F'd Ad Fridays: Awesome (if crude) BK billboard hack

Via The Consumerist

F'd Ad Fridays: The Official Worst Ad in America for 2011

"According to The Consumerist, anyway:


For the second year in a row, we asked you, the readers of Consumerist to nominate and vote on the worst ads airing on American TVs. And after more than 115,000 votes, you have made it quite clear which commercial deserves the dishonor of being labeled the Absolute Worst Ad In America — Luvs Diapers' 'Poop, There It Is!'

The ad, which features an animated baby talent show where the only talent being judged is just how much fecal matter each of the three grunting tots can dump into their diapers, earned slightly more than 32% of the vote, beating out the AT&T ad (23.98%) in which a man's wife decides to unload what appears to be decades of pent-up anger after he tells her he signed the family up for some sort of unlimited texting plan."

So here it is...




I've seen worse.

Man math

I'm not even going to bother with the Dr. Pepper 10 "is just for men" trope. It's a cynical and insulting PR move, and let's leave it at that.

But The Consumerist (bless their hearts) have found a much more original reason to hate the brand:

That's right — the brand is based on 10 calories per serving. But with a serving set at 8 fluid ounces (~237 ml), that would give a 20 ounce bottle something like 25 calories by Consumerist's math. The package, however, rounds down. Considerably.

But what do I know. Me man. Me no do math.

Awesome Omaha hardware chain promotes zombie preparedness

So, the zombie apocalypse is upon us. You're going to need axes, chainsaws, wrecking bars, and lots of survival gear. Fortunately, most of it is available at your neighbourhood hardware store.

But why wait until the evil dead arise and start hungering for brains? You'll have to weave through shambling hordes of them to break into the hardware store, and it could all be for nothing if some other survivalist got there first. So if you're in or around Omaha, stock up today at Westlake Ace Hardware's Zombie Preparedness Center!

Liz Benditt, Westlake's director of customer relationship development, told Omaha.com "If we can help you with your lawn and your home, we can help you with the zombie apocalypse."

As you can see below, they even play both sides, offering zombies a way to "Delay Your Decay" (PDF).

The effort is an attempt to turn younger consumers on to the higher level of service and engagement offered by smaller hardware stores. And I think it's working. Their Facebook and Twitter are also worthwhile distractions.

Campaign by Omaha PR/ad agency Bozell
Tip via

F'd Ad Fridays: Free Flexor will give you abs of steel

...but only because its ad will have you laughing so hard:



This one's been around for a couple of weeks, but The Consumerist is already calling the Free Flexor the new Shake Weight of embarrassing ads.



I'll leave that up to you.

Mexican restaurant takes shot at anti-immigration laws

Well done, Lime Fresh Mexican Grill of Orlando. Well done indeed.

Via The Consumerist

If you don't get it, read the news.

Reebok forced to refund over $25,000,000 to gullible Easytone buyers

The Consumerist reports that the United States Federal Trade Commission has ordered Reebok to give back over $25 million in refunds to buyers of its EasyTone shoes because of misleading advertising.

Image from here

The article quotes the FTC:

"Reebok made unsupported claims in advertisements that walking in its EasyTone shoes and running in its RunTone running shoes strengthen and tone key leg and buttock (gluteus maximus) muscles more than regular shoes. The FTC's complaint also alleges that Reebok falsely claimed that walking in EasyTone footwear had been proven to lead to 28 percent more strength and tone in the buttock muscles, 11 percent more strength and tone in the hamstring muscles, and 11 percent more strength and tone in the calf muscles than regular walking shoes."

In addition to the refunds, Reebok is barred from the following:
• making claims that toning shoes and other toning apparel are effective in strengthening muscles, or that using the footwear will result in a specific percentage or amount of muscle toning or strengthening, unless the claims are true and backed by scientific evidence;
• making any health or fitness-related efficacy claims for toning shoes and other toning apparel unless the claims are true and backed by scientific evidence; and
• misrepresenting any tests, studies, or research results regarding toning shoes and other toning apparel

I am always skeptical about anything claiming to make it easier to shape up and lose weight. The promises of these shoes, and all similar brands, are simply too good to be true.

Of course, this won't stop deceptive health and fitness marketing. They'll just go back to making their promises more vague, and will distract us with T&A and cute babies and stuff. As always.



(Updated with video link from Adweek.)

F'd Ad Fridays: Pawn shop niche marketing

Via The Consumerist

Apparently this was posted in Albany, NY. The metre's a little off, but it is memorable. Let's hope it doesn't get any vindictive single moms arrested.