Mexican Absolut Ad Angers U.S. Citizens

[RealBronco]

.........the diehard americans are........you know the crazy ones.......but yea, they sometimes do stuff like this to cause controvercy CAUSE CONTROVERCY SELLS

ding ding ding.

i don't get how people haven't figured out that every time they get upset and cause "controversy" or want to boycott something, that thing becomes more popular.

no one would have given two licks about The DaVinci Code had it not been heavy laden with stuff about Jesus.

also, no one would have really blinked at yet another fantasy movie like The Golden Compass if that hadn't been a big ordeal.

etc. etc. etc. blah blah blah.

[DawgFanatic]

.........the diehard americans are........you know the crazy ones.......but yea, they sometimes do stuff like this to cause controvercy CAUSE CONTROVERCY SELLS

[RealBronco]

In general, Mexicans drink beer, tequila and rum. Vodka is not a strong seller here. I'm not sure the commercial was all that effective.

McDonald's and Burger King advertise on TV here but if you go to a place like this, it is a ghost town. People just don't eat that type of food here. There'll be a line 20 deep at the roadside taco stand though.

Are Americans really that offended about the commercial or is it just a 30 second byte and a fart in the wind?

i don't think anyone really gives a crap.

[slick7]

In general, Mexicans drink beer, tequila and rum. Vodka is not a strong seller here. I'm not sure the commercial was all that effective.

McDonald's and Burger King advertise on TV here but if you go to a place like this, it is a ghost town. People just don't eat that type of food here. There'll be a line 20 deep at the roadside taco stand though.

Are Americans really that offended about the commercial or is it just a 30 second byte and a fart in the wind?

[RealBronco]

SO you made the comment that Absolute made a stupid move because they are already popular enough, yet want to explain to me what branding is??

it's because they don't need the bad publicity. in the long run, this is probably their goal. the more people talk about their advertisement like we are, the more people will be thinking about Absolut over Skyy...and thus, more people will buy Aboslut. BUT, this was a risky move, and it could backfire on them.

BECAUSE they're already popular enough, they could have just as easily had an entirely different and effective ad-campaign. But they chose the risky one. And for good reason.

As far as them making more money. Do you really think that if coors light, or coca cola, or McDonalds stopped advertising today and didn't advertise for the entire next fiscal year, they would see a significant change in the average over the last 20 years?? I bet they wouldn't.

yes, they would. you can bet your house on the fact that they would fall in their respective markets to the other giants in their categories. If Coors cuts back their advertising, you would see a fall in their sales, and perhaps not a change in Budweiser's, but Bud would certainly rise above Coors, if they're not already. It'd be the same with everybody.

I think using 20 years is a bit much. That's like Al Gore trying to convince people Global Warming is a threat by saying California or whatever has been hotter in the past 2 years than the last 30.

But the fact is....if any of those companies cut back their advertising, they would fall in the markets to their competitors in a heartbeat. Why? Because people who aren't set in their ways (like me with my Coke) would not have them in mind. Someone who doesn't mind where they eat out, and is not subject to McDonald's as much will probably not go there as often. It's simple stats. That's why they spend millions of dollars a year to "out-campaign" the competition. If they felt they didn't need to, or didn't need that extra nudge in society, and if they felt they would still get the business without all the glamorous showboating advertising, they would not waste a minute to save those millions. Corporations are tight-wadded, as lose-changed as they may seem...trust me...they're not. If they can save a buck, they will.

[Ravage!!!]

exactly. you learn alot about "branding" as a comm. major

anyway, you'd be wrong to think their sales don't increase though. sure they don't really "need" to advertise as much as they do, or spend so much on it rather, but they do. why? because not only do they want everyone to continually be reminded that they exist over everyone else, but they want others who may not know as much about them (those people are out there) to be exposed. especially in foreign markets where their company may have just been expanded.

also, the point of so much advertising with these big super-companies is the idea that even though people know them, or heck, like me, I will not buy anything but Coca~Cola products, but say i'm not even thinking about it....but then i see a Coke commercial. Well then I might think: "hey, a Coke sounds amazing right now..." and that will lead me, as the consumer to the store to buy more Coke, assuming I'm out...

or the age-old tried and true...for anyone who's ever been drinking or whatever and it's 2 a.m. and you're starving, and you know you're hungry and you're arguing with your buddies on where to go (and who will drive) you all see a Jack in the Box commercial and then everyone goes: "my god, that jumbo jack looks divine right now....let's go to jack..." especially since there's one not too far away.

