Do celebrity endorsements persuade your purchasing decisions

[yoda313]

Do any endorsements affect your decisions?

Generally I don't.

[edDV]

If you have ever met any of these credibilities, you know they rate as a class as the least educated, lowest experienced and incompetent outside their field. They are career managed and told what to do by all types of directors and consultants.

The only reason they appear in these ads is they were told to that day and their manager thinks the money is good. Another consultant made sure the risk of career backlash was minimal.

[TheFamilyMan]

Not only no, but HELL NO. They get paid too much money as it is.

My favorite example of celebrity lameness was an ad for some investment service that featured Vanna White. My friends and I got a good laugh out of that!!!

P.S. But if a celebrity donates their endorsement of a charity, that's a completely different matter. Not that I'd support it, but I give them credit for helping out.

[gadgetguy]

No, celebrities do not influence my purchasing decisions. Too many celebrities appear to be idiots when someone else isn't writing their words for them. IMO this makes them lose all credibility for advertising.

However, a pretty face can have an influence on how I spend my money. Many a waitress has convinced me to spend more than I'd planned.

[edDV]

P.S. But if a celebrity donates their endorsement of a charity, that's a completely different matter. Not that I'd support it, but I give them credit for helping out.

Rarely will you find they contribute any of their own money and are assured by contract to gain free publicity. Are you listening Bono?

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&refer=home&sid=aef6sR60oDgM

[j1d10t]

What happened to the "I'll buy anything Bill Shatner is selling!!!!!!!" option??? Or any of the Star Trek Captains, for that matter

However, a pretty face can have an influence on how I spend my money. Many a waitress has convinced me to spend more than I'd planned.

It's not just waitresses though :P

TV/movie characters on, or endorsing a product are different - kids want anything that has their favorite TV/movie character on it, even if they really don't like the product.

[InXess]

If I had to choose Shattner would be my pick. His commercials are not only intelligent but also ambiguous. He's endorsing by doing frequently what seems to be the opposite. Top notch acting and scripting.

[edDV]

Shatner's a hoot. He's so deep into Priceline but we don't care. We know he isn't seroius.

[gll99]

In the case of straight forward endorsements, not at all. More likely the opposite effect I may key on the celebrity (how they look, have aged, gained or lost weight etc..) and totally miss the product.

They are being paid to mouth the words of the ad writers. It's true that they are all "actors" in some way but it's just so much more apparent when it's a known entity. Even when they sound sincere it's really credits their acting skills not the quality of the product.

There is one tv ad for an adjustable bed with the actress who played the million $ woman on tv. She sounds really sincere but it just makes me feel sad for her that she can't get another gig. Until I saw it again recently the mental connection I made with her anguished expression was to a pain medication. Maybe she did those too and I can't remember.

It is obvious poor James Garner doesn't believe in reverse mortgages but he has to say something to make a few bucks. He gives a very weak endorcement to "look into it". I remember that one because I'm in the target group but it has a very opposite effect when I watch it to what the sponsors intended.

Today at their peak actors wouldn't do commercials so when they start you know they are in trouble.

In the old days of radio and tv people like Bob Hope, Milton Berle, Jack Benny and the like (who you say??)would plug their sponsors (GM or Ford cars, Lux soap, GE appliances etc..) during their own tv shows. This was far more effective.

Product placement is probably much more effective to me because it shows the product being used by the celebrities. Case in point, Coke cups on the American Idol show judges desk. Although this too may be false (water or booze in the cup) there is a greater connection between product and celebrity. They don't need to face the camera and say I prefer Coke over Pepsi it's an implied suggestion. I drink and prefer Coke!

Even knowing what I know these indirect ads are more likely to influence me.

[fritzi93]

No. Advertising grates on me anyway, their purpose is to manipulate my behavior. If I by chance actually pay attention, the effect is the opposite of their intention. (Usually it's something extra egregious and disrespectful of one's intelligence that I remember).

But overall it must work, or they wouldn't be spending billions on it. Didn't P.T.Barnum say something about nobody ever going broke by underestimating the public's intelligence?

