The single worst ad of the year so far
Can the dating website Match-com really have attracted one single new customer with its ugly and unappealing new ad campaign featuring the sweaty grotesques "Cupid" and "Fate"? I really want to know.
posted by Andrew Collins @ 5:44 PM
18 Comments
Contact
Andrew at
18 Comments:
Now my first reaction to the ad was to assume this was a picture of a blind date gone horribly wrong!
It's awful, but still not as bad as the bloody jane horrocks recycling advert that still appears from time to time. Her voice in that ad annoys me so much I get angry with myself if I don't hit the mute button on the remote fast enough. The same goes for that foxy bingo ad.
I'm amazed any dating sites still exist now social networking allows people to look at pictures of prospective partners without putting in their credit card details.
That's not you and the old chap from Father Ted, is it?
Or maybe it's Mark Steel and Charlie Brooker...
Marriages made in Heaven, either way.
Or, the "Podcast 'Right to Mic' trials, number 17"
My only wonder is....How much the marketing monkey charged them!!
It seems to me that this is just the latest in a long line of slightly bewildering ads for match.com
There's the one in the lift, and then the odd couple bound together.
I know the gag is that it's somewhere for ugly people to find love, but, well, it just doesn't work, does it?
It's terrible. Just as the stimga that goes with dating websites is finally fading as to be almost extinct, this comes along and sets it back. It's got loser written all over it. I know it's meant to, but it rubs off.
If you were single, it would surely send you scuttling back under your (single) duvet.
That said, I know quite a few people who've met through Match.com - I've even been to a couple of weddings.
how things have changed since you were in the design world in the 80s.
i have come to the conclusion that ugliness is in. judging by the cheap pink stamp, the boring typography --- the geeks have taken over the world.
web 2.0 design has a lot to answer for. where's the quality gone?
i think it's more intelligent than the annoying schoolma'am character and her sex fiend sidekick, and the constantly snogging couple
not quite as annoying as the phil collins gorilla though.
I'm with you. I keep seeing this on the tubes during visits to London. First assumed it was a gay dating side but then I understood the "anyone can find love through us" bit what a terrible and expensive campaign!
AnonoNick
Not as bad as the car giant one - http://www.richardherring.com/warmingup/warmingup.php?id=1922
Compared to men I've met internet dating, these are veritable gods! Mind you it's not looks that count ultimately. The bloke I met all seem to have had their personalities surgically removed as well. Christ I'm fussy...
The thing that irks me most about it is Fate. At least it's obvious who Cupid is meant to be, but since when has a greasy-haired man in a weird little cape been a recognizable representation of Fate? What were they thinking of?
By rights, Cupid ought to be in the pub with the three sisters from Greek mythology, grimly spinning their yarn and wielding the big scissors of oncoming doom. Maybe not the cheery image Match.com were hoping for, though...
If anyone needs to vomit for any reason another useful ad is the 'gillette champions' one with Thierry, Tiger and Roger - on youtube along with 'the making of...'
Are match.com the ones who guarantee that if their service turns out to have been worthless after six months, you get another six worthless months of it for free? Is that what the "guaranteed" is referring to? Doesn't a guarantee usually imply that you get the thing that's guaranteed or you get your money back?
That is indeed the guarantee, Dave. Very clever wording.
To quote the rules:
"We know you'll meet tons of great people during your 6-month subscription with us. But, if you don't find someone special during that time, we'll give you an ADDITIONAL 6 months FREE to continue your search. Check out the rules below, then get out there and start connecting today!
* Under the Match.com 6-Month Guarantee Programme if you don't find someone special during your initial 6-month paid subscription, we'll give you an additional 6 months at no additional expense to you to continue your search (a 6-Month Extension").
* The Guarantee Programme is open to new subscribers who
(1) sign up and pay for a 6-month subscription,
(2) comply at all times with the Match.com Terms of Use,
(3) actively use his or her Match.com subscription, including (a) creating a truthful Match.com profile with a photograph within 14 days after subscription, (b) keeping the profile active and visible at all times, and (c) responding to or initiating communication with at least five (5) Match.com members each month through the Match.com service, and
(4) dont find someone special during his/her 6-month paid subscription.
* A request for a 6-Month Extension must be submitted via the Online Extension Request Form.
* The Guarantee Programme offer expires on the 31st day after the expiration of an eligible subscriber's initial 6-month paid subscription. This means that a subscriber has 30 days from the day his or her initial 6-month subscription ends to submit the Online Extension Request Form and ask for the 6-Month Extension under this Guarantee Program.
* A refund may not be used in place of a 6-Month Extension.
* In accordance with the Terms of Use, Match.com will automatically renew those subscribers that do not qualify or comply with the Terms of the Guarantee Programme into a non-guarantee standard subscription to ensure continuous and uninterrupted access to his or her subscription. A subscriber may turn-off automatic renewal of the subscription at any time after purchase. More billing details.
* Match.com reserves the right to modify, suspend, or cancel the 6-Month Guarantee Programme at any time and without notice to you. With respect to all aspects of this Guarantee Programme, including but not limited to eligibility for the 6-Month Extension, the decisions of Match.com are final.
* This offer is non-transferable and is only redeemable once per subscriber.
* The Guarantee Programme terminates on 22 January 2009.
* This offer is open to UK residents only.
Given that I now qualify for the "Jeez, have ya no pulled yet?" guarantee and I think I'm entitled to 6 months more mindless optimisim about internet dating.
Nothing's as bad as the Halifax ads, surely?
John
Post a Comment
<< Home