I think I might be the only person to use my Tivo for the express purpose of watching commercials rather than skipping them. It’s my version of stopping to smell the roses, really…and if I hadn’t stopped, I wouldn’t have stumbled upon the following advertisement from T-Mobile, which really did speak to me (video after the description):
Announcer: 8 out of 10 Americans unknowingly pay too much for their cell phone service, so T-Mobile took action, sending out a team of economists to help people find the right plans for them.
(Shows team of old stodgy looking economists in boring suits. At least I can point out that there were some women in the group. Doorbell rings, guy opens door to see economist, slams door is economist’s face as economist says hello. Later, more doors are slammed, one economist gets sprayed with a garden hose, etc.)
Announcer: Then we tried a different approach.
(Shows guy opening door to see Catherine Zeta-Jones in a pink dress)
CZJ: Do you have time for a mobile makeover?
Guy: I believe I do.
Sigh. T-Mobile thinks it’s just being funny, but it’s kind of hit on a nerve with me. I have no doubt that economists have a lot to say that people would be interested in hearing, but I am all too well aware that their marketing and/or delivery could use a little help sometimes. (It probably doesn’t help that most economists seem to be most interested in writing for other economists.) Granted, I’m no Catherine Zeta-Jones (who is, really?), but this ad illustrates what I am trying to accomplish at least in a metaphorical sense. Maybe I’ll go out and get a pink dress and see if that helps.
P.S. This ad was actually to promote an independent organization called BillShrink. Hopefully you have learned enough from reading my site that your first thought is “What incentive does T-Mobile have to do this?” Luckily, TechCrunch is more than happy to answer that question.
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5 responses so far ↓
1 econgirl // May 28, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Update: My mom offered to buy me a pink dress.
2 Tom // Jun 3, 2009 at 1:25 pm
on one hand i don’t think you need it, but then again you should never pass up the chance to let you parents buy you stuff.
3 Christopher Scott // Jun 12, 2009 at 11:06 am
Maybe if Econ papers were a little easier to read…
4 econgirl // Jun 12, 2009 at 11:14 am
But if they weren’t hard to read how would you know how smart economists are? =P
Sadly, there is some hint of truth to that…
5 Krzysztof Wiszniewski // Jun 12, 2009 at 7:41 pm
As an economist (of sorts, I’ve been out of the cycle for most of the last 10 years) writing for musicians (who aren’t generally noted for their economic smarts) I can say with some conviction that it helps to keep discussion on a down-to-earth level. Economics is something we all do on an everyday basis, so illustrative parallels (=helpful lies) are fairly easy to come by. I’ve a feeling that it’s mostly economese that puts people off.
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