The rat? You mean the
Sponge Monkeys? See, I still don't get it though. I don't like Quizno's, though I do like their commercials. I prefer Subway or Blimpie's. Of course, we've all seen the annoying Subway commercials with the formally-fat dude, but I'm never seen a Blimpie's commercial, yet I like them just as much. In fact, when eating out, I prefer to go to a thai restaurant. Never seen a commercial for one. How does advertising really effect this?
What about bread/toast? I haven't seen even a Wonder Bread commercial in ages. I usually get the local bakery brand because they are heartier. Soup? again, usually the stuff made at the store (Whole Foods, mostly) if I don't make it myself. In fact, I can't think of the last thing I bought that DID have an ad for it.
Let's see... I bought some QT pop last night. Yes, there are QT radio commercials now and then, but I like the variety and the flavor of their fountains far exceeds that of my local Circle K (mmm, filtered water FTW). I bought some strange chip things because they looked good... no ad in sight. I bought gas where it was cheapest, I bought groceries that were on sale (didn't look at the weekly ad, but rather the price tags in the aisles, which is, arguably, a form of advertising, but I think counterpoint to this discussion). I went to the local oriental market to buy some foods for Stir Fry and Tom Kha Gai that they don't stock at Whole Foods or Safeway. The latter of which I usually shop at due to their proximity rather than advertising. In fact, the highest ad rate for grocers locally is Albertson's (which I've NEVER been to) or Fry's, which I go to if I'm passing one and need to pick something up.
Yes, sometimes I crazy McDonald's... how does this have to do with advertising? I don't buy because of the TV. I buy because I'm hungry, have little time and see the golden arches down the block. You know what? If it was some OTHER place right there, that's probably where I'd go. It seems to me that you can make an argument for successful advertising for ANYTHING, just because it's been bought. I bought my baby a Fisher-Price toy... must be because Fisher-Price advertises (though mostly in magazines I don't read). No, not really...
Does anyone have a more definitive concept for advertising working? Not statistics (which like anyhow). Something logical and real?