[Epicurus8a]

I'd like to say, "Not at all." However, I suspect it might influcence my decisions at some level.

[InXess]

Didn't P.T.Barnum say something about nobody ever going broke by underestimating the public's intelligence?

How true, applies fully to MS Vista (...sorry, couldn't resist). Haven't' seen anyone endorse it yet, have I missed something? Could it possibly (nah...) put endorser's life in danger...?

[edDV]

...
There is one tv ad for an adjustable bed with the actress who played the million $ woman on tv. She sounds really sincere but it just makes me feel sad for her that she can't get another gig. Until I saw it again recently the mental connection I made with her anguished expression was to a pain medication. Maybe she did those too and I can't remember.

It is obvious poor James Garner doesn't believe in reverse mortgages but he has to say something to make a few bucks. He gives a very weak endorcement to "look into it". I remember that one because I'm in the target group but it has a very opposite effect when I watch it to what the sponsors intended.

Great analysis.

Those two along with Shatner were in my mind when this topic came up. The list is endless. Shatner plays everything for laughs. Lindsey Wagner can't hold a conversation. I can't figure James Garner going to the dark side.

As they say, when you learn to fake sincerity, you have a successful career assured in TV advertising, politics or selling used cars.

[InXess]

Bingo !!!

Today at their peak actors wouldn't do commercials so when they start you know they are in trouble.

In the old days of radio and tv people like Bob Hope, Milton Berle, Jack Benny and the like (who you say??)would plug their sponsors (GM or Ford cars, Lux soap, GE appliances etc..) during their own tv shows. This was far more effective.

Product placement is probably much more effective to me because it shows the product being used by the celebrities. Case in point, Coke cups on the American Idol show judges desk. Although this too may be false (water or booze in the cup) there is a greater connection between product and celebrity. They don't need to face the camera and say I prefer Coke over Pepsi it's an implied suggestion. I drink and prefer Coke!

Even knowing what I know these indirect ads are more likely to influence me.

double whammy

[FulciLives]

I'd buy anything Mr. Shatner endorsed but not that bald guy.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[Legendsk]

Too bad there wasn't an option for:
Yes, I am affected by celebrity advertising. If they can afford to pay a celebrity to advertise for the product, then it is overpriced. If I see a celebrity advertisement - then I won't buy that product any more, now or in the future long after this commercial is dead.

[FulciLives]

Did anyone see the Shatner ad for pudding?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rr6efnY9Ebw

Works better for me than the old Bill Cosby pudding pop commercials ever did 8)

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[gll99]

There are a couple of other ways I can think of where a celebrity endorsement would probably influence me. What I might call non partisan Civic duty reminders on important matters but the actor would have to have credibility like an old James (Jimmy) Stewart type.

When I look back at old endorsements done by the "A" list of actors on the old bw reels from the 40's to buy govt bonds I can see where those types of civic duty type of ads would have influenced me to action.

There's a guy here in Canada who does home repairs after others have screwed up. We could call him a local celebrity. He has a tv show called Holmes on Homes which features him and his crew doing what they do best. This general contractor seems to be a genuine guy who knows his stuff and brings in experts to do the work when he's not sure or it gets too specialized. He's also the kind of guy you would want working on your house because it is apparent he cares and takes pride in his work.

Here's the rub. It's a great tv show but now he is doing instant coffee commercials. It so happens that I already drink the brand he hypes so it's no influence on me and it wouldn't be even if I didn't already prefer it.
The coffee company hopes his reputation as an honest tradesman will carry to their product.
While I respect his choice, Mike Holmes taste buds would not influence me on choosing any drink or food product. In those areas my opinion is worth as much as his although we both agree on this particular coffee product. He gets the commercial gig because he has a tv show, he's well known and has a solid reputation and no-one would care what I drink.

However, I know that if Mike Holmes came on tv and said that in his experience, a particular building product or tool is better than another I would probably be highly influenced because it is in his field of expertise and he would be putting his honesty on the line. Although another expert might disagree, because of his solid reputation of being a straight shooter, I would find it difficult to question Mr Holmes opinion.

