Here is a story on WGAL 8, about fm 97 playing a commercial that is a scam. Why do they continue to air it?
Check it out:
http://www.wgal.com/money/23028882/detail.html
Check it out:
http://www.wgal.com/money/23028882/detail.html
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Scam at WLAN FM 97
- Thread starter paradioguy
- Start date
You listen to all these different spots; Credit Card counseling, Real Estate courses, Credit repair, Right side smoothie's, make millions on the internet, etc that run on all these stations and you wonder how many of these are actually legit. I suspect not many of them. But yest stations all over the area continue to run them.
Would a listener file a lawsuit against a station if they're ripped off? I'm sure there's a lawyer for hire somewhere that would love the chance to take on a conglomerate like Clear Channel.
Would a listener file a lawsuit against a station if they're ripped off? I'm sure there's a lawyer for hire somewhere that would love the chance to take on a conglomerate like Clear Channel.
G
grandoleopry
Guest
FYI Seltzer
Most of the ads of which you mention (credit Counseling, Debt consolidation, Tax help etc.)
Are all PI advertising ; in otherwords stations are compensated for those ads based on
a percentage of actual sales of the product. I have worked with many of these firms for
years....By and large the majority are legit and provide a useful service.
As with anything there is the potential for an occassional snake oil type product to come along
so stations do need to be watchful of this when approached by agencies representing such
products. As with anything there are reputable agencies out there and there are also a few
that are questionable. Any station airing anything that is found to be questionable should
cease running those spots immediately or certainly there could be legal problems.
Many local stations and most networks use these PI's to fill unsold air time and the legit ones
that I've worked with have produced tens of thousands of dollars per year in revenue. During the
economic slowdown these PI ads have become more prevalent for the simple fact that they
ad billing to the bottom line.
Most of the ads of which you mention (credit Counseling, Debt consolidation, Tax help etc.)
Are all PI advertising ; in otherwords stations are compensated for those ads based on
a percentage of actual sales of the product. I have worked with many of these firms for
years....By and large the majority are legit and provide a useful service.
As with anything there is the potential for an occassional snake oil type product to come along
so stations do need to be watchful of this when approached by agencies representing such
products. As with anything there are reputable agencies out there and there are also a few
that are questionable. Any station airing anything that is found to be questionable should
cease running those spots immediately or certainly there could be legal problems.
Many local stations and most networks use these PI's to fill unsold air time and the legit ones
that I've worked with have produced tens of thousands of dollars per year in revenue. During the
economic slowdown these PI ads have become more prevalent for the simple fact that they
ad billing to the bottom line.
Grand is absolutely correct and Seltzer raises valid points. There is, however, a "however ..."
If a good advertising agency places a P-I campaign, especially in this bad recession or in the first quarter, when times are really tough for radio, the station is under immense pressure to take the "buy" -- because it "could" lead to further "cash" buys as the station most desperately needs it. So, they do -- particularly in a daypart not important to the, say, early evening or nights. This is where the snakes come out. The colon cleansers, the credit counseling ads, super weight loss ads, software, etc. But herein lies the rub ...
If the agency accepts cash or a "P-I" deal for it (the agency) to make a buck (15% commission,) then it goes through the motions of legitimacy. Is the client in question making unrealistic claims? Is it a legitimate multi-level marketing company (selling herbal medicine, supplements, cleaning supplies, home gardening goods?) Is it legit? Is what we see on cable channels always "legit?" The answer is, most of the time, yes. Was screamin' Billy Mays right about his silly putty stuff and his "hands free" phone device or oxygen cleaning stuff? Yes, yes he was. Because it was so cleverly worded ... and legally, to NOT guarantee what it couldn't produce, that it passed the advertising agency rules (those of the AAAA.) It didn't "have" to work. Only one did. The rest is "guaranteed or your money back." Ever deal with that kind of deal? It's not that easy and many people just don't go through the hassle. Why, I know people who sill have vacuum cleaners still boxed they they just won't send back, but they get to keep the iron, so, what's another payment of something not being used? It happens everyday. Ever tried to return a CD with "This CD has the crappiest music. I want my money back!" "Uh, sir? You bought it, not my fault about the music. Your call. But if the CD doesn't play correctly -- and we'll determine if you wrecked it -- then, no, you don't get your money back."
The next problem, is this. The station or stations are NOT, by law, required to find out if the product is legit, only if it meets the advertising standards of fair trade practices. Remember the headache wax commercials that were so obnoxious and sold millions of tubes ... what was it, "Activ" something ... (I won't give it away,) that ended up not only curing headaches, but bad joints, bad knees, elbows, it made your feet smell nice and your armpits too? It was sued, sold, sued again, sold, and people kept buying it, even after being told what was in it. But the ads were legit.
So, the thing here is just like on those late-nite infomercials -- no, they aren't for "everyone" and are not "guarantees" that "the same results will happen to you." All it takes is for one person to be successful and "this CAN happen to you!" It's called "Let the Buyer Beware."
