Advertising Trickery!
I know you shouldn’t believe everything you see or hear. Years of living on this earth has confirmed this…but, being a great optimist and a true believer, I’ve learned the hard way that I need to be a little more leery.
An advertising “trick” led me to my most recent bump in the road on my optimistic travels. On one exceptionally busy day—the kind with numerous stops on my driving itinerary—hunger struck me. I needed something to eat and with little time available, I needed to make a fast-food run to a drive-through. Ahhh! I decided to try one of those KFC (as in chicken) “snacker” things that are advertised so generously on TV. They are only a buck each—what a deal—and look large and delicious on the screen. (It takes the actor two hands to hold this food offering!) I ordered one with a beverage and drove out the drive-through salivating as the smell of the chicken hit my nostrils.
Once on the road, I reached into the bag to retrieve my “hunger reliever.” What?!!! This food item was less-than-large. I didn’t need two hands to hold it. (This was good since I was driving!) I didn’t even need one hand. I was able to comfortably handle my lunch sandwich with a thumb and forefinger! It was that small!
Now I know that a “snack” is just that: a snack and not a meal! The word “snacker” should have been a hint! But…it took the actor two hands to hold this menu item! It must be big! Or so I thought.
The one thing that this experience taught me is to look more closely at things, including TV commercials. There’s a new one airing for a chicken wrap offered by another fast-food establishment. Ahhh! All the actors are holding their wraps with two hands! Who does that?!
Now I know the answer! Two-handed holds are used by advertisers to trick consumers into thinking that something is bigger than it is. I won’t be tricked again!