[InXess]

I would. What does a construction guy (solid dude, I agree) know about coffee. It's like a butcher endorsing an engagement ring. I see that as anti-advertising and if Mr. Holmes drinks a particular coffee brand I would guarantee you that I'd pass even if it was on special at local store.

Commercials have to be viewed for what they are. It is a purchased time to showcase (best scenario) like automotive ads or inform about a product existence (sometime I don't mind) to repeatedly banging your head with a baseball bat (those pesky commercials that come back at every single break, always the same and usually annoyingly primitive). Advertisers buy the time to force you to look at their product for a specific amount of time. If the product is good I'd buy regardless of personalities involved. I much prefer no celebrities but a good storyline introducing me to something more in a fashion of "Omega" watches mercilessly banged up and... still ticking.
There should be a legislative limit to how much of a particular piece of s*it video can be forced upon you in 24 hrs. Some companies take it to the limit making sure that you start to hate them as much as humanly possible. Toilet paper, hygienic pads, swiffer etc. top the list. Thank God we see less nowadays of how much blue liquid a pad can hold. Vagisil and odor fighting pads put me on a lunar orbit. Thank God our TV is not fragrance capable...

[DVD_NDN]

celebrity endorsements dont have their intended effect on myself.

I will always base my spending on the merits of the product(s).
with that been said, I do find many ads entertaining, and probably for the wrong reasons.

[AlanHK]

The word is "celebrity", not "celeberity".

[stantheman1976]

Absoultely not. I make it a point to gound myself in reality and not worry about celebrities or what other people do. Many of these people are self centered and live very unfulfilled lives. They have lots of money, but it's rare to see a celebrity who is truly happy inside. Having money and being surrounded by people who suck up to you all day long is not as glamorous and many would think.

My days are pretty routine. I wake up, get dressed, get my son to the sitter, work, pick my son up, my wife or I take care of supper, I play with my son until bath time, bathe him, dress him, and put him to bed. If a product is beneficial to any of those daily actions then I'll try it.

Anyone with kids can understand where I'm coming from. Making sure that my son is well rested, entertained properly, well fed, and takes a good poop every day occupupies too much time to worry about celebrity endorsements.

[thecoalman]

I can think of two that i have ssen where I've actaully felt ashamed for them. There's a infomercial with Hugh Downs who at one point was the anchor for 20/20, one of those set up to look like a newscast. The other was with Mickey Rooney where his daughter did all of the talking, Mickey just sat there.... Don't think he said more than 4 words....

[oldandinthe way]

Once again there is no response in this survey appropriate to my behavior.

Celebrity endorsements NEVER encourage me to buy. However, endorsement by a celebrity ******* will make me seek an alternative priduct.

[cal_tony]

Like the majority of others, definitely no. I have on a number of occasions, bought things suggested by others on this site. Last example.. someone asked for suggestions for a divx dvd player. It was mentioned by some posters that the Philips dvp 5960 would be a good choice. Looked in the product section for input regarding this product. That day I ordered it on line feeling confident that it would fit my needs. It did.

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

Hi, I'm not a doctor but I play one on TV.....

I think most of the time I don't care, but It also depends in who is endorsing what.

My 2c.

[Marvingj]

Depends if its a Green or Blue bathing suit. Or if she swinging from a pole......HEHE

[Constant Gardener]

There must be some indication that celebrity endorsement boosts sales. Personally, I'm waiting for Richard Dean Anderson, or perhaps Amanda Tapping, to flog vacation travel.

[j1d10t]

Most of the time I mute the commercials (if I can't skip through them, if I'm watching something I've recorded). Unless a commercial makes sense with the sound off, it's not a good commercial. There are some that I will turn the sound back up for, because they are funny - don't care what it is they are pushing, it's just funny to watch. Some are funny without the sound. Like the Richard Dean Anderson Visa commercial Some you like to watch just because of the celebrity that is in them - you couldn't care less about the product, it's just nice to look at the person in the commercial for a couple of minutes

[burnman99]

I'm not really affected. However, If Jessica Alba endorsed pudding...