Capital One commercials- I don't get it

Texas0407

Texas0407

500+ Posts
I don't understand the concept of these commercials. Why does the company use barbarians as its mascot? It's not funny and it doesn't make sense.
 
A) It started as a skit involving barbarians, where the barbarians meant something in the commercial.

B) Much like the GEICO "So easy a caveman can do it" Caveman, or the GEICO Gecko- the company wants to use the same characters so you can recognize them and recall the company whenever you see the barbarians.

And, as you proved- it works in that when you see the Barbarians- you think of Capital One. As to the question- is the commercial effective? The answer for both of us is no.
 
I should think it is obvious that we are supposed to understand that we will come to love having Capital One rape and pillage our finances much like people in Northern Europe came to love the Norsemen in say 500-1100 A.D.
 
I don't know how Capital One makes money between the TV ads and the amount of mail they send to my house offering me credit cards that make no sense in getting. Well, they make sense to them as they would be milking money from me or anybody foolish enough to get one from their mailers.
 
The original premise was an apt comparison of Capital One competitors to barbarians. You know the kind of companies that invite you in with a low introductory rate, get you to transfer a balance and then when you slip up and don't notice a due date change slap you with a $50 late fee and change raise your rates to 25% or so. I got it and thought it entertaining.
 
If you don't get a commercial you can probably count on the fact that you weren't the target audience. That or Capital One aimed for you and missed horribly.
 
Marketing and advertising majors, the stupidest people you'll ever know. It must be depressing knowing your entire existence can be nullified with a DVR and fast forward button.
 
Longhorny, what brand of computer are you on? Why?
Mac or PC? Why?
Where did you purchase it? Why?
What brand of vehicle did you drive there? Why?
Which brand of gasoline do you put in that vehicle? Why?
Do you use dial-up, modem or card to connect to the internet? Why?
Who do you pay for that each month? Earthlink? Time Warner? AT&T? Why?

I could go on about the jeans, shirts, shoes and Jockey/Hanes you wear and where you purchase them, which product (if any) you use on your hair, what cereal goes into your bowl each morning and whether you drink "frog" beer or XXX beer. And why.

But I won't. The very fact that this thread exists proves that the VCR/DVR, FF and Mute buttons haven't killed advertising.

Oh, one more thing. I hate the frickin' gekko, but he's getting the job done. Otherwise, he'd be history.
 
Rex: I am who I am and I like what I like. I'm not defending the whole campaign, but you of all people should see the aptness of comparing most credit card companies to barbarians practicing banking as it was in the middle ages..

If my simple liking of this commercial lets you know a lot about me, congratulations on amazing perceptive abilities.
 
Most of the times I don't even notice the product placements. Blame it on a lack of attentiveness or whatever, but, unless the placement is around the cleavage area or something, I ain't gonna notice it.
 
Never really bothered me too much. Now you are going to have me thinking about it, and I will probably start to dislike the commercials.
 
Longhorny,

YOU ARE THE PROBLEM WITH THE ECONOMY! WHY DO YOU HATE AMERICA?

Okay, really kidding there. Your reply to my questions indicates that you are who you say you are, and I always respect that. From computer to car to jeans and more, you seem to be a genericist.

I think I just made up that word! Attention, world: when you use the word "genericist," as you undoubtedly will in everyday conversation from this day forward, be sure to credit MaceHorn. Thankyouverramuch.

Advertising apparently does not work on you (or for you), Longhorny, and that's just fine. It does work on most people, which is why the ad guys keep doing it.

When everyone is a genericist, I shall say, "I knew Longhorny, the first one."
 
HAHA, I have never been called that but it makes absolute perfect sense. I would also accept having a lot of "basicness" or I guess plain would also work.
 
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