So. Why do they spend millions of dollars on advertising? (and it's not a waste of money, trust me) Well, that's basically why. You're right. They want everyone to be "branded" and eat their food and drink their drinks, or wear their clothing.... but if they don't advertise constantly, people will not think about it. Out of sight, out of mind. If Old Navy advertises more than Abercrombie and Fitch, then Old Navy is likely to get more business, thus more sales. And people should be shopping at Old Navy rather than A&F anyway...but that's another thing.

Anyway, basically, you're right. hahaha. "branding" is the goal of the commercial war today.

SO you made the comment that Absolute made a stupid move because they are already popular enough, yet want to explain to me what branding is??

As far as them making more money. Do you really think that if coors light, or coca cola, or McDonalds stopped advertising today and didn't advertise for the entire next fiscal year, they would see a significant change in the average over the last 20 years?? I bet they wouldn't.

But the point is, they want to brand their name with advertising. So... anywayyyyy

[RealBronco]

Its called 'branding.' Do you think that Coors light needs to spend so much money on advertising? Do you think they 'increase' their sales by spending the MILLIONs of dollars in ads? What about coca-cola/pepsi? Do you think the McDonalds increases their sales with all the advertisements they do???

No. But thats what you do to keep YOUR name, YOUr company, YOUR product to be THE brand name the people think of when they think of beer,cola,fast foot restraunts, Or.. in this case... vodka.

exactly. you learn alot about "branding" as a comm. major

anyway, you'd be wrong to think their sales don't increase though. sure they don't really "need" to advertise as much as they do, or spend so much on it rather, but they do. why? because not only do they want everyone to continually be reminded that they exist over everyone else, but they want others who may not know as much about them (those people are out there) to be exposed. especially in foreign markets where their company may have just been expanded.

also, the point of so much advertising with these big super-companies is the idea that even though people know them, or heck, like me, I will not buy anything but Coca~Cola products, but say i'm not even thinking about it....but then i see a Coke commercial. Well then I might think: "hey, a Coke sounds amazing right now..." and that will lead me, as the consumer to the store to buy more Coke, assuming I'm out...

or the age-old tried and true...for anyone who's ever been drinking or whatever and it's 2 a.m. and you're starving, and you know you're hungry and you're arguing with your buddies on where to go (and who will drive) you all see a Jack in the Box commercial and then everyone goes: "my god, that jumbo jack looks divine right now....let's go to jack..." especially since there's one not too far away.

So. Why do they spend millions of dollars on advertising? (and it's not a waste of money, trust me) Well, that's basically why. You're right. They want everyone to be "branded" and eat their food and drink their drinks, or wear their clothing.... but if they don't advertise constantly, people will not think about it. Out of sight, out of mind. If Old Navy advertises more than Abercrombie and Fitch, then Old Navy is likely to get more business, thus more sales. And people should be shopping at Old Navy rather than A&F anyway...but that's another thing.

Anyway, basically, you're right. hahaha. "branding" is the goal of the commercial war today.

[Ravage!!!]

i don't really take much offense to it. but you're right about it being a stupid marketing move. i mean, absolut was already popular enough, they didn't need something like this to "boost" their sales.....or hinder them rather.

Its called 'branding.' Do you think that Coors light needs to spend so much money on advertising? Do you think they 'increase' their sales by spending the MILLIONs of dollars in ads? What about coca-cola/pepsi? Do you think the McDonalds increases their sales with all the advertisements they do???

No. But thats what you do to keep YOUR name, YOUr company, YOUR product to be THE brand name the people think of when they think of beer,cola,fast foot restraunts, Or.. in this case... vodka.

[Ravage!!!]

The United States has lost it's sense of Country......so caught up in being Politically Correct that we don't have the common sense to be offended by something that was meant to be offensive.

YOU'RE the joke......

I think this says it right. Anyone that would be offended by this, is simply overly sensitive.

[Ravage!!!]

Who ever came up with that marketing campaign just lost his job. When you have a product or service you want to keep it away from any type of politics or anything controversial. I know it is a Swedish company but there is no way they could be that blind.

