Let Me Tell You What I Really Think
Okay, so this is an issue that has been bothering me for some time now, so I thought I'd share my irritation with everyone else!
As all of you who pay bills (which I would imagine is all of you) know, basic utilities have become more and more expensive lately. Our electricity rates recently went up and are reportedly going to be raised once again in the near future. The price of natural gas has also risen substantially. I understand economics, inflation, etc., so I know that rates do have to go up periodically for these businesses to remain profitable. That is all well and good, but I really detest paying higher prices as I see these same companies frivolously squandering money left and right.
According to www.admedia.org, in "1999, a 30-second commercial on U.S. network television cost $190,000 in prime time." Mind you, that was six years ago, so you can imagine how much it costs now.
Lately, I have seen several prime time commercials for our own lovely local utility providers. Several of these ads have had the audacity to say that they feel our pain about the rising rates, but they are striving to provide us with the best service possible. How kind. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe we have no choice about what utility providers we can use (in regard to electricity and natural gas-OG&E and ONG). Why in the world do they need to spend money on advertising? The point of advertising is to draw in new customers, but that's unnecessary in their industries! Maybe our utility rates could be a little lower if they were not spending all of that money on pointless advertising that will bring them absolutely no new business!
I know that this is an odd little soapbox for me to be preaching from, but this has really been bothering me lately. I guess it just bothers me when companies, public officials, etc. try to paint themselves as empathetic to the public's plight as they uselessly squander money.
That's what I really think.
posted by Nicole @ 10:38 PM
1 Comments:
Entirely agree with you on this point. It's ridiculous for a company to advertise when they are the only game in town. I think it is basically just meant to placate the mindless consumers of their services into thinking they are getting the best deals.
It's the same problem I have with pharmaceutical companies advertising - they provide a pill that no one else provides. It should be between you and your doctor what you get, and advertising only leads uneducated consumers to ask for medication that would actually be bad for them.
While you're at it, what about the fact that those thieving utility companies make you pay to send your monthly check to them! You have to pay the $0.37 to send your payment in - that just flies all over me.
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