As Seen on TV Products Advertised Mad Men-Style
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
Jezebel asked its readers to concoct Mad-Men-style ads for current infomercial products, in competition for the prize of a set of Mad Men Barbie dolls. See the ads here.
Archive for the ‘In the News’ Category
BILLY MAYS MEMORIAL CAPS LOCK DAY: 06.28
Monday, June 28th, 2010
It’s hard to believe it’s been an entire year, but today is the first anniversary of Billy Mays’ death. Are you rocking that blue shirt? ‘Cause you gotta – it’s how we honor the greatest pitchman who ever pitched a product. A year ago today he passed away at the age of 50, leaving us to eulogize him on YouTube and mop our tears with Zorbeez (the power to absorb up to 27 times greater than paper towels or any cotton cloth!).
BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE! According to urbandictionary.com, it’s officially Billy Mays Day: “It’s Traditional to wear a blue collared shirt with a white under shirt. Must also wear khakis. You must use CAPS LOCK the whole day. Even when talking to family or friends. If you can grow a beard by then, you are the man.”
SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, HERE’S SOME LINKS TO HELP YOU CELEBRATE BILLY MAYS REMEMBRANCE DAY:
- LA TIMES: ONE YEAR AGO, BILLY MAYS
- DISCOVERY CHANNEL: PITCHMEN, REMEMBERING BILLY
- BUZZFEED.COM: BILLY MAYS MEMORIAL CAPS LOCK DAY 6.28
- MYFOXTAMPABAY.COM: A YEAR LATER, BILLY MAYS’ LEGACY LIVES ON
- JACKSONVILLE.COM: TODAY IN FLORIDA HISTORY
- ASSEENONTVVIDEO.COM: TOP TEN BILLY MAYS COMMERCIALS
WE MISS YOU, BILLY.
Visa Protects Consumers By Restricting Web Loyalty Programs
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010
Credit card giant Visa is placing restrictions on a marketing practice widely used by online merchants, and almost universally used by marketers of As Seen On TV (DRTV) products. This affects what is known within the industry as “loyalty” programs, where shoppers are offered a gift card or other financial incentive when completing their online order. From Visa’s press release:
The misleading practice, called “data pass,” usually involves a consumer shopping at a familiar retailer. At checkout, the consumer receives an offer for a discount or reward and does not realize it is from a different merchant and comes with unexpected monthly membership fees or recurring charges. Such deceptive marketing can result in high levels of consumer disputes and degrades the efficiency, reliability and security of the payment system. According to a 2009 U.S. Senate Commerce Committee staff report, 35 million consumers have paid $1.4 billion for “data pass” marketing offers (1).
“Visa’s priority is protecting our cardholders and the integrity of the electronic payments system. Consumers who shop online using their Visa cards should be confident that they will only be charged for the products and services they legitimately intend to purchase – not those that are foisted on them through deceptive data pass schemes,” said Martin Elliott, senior business leader, U.S. Payment System Risk, Visa Inc.
Visa’s rules already prohibit merchants from sharing a cardholder’s account number and other Visa transaction information with any entity that is not directly involved in completing the transaction, preventing fraud, or as required by law. To address the data pass practice, merchants will now have to prompt consumers to re-enter their card information to accept a subsequent offer from a third-party merchant. This provides a clear signal to cardholders that a second purchase is being initiated and protects them from questionable marketing practices.
Your Savvy Shopper applauds Visa’s action as a much needed step to buttress consumer confidence in online shopping.
Pitchman Kevin Trudeau Cited for Harassing Judge
Friday, February 12th, 2010Infomercial pitchman and convicted felon Kevin Trudeau is in trouble once again. According to an article in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Mr. Trudeau is being held in contempt for marshaling his supporters to harrass a federal judge via email. Whether filling up a judge’s inbox really constitutes harassment is open to speculation, but Trudeau’s history of arrests, convictions and fines makes anything he does subject to intense scrutiny. Stay classy, Kevin!
Was Cocaine a Factor in the Death of Billy Mays?
Friday, August 7th, 2009I’m really not happy about the way information was presented in the statement issued by Dr. Leszek Chrostowski, the associate medical examiner in Hillsborough County, Florida who conducted the autopsy of Billy Mays. Without any information regarding how often or how much Billy Mays used cocaine, and even though there was none in his system when he died, cocaine was listed as a contributing factor in his death. Dr. Chrostowski, this is a man’s reputation you are playing around with. It’s not your “teachable moment” about the perils of recreational drug use. I refer you all to the official family statement.
Billy Mays Commercials will Continue to Run on TV
Thursday, July 2nd, 2009According to tampbay.com, Billy Mays’ family and the marketers who used his services have mutually decided that his commercials, including some shot before his untimely death that have not yet run, will still appear on TV. The mutual decision of everyone involved is that it is what Billy would have wanted. Read the whole story here.
Pitchmen Episode Eleven Now Showing
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009
Your Savvy Shopper has a sad today. Watching Pitchmen episode eleven brought a tear to my eye now that Billy Mays has passed away. Thanks again to Gadgetglanman7 for digitizing and uploading. One more new episode to go.
Pitchmen Marathon July 1 on Discovery Channel
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009On Wednesday, July 1, starting at 11:00 a.m. EDT, Discovery Channel is playing episodes of Pitchmen all day leading up to the premiere of the season one finale at 10:00 p.m. EDT. The future of the series is in doubt following the untimely death of Billy Mays on June 28.
Consult the daily schedule so you don’t miss your favorite episode.
Heart Failure Cause of Death for Billy Mays
Monday, June 29th, 2009Billy Mays’ death apparently unrelated to any head injury sustained during a rough plane landing last Saturday. Medical examiner rules that pulmonary embolism was the cause of death.
tampabay.com news article
Wear Blue on Monday June 29 to Honor Billy Mays
Sunday, June 28th, 2009Saw this tweet on Billy Mays III’s Twitter page. Wear blue tomorrow to honor Billy Mays.
