Pacific 0 #1 March 6, 2013 So I'm doing my monthly speed reading through Parachutist, and I can't help but get annoyed by some of the ongoing ads. I've seen some of these ads repeat month after month, but they continue to poorly convey their product. In my experience, advertising is an expensive and critical component of business. Mirage As soon as I open the front cover, I see an interesting Mirage ad. What are they selling? I see a cute couple and an image of them swooping together. Are those Mirage canopies? No, apparently it's a harness/container advertisement. Those look like neat rigs, but I just can't tell from this angle. This ad is slightly less vague than the Mirage ads of last year. You know, the ads where a handsome guy is sitting alone at night in his bar/club clothes...a male escort service perhaps? Wings On page 30, I see a blurry image of an evaporating man. Apparently this is another harness/container manufacturer, but I can barely make out a rig. Aerodyne The back cover is graced by some cute gals as they show off their sponsor, a harness/container/canopy manufacturer. Again, no clear pics of rigs or canopies. My address label covers part of the image, but I can see some bits and pieces of the rigs. I find myself staring at the rig on the left, and the position of the emergency handles. Can customers find them in freefall? Perhaps these manufacturers are confident that their reputations will compensate for the vagueness and/or lack of useful visual aids. Maybe they assume that their products are common knowledge among the skydiving community. But page 31-32 lists dozens of new skydivers who are going to be receiving this magazine on a monthly basis. These newbies will soon be buying new or used gear. Just saying... There were several sharp and cleaver ads throughout this month's issue. The gear dealers definitely have their act together. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 5 #2 March 6, 2013 Quote There were several sharp and cleaver ads throughout this month's issue... I'm assuming this was a typo; almost punny. Manufacturers hit people on emotion as much as on facts. See a cute chick hangin' with a so-so guy says "if you jump our product, all the hot chicks will be with you..." See a guy at the end of a smokin' swoop, the ad says, "If you use our product, you can be like this guy.." Anyone who would buy solely on the print images and text would be a fool. But the ads must be working, because they got you to recognize the specifics of what their brand is using to sell... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #3 March 6, 2013 Ya gotta buy the RIG to get the hot chick?? NO WONDER.....I've just been buying the TEE shirts! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldwomanc6 60 #4 March 6, 2013 I haven't seen the ads, but they must have done their job, because you looked into them. You made yourself know what brands were represented. It may be because you were irritated with the ad, but you now know what brands were in those ads. Unsuccessful ads are those you never even pay attention to. That said, the most successful ads make you desire that product on a visceral level.lisa WSCR 594 FB 1023 CBDB 9 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 5 #5 March 6, 2013 Quote Ya gotta buy the RIG to get the hot chick?? NO WONDER.....I've just been buying the TEE shirts! If you're BUYING Tee-shirts...you're hangin with the wrong reps. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 858 #6 March 6, 2013 The new tandem rig add caught me as quite odd. Absolutely ZERO information, links, websites, just NOTHING. Except a picture. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SEREJumper 1 #7 March 6, 2013 QuoteThe new tandem rig add caught me as quite odd. Absolutely ZERO information, links, websites, just NOTHING. Except a picture. Its called suspense. Just like pictures of new car body styles that everyone talks about. They want a lot of buzz at PIA this year, let the cat out of the bag now and it will be old news by then.We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuckakers 426 #8 March 6, 2013 You have too much time on your hands.Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 140 #9 March 6, 2013 well the advertising did work didn't it ? you got all the namesscissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pchapman 279 #10 March 6, 2013 That was a fun little rant. At least we have websites now. Yet if you do go to the manufacturer's website, you still usually get crappy information. The photos & descriptive text they have don't show all the details you want before buying a rig. Companies do show off SOME aspects of the rig that they are proud of, but not enough to make a decision whether you will like each part of the rig or not. A lot of manufacturers have made it hard to even tell what the TSO certification limits are. How are the cut in laterals built? How about differences in hip ring & lateral junctions depending on rig and harness length? Riser tuck tabs? Toggle stowage on risers? Lining of main container tray? Riser dive loop design? Reserve pilot chute design? Just seeing a particular brand of rig is not enough, because there's often innovation and changes over the years. Details of a design can vary from year to year. