Acura Commercials

[bjl584]

Has anyone seen the new Acura commercials featuring Suze Orman and Dave Ramsey?

There just seems to be something wrong with trusted financial experts doing a sales pitch for a luxury car line telling you to be resonable with your auto purchase.

[disneysteve]

I wasn't aware of it until you posted. I just watched the Suze Orman spot on Youtube. I don't like it at all. I realize that on her "Can I Afford It?" segment, she often approves luxury purchases as long as the caller can afford them, I'm not sure that message is being communicated in this ad. Add in the fact that she's driving like a maniac for no apparent reason and I think the whole thing comes across as very irresponsible.

I couldn't find the Dave Ramsey one on Youtube.

[bjl584]

I couldn't find the Dave Ramsey one on Youtube.

I saw it for the first time last night during Monday Night Football, so it might not be on You Tube yet.

[siggy_freud]

I think you guys take these things too seriously. I doubt the people who know who these 'celebrities' are and watch them for their advice are suddenly going to discount the advice given and go purchase a car. And the people that purchase a car based on these ads alone aren't the types that watch the financial advice shows.

[elessar78]

Oooh, they're walking that tight rope at least in SO's case.

I'm going to give it a pass because in the Suze commercial she's more like a parody of herself than anything.

But yeah, it's in the gray area of her brand.

[JustBill]

I saw it for the first time last night during Monday Night Football, so it might not be on You Tube yet.

Are you sure it isn't the one with Dr. Phil that you're thinking of?

[bjl584]

Are you sure it isn't the one with Dr. Phil that you're thinking of?

It may have been.

[disneysteve]

I think you guys take these things too seriously. I doubt the people who know who these 'celebrities' are and watch them for their advice are suddenly going to discount the advice given and go purchase a car. And the people that purchase a car based on these ads alone aren't the types that watch the financial advice shows.

I think you're probably right but that isn't really the point. The issue I have is more about conflict of interest. If someone is putting themselves out there are a financial adviser, they need to be giving unbiased advice. As soon as the become a spokesperson for a specific company or product, that taints their judgement. It's the same problem we all have with commissioned salespeople and financial advisers. As soon as your advice stops being impartial, it stops being trustworthy.

What happens when someone calls in to Suzy's show now and says they want to buy an Acura and she has to tell them they can't afford it? I bet we won't ever see a call like that on the show. Nor will we see a call where someone wants to buy a Lexus since they are the direct competition.

[siggy_freud]

I guess we're assuming her advice has always been unbiased. Her show is already sponsored by the paid advertisers who advertise during that hour. The same question Steve asked about someone calling in about the Acura could be said about, for example, someone calling in about buying a $500 robot vacuum, or one of a dozen other products/services advertised during the show.

With the Acura, this is simply the first time we're seeing her character in the commercial, rather than the commercial surrounding the show. Still, she CAN afford the Acura, so we can't fault her for not following her own advice to that end.

In regards to Dr. Phil . . . I don't even want to start down that path, because my opinion of the guy isn't very high. I'm sure he's helped people, but my GF's mother watches him, and I he must get 1-2 book plugs in for his own stuff in every show. Guy sold out long ago . . .