I’m a list maker. I’m also a Crotchety Jerk, which means I spend a lot of time writing Crotchety Jerk Lists, like
- Threats to shout at the neighbor kids who won’t get off my lawn
- Why 1989 was better
- People who annoy me and why, sorted by severity of annoyance, frequency of annoyance and overall sense of loathing
- Why television commercials suck
That last one is a biggie. When they aren’t treating me like I were a 4-year-0ld, they’re promoting despicable and even dangerous messages.
The worst offenders right now are Visa’s “Workflow” ads.
Here we see a bustling cafeteria. Dozens of customers swish briskly through the store, placing orders and making purchases. The employees fulfill their requests with the efficiency of a police-escorted Britney Spears motorcade. Each transaction ends with a swipe of a Visa card. This is clockwork commerce.
Finally, a guy pulls some cash from his wallet and the whole system crashes. Customers bump into each other, food falls onto the floor and everyone glares at the offender. At last this miscreant completes his transaction, exits the store in shame and the system resumes.
What’s the message here?
- If you fail to use a credit card, people will despise you
- Cash disrupts the flow of commerce
- Credit card debt keeps the economy going
- Quick and easy spending is desirable
Despicable. But don’t take my word for it. Here’s what Dave Ramsey says about credit card debt:
“There is NO positive side to credit card use. You will spend more if you use credit cards...When you pay cash, you can “feel” the money leaving you. This is not true with credit cards. Flipping a credit card up on a counter registers nothing emotionally. If you use credit cards instead of cash you will spend 12-18% more. This is money you could have saved.”
But this post is about the ad itself. Use a credit card or you’ll be despised and actually disrupt the economic process. It’s irresponsible, dangerous and represents a real low in advertising. Well done, Visa.
Yeah, but that’s a check card so it comes out of checking (same as cash). At least that’s what I tell myself to make myself feel better.
they dont say credit specficaly, they just say visa. my debit card is visa,i use loikt “like a credit card”. I don’t have a credit card in my own name though.
Dave, I agree with you that the ads are more than a little creepy. They actually remind me of the scenes from “The Wall” when the kids with the masks are walking off the plank. The only thing that redeems these ads is the music, especially this one, since it’s using “Powerhouse” from Raymond Scott.
On a personal note, I’ve never had a VISA transaction go so smoothly. Usually the machine mis-reads the card, or the cashier isn’t ready. “Can you swipe it again?” “Wait, did you want debit? Okay, hang on, swipe it again.”, etc
Then, after all the swiping they tell you that you are approved for a credit card and could save another 10% on your purchase.
If my wife isn’t with me I sometimes respond “That’s insulting to me. Do I look like I need credit? Go tell your manager that you just insulted a customer.” And I think I should have used cash instead of Debit.