeal of the Lexus is tying it to a lifestyle. You're buying much more than a car. You're buying a statement. I am (rich, beautiful, successful, hip) because of this car. I am *NOT* (a loser, poor, passe, one of the 99%). That's one reason I think cars like this sell, especially to new money--its an affirmation of status, a way of proclaiming to self, the neighbors, the world:I've arrived!

I new this guy once, dad of a friend of mine. Came from a wealthy family, successful psychiatrist. Dude drove a very basic Toyota Camry. Even though I live quite simply now, when and if I ever have extra funds, I'd like to think I'll still think of him and how impressed I was that someone in a flourishing psychiatric practice would drive something so...middle-America.

 

[Mike]

I think part of the appeal of the Lexus is tying it to a lifestyle. You're buying much more than a car. You're buying a statement. I am (rich, beautiful, successful, hip) because of this car. I am *NOT* (a loser, poor, passe, one of the 99%). That's one reason I think cars like this sell, especially to new money--its an affirmation of status, a way of proclaiming to self, the neighbors, the world:I've arrived!

This is so true. Cars are built into the psyche of the American public. I don't know about other countries, but it seems like we have it the worst. People draw serious conclusions of people based on the cars they drive, and boy have the advertising agencies for auto companies played into this.

One line I absolutely HATE is when they say "You deserve a Cadillac?". This is a bit off topic from the OP, but it still comes down to the standard for living that advertisers create and we believe. I've known some very wealthy people who drive very humble cars. I really believe this is an outward sign of simplicity inside.

 

[Nathan Alterton]

I look down on the Lexus brand for this commercial. Always have from the moment I first saw it. It doesn't make me want to buy a Lexus. If anything It makes me feel the opposite of what the Lexus brand should be wanting me to feel about their product.

I would not be caught dead in one of these cars. When I see people driving them I can't help but think about this commercial, and I chuckle, especially if the driver appears to be someone who could have been in the commercial.

I couldn't agree more! BMW is really the way to go.

(Do you know if Lexus would sell me a bow if I'm not purchasing one of their vehicles?)

 

[St. Helens]

A Lexus isn't cut out for the hard Minnesota Winters. I wouldn't have one. A 4 X 4 is more my style. The commercial doesn't do anything for me.