So I am sure they sold quite a bit in Mexico but back fired in the US. There has been 1,000's of people complaining about this on blogs across the net. I think a lot of people will boycott this product.

People will remember something about this but have no idea exactly what it is about. When they go in the store for some vodka and see absolute they will grab the other kind beside it.

No.... the guy that came up with the ad didn't lose his job at all. The ad man just did his job and came up with an idea... the Absolute company is the one that had to agree to the ad and then spend the money to produce the ad.

There is no one to blame on this one.

I don't think its a big deal, and don't think Absolute will (nor should they) suffer one big of financial hit.

[slick7]

but they watch the broncos right?




I have a feeling you are going to say cowboys...

Of course I watch the Broncos, but in this area, the Yucatan, if an American football game is on TV, the only ones watching are the Americans here on vacation.

Maybe in the DF, or northern Mexico it's different.



The commercial, IMHO, not a big deal.

[Bronco_Armada]

Most Mexicans probably won't see that commercial anyways, at least not where I live. People just don't really watch TV.

Absolut is garbage anyway. Give me Grey Goose, Stoly or in a pinch Skyy.

but they watch the broncos right?




I have a feeling you are going to say cowboys...

[RealBronco]

The United States has lost it's sense of Country......so caught up in being Politically Correct that we don't have the common sense to be offended by something that was meant to be offensive.

YOU'RE the joke......

I don't think so.

This ad was not pointed at the United States in any way. It wasn't even run here. It's a completely Mexican ad campaign. So how would it be offensive to Mexicans who feel that they should still have the land they lost to us?

Also, I say that people who are too easily offended by things they cannot change, or things that are just reality (like this) are just being naive and stupid and wasting their efforts. I don't even put much effort into being politically correct. If you're going to be offended by me then **** you. I live in a free country where I'm allowed to say and feel and believe any way I want.

I do agree with you that our country has lost its self image. We've become such a mixing pot of the rest of the world that we try to please everyone. And you will never be able to do that. Political Correctness is a fairy tale and it will never happen. The only people you really see attempting to adhere to that myth is those in politics (big surprise) or even the majority of celebrities. But no one really gives a hoot what they think anyway.

I don't care if the Mexicans want to take a stab at us. It's nothing new to our country. If they feel like they wish they still had their former territory and that their country was still bigger than it is then that's fine by me. They can dream about having even more land that they can't support in their current economic situation.

All I'm saying is, this isn't really that big of a deal and those that are offended by something that wasn't even targeted toward U.S. commercialism is just ridiculous. That's why I think the whole situation is funny.

I think it really would've been a different situation if Absolut had intentionally gone after the U.S. and done something like the whole Native American Territory thing......or....even something having to do with slavery. But people who are getting upset are missing the point.

Heck, on the other hand, if they wanted to, they could launch another ad campaign to counter the Mexican-tailored one and show a map of the entire Western Hemisphere as all part of the United States...because the rest of the world seems to think we're still an imperialist country. I mean, the entire world refers to the U.S. as "America" already, when that is the biggest falacy in the world because Canada is American, Mexico is American, Brazil, Cuba...etc everything in the Western Hemisphere is either in north AMERICA (inlcuding the U.S.), central AMERICA, or south AMERICA.

So......anyway.:paper:

[slick7]

Most Mexicans probably won't see that commercial anyways, at least not where I live. People just don't really watch TV.

Absolut is garbage anyway. Give me Grey Goose, Stoly or in a pinch Skyy.

[Bronco_Armada]

Exactly! I was not offended by it at all, but I am Mexican-American so I guess my opinion could be a little biased!

Anyway I think the whole spirit of the Absolute commercials and ads were to point out how things would be in a prefect or "Absolute" world. This ad was tailored towards Mexico (not the US) and in Mexico’s perfect world I’m sure they would not have lost the war and subsequently lost their land to Manifest Destiny. Anyway it’s just an ad tailored to people in Mexico, nothing wrong with it.

Thx,
Joe

PBS by far has a better site for M.D.

http://www.pbs.org/kera/usmexicanwar/prelude/manifest_destiny_overview.html

Anyone find it quite ironic with Mexican-US relations today?

It was the exact opposite then.

Something to think about.