Ever "buy" that so-called "free" disc of "buy my product" software? Yeah, you get the disc. Free. But when you open it, and don't return it with the "next" set of terms -- that free disc just cost you $80 and you get them every month. A bad deal? Up to you. But read the fine print. "These results are not typical."
The "get rich quick" schemes have been around -- and will be -- forever. Once you ask, then invest, you're sunk. Just check the internet for all those "scams." They really aren't. There are, however, "gullible people" who will try anything at least once.
Not the station's responsibility and, yes, they could reject the ad if they wanted to. But ever face an agency buyer of hundreds of thousands of dollars that says, "You know, Charlie, you didn't air that P-I campaign and I'm glad your competitor did. Kept me in business for the next year ... and your competition is getting a few more buys that you won't get. But, heck, we're still friends, right?" It's the the station's desire to keep you from buying a bad product or a good one. That's up to you, the buyer.
Gotta go. Another nice lady from Ethiopia just wrote to tell me that my request to shelter her $24-million dollars from her ex-husband's estate has been approved and the $2.4 million I get is on it's way! I'm gonna be rich
If a good advertising agency places a P-I campaign, especially in this bad recession or in the first quarter, when times are really tough for radio, the station is under immense pressure to take the "buy" -- because it "could" lead to further "cash" buys as the station most desperately needs it. So, they do -- particularly in a daypart not important to the, say, early evening or nights. This is where the snakes come out. The colon cleansers, the credit counseling ads, super weight loss ads, software, etc. But herein lies the rub ...
If the agency accepts cash or a "P-I" deal for it (the agency) to make a buck (15% commission,) then it goes through the motions of legitimacy. Is the client in question making unrealistic claims? Is it a legitimate multi-level marketing company (selling herbal medicine, supplements, cleaning supplies, home gardening goods?) Is it legit? Is what we see on cable channels always "legit?" The answer is, most of the time, yes. Was screamin' Billy Mays right about his silly putty stuff and his "hands free" phone device or oxygen cleaning stuff? Yes, yes he was. Because it was so cleverly worded ... and legally, to NOT guarantee what it couldn't produce, that it passed the advertising agency rules (those of the AAAA.) It didn't "have" to work. Only one did. The rest is "guaranteed or your money back." Ever deal with that kind of deal? It's not that easy and many people just don't go through the hassle. Why, I know people who sill have vacuum cleaners still boxed they they just won't send back, but they get to keep the iron, so, what's another payment of something not being used? It happens everyday. Ever tried to return a CD with "This CD has the crappiest music. I want my money back!" "Uh, sir? You bought it, not my fault about the music. Your call. But if the CD doesn't play correctly -- and we'll determine if you wrecked it -- then, no, you don't get your money back."
The next problem, is this. The station or stations are NOT, by law, required to find out if the product is legit, only if it meets the advertising standards of fair trade practices. Remember the headache wax commercials that were so obnoxious and sold millions of tubes ... what was it, "Activ" something ... (I won't give it away,) that ended up not only curing headaches, but bad joints, bad knees, elbows, it made your feet smell nice and your armpits too? It was sued, sold, sued again, sold, and people kept buying it, even after being told what was in it. But the ads were legit.
So, the thing here is just like on those late-nite infomercials -- no, they aren't for "everyone" and are not "guarantees" that "the same results will happen to you." All it takes is for one person to be successful and "this CAN happen to you!" It's called "Let the Buyer Beware."
Ever "buy" that so-called "free" disc of "buy my product" software? Yeah, you get the disc. Free. But when you open it, and don't return it with the "next" set of terms -- that free disc just cost you $80 and you get them every month. A bad deal? Up to you. But read the fine print. "These results are not typical."
The "get rich quick" schemes have been around -- and will be -- forever. Once you ask, then invest, you're sunk. Just check the internet for all those "scams." They really aren't. There are, however, "gullible people" who will try anything at least once.
Not the station's responsibility and, yes, they could reject the ad if they wanted to. But ever face an agency buyer of hundreds of thousands of dollars that says, "You know, Charlie, you didn't air that P-I campaign and I'm glad your competitor did. Kept me in business for the next year ... and your competition is getting a few more buys that you won't get. But, heck, we're still friends, right?" It's the the station's desire to keep you from buying a bad product or a good one. That's up to you, the buyer.
Gotta go. Another nice lady from Ethiopia just wrote to tell me that my request to shelter her $24-million dollars from her ex-husband's estate has been approved and the $2.4 million I get is on it's way! I'm gonna be rich
Whether you realize it or not, many stations run barter inventory in exchange for morning show prep services, production services, access to Monday Morning Replay, a website that tracks airplay, and even jingles. There are stations who still run inventory from networks such and Westwood One and Citadel (ABC) for monetary compensation. Stations that run these barter spots generally pay little attention to content. All they know is that they had better air them as per contractual obligation.
Yes, I wonder about content, but I must run what my network sells in their network stop-sets or we are not in contractual compliance. We hope they do legit biz with those running that content..
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