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,078 #11 March 6, 2013 >The new tandem rig add caught me . . . . Somewhere some ad exec is saying "YES! It worked!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisD 0 #12 March 6, 2013 QUOTE: "So I'm doing my monthly speed reading through Parachutist." Please tell me that you are going to carefully read every word, savior every moment, later when you have time??? I did a long paper once, regarding the statistics of just how easily humans can be influenced by advertising. The McDonald's corporation did everything they could to surpress it, as they do with much research on this very subject. You want to learn just how effective advertising is? Don't go to Harvard, just work for one of the top 100, they spend more on learning how to manipulate than you could ever imagine... It is actually very disturbing how easily it works... I'm glad to see your rant here, I really am, CBut what do I know, "I only have one tandem jump." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pacific 0 #13 March 6, 2013 Quote The new tandem rig add caught me as quite odd. Absolutely ZERO information, links, websites, just NOTHING. Except a picture. Thanks for pointing that out. I actually liked this ad. The black/white background makes the rig stand out. A good shot of the rig in action. It actually looks comfortable. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pacific 0 #14 March 6, 2013 QuoteYou have too much time on your hands. Says the prick with 3000 posts. I have a marketing background. I look at ads differently. Been jumping since 05...already familiar with the gear. I was bored. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
excaza 1 #15 March 6, 2013 QuoteSays the prick with 3000 posts. In 11 years... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #16 March 6, 2013 Quote Quote You have too much time on your hands. Says the prick with 3000 posts. I have a marketing background. I look at ads differently. Been jumping since 05...already familiar with the gear. I was bored. You're asking for a warning.... read the forum rules. "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldwomanc6 60 #17 March 6, 2013 Quote Quote Quote You have too much time on your hands. Says the prick with 3000 posts. I have a marketing background. I look at ads differently. Been jumping since 05...already familiar with the gear. I was bored. You're asking for a warning.... read the forum rules. WOW! You weren't kidding, you are reformed! lisa WSCR 594 FB 1023 CBDB 9 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #18 March 6, 2013 Quote Quote Quote Quote You have too much time on your hands. Says the prick with 3000 posts. I have a marketing background. I look at ads differently. Been jumping since 05...already familiar with the gear. I was bored. You're asking for a warning.... read the forum rules. WOW! You weren't kidding, you are reformed! The Mods know me too well. "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SEREJumper 1 #19 March 6, 2013 QuoteA lot of manufacturers have made it hard to even tell what the TSO certification limits are. +1 Lets put together a master list of container manufactures TSO weight limits for easy viewing.We're not fucking flying airplanes are we, no we're flying a glorified kite with no power and it should be flown like one! - Stratostar Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skinnay 0 #20 March 6, 2013 QuoteSo I'm doing my monthly speed reading through Parachutist, and I can't help but get annoyed by some of the ongoing ads. I've seen some of these ads repeat month after month, but they continue to poorly convey their product. In my experience, advertising is an expensive and critical component of business. You should also tell that to the marketing executives at coca-cola, budweiser, mcdonalds, etc and let them know they have it all wrong. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
racerman 0 #21 March 6, 2013 It appears that the new tandem rig "borrowed" PLIs Y tandem bridle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuckakers 426 #22 March 7, 2013 QuoteQuoteYou have too much time on your hands. Says the prick with 3000 posts. I have a marketing background. I look at ads differently. Been jumping since 05...already familiar with the gear. I was bored. That certainly sounds like a dreaded PA to me. Why the hate?Chuck Akers D-10855 Houston, TX Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydive435 0 #23 March 7, 2013 Wahhhh. Put some damn info about yourself then... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chutem 0 #24 March 7, 2013 Quote Ya gotta buy the RIG to get the hot chick?? NO WONDER.....I've just been buying the TEE shirts! Your wife is an airline pilot making good money, ok with you skydiving for a living, sounds like you got "the hot chick" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 34 #25 March 7, 2013 Quote Wahhhh. Put some damn info about yourself then... Yeah, you gonna come on here and call someone a prick with no info in your profile, you ain't making any friends on here. "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
