The most obnoxious TV car commercials

[Mark_Giardina]

My vote goes to the latest car dealership to grace the airwaves. You have these two guys, one skinny the other fat and obnoxious, (no not Vinnie and Angelo) with the fat guy holding this huge sign with a phone number on it. Now the sign is facing the sun, so you can really see the phone number all the time (like I really care). And of course all car dealers need a signature closing. You know like “We’ll see you right here!” Well this dealership came up with the most unique closing yet.“We’re HUGE!” My how original. One has to wonder if this guy is talking about his waistline or the number of cars sitting on his lot because nobody in their right minds are coming down to deal with these clowns?
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[Baldecki]

Its actually not that new. The same dealership is in Albany, Syracuse, Utica, and Buffalo. They just opened one in Rochester so thats why we have those commercials now. Ive seen them before when i travel to other areas in the state, so im use to it.

 

[Stone Johnson]

Fucillo (sp) owns 30+ dealerships across the country. Like his ads or not, he moves cars.

 

[Mark_Giardina]

Fucillo (sp) owns 30+ dealerships across the country. Like his ads or not, he moves cars.

This only proves that P.T. Barnum was right. Especially if one bases this dealership's reputation on the TV commercials they run. Be honest, would you even go near a car dealership that runs ads that aim towards the lowest common denominator?

 

[dhett]

Fucillo (sp) owns 30+ dealerships across the country. Like his ads or not, he moves cars.

This only proves that P.T. Barnum was right. Especially if one bases this dealership's reputation on the TV commercials they run. Be honest, would you even go near a car dealership that runs ads that aim towards the lowest common denominator?

But apparently people do - they sell cars.

Here's a blast from the past - I haven't lived in the Rochester area since 1993, but are the Gabriele dealerships still around? Their first was in Avon, then they opened a larger dealership in Churchville, I believe. Back when they only had the Avon dealership, they used to move cars, but they had almost a non-existent service department, and if I remember correctly, they used to run obnoxious ads not unlike what you're describing about Fucillo.

Gabriele was a shady dealership - they'd run ads with outrageously low prices, but with fine print saying "one at this price", and I think that's only because they got in trouble for bait-and-switch.

 

[anoldguy]

but are the Gabriele dealerships still around?

Yes, John Gabriele owns a Dodge dealership in Webster. It's still called Marina Dodge. It is the one that was by the Stutson Street Bridge but had to be torn down because of the new bridge. I went there once and looked at a car. I got a real bad vibe from the place. I know most car dealerships use obnoxious methods but I just got this feeling of sleaze and walked away from the deal.
As far as Fucillo goes, he pays his bills and I know is well regarded by the people who work for him. You get what you pay for with him. I would consider buying a car from him.
The most obnoxious car spots running, in my opinion, are the Patrick Pontiac ads. Every catch phrase in the universe is used...Will not be undersold, no credit apllication refused, we are professional grade.

 

[dampier]

The inexplicable use of two Segways in one of those stupid "Huge" ads made me focus in more on how stupid the ad was than the cars themselves.

Most car ads irritate me and I don't even waste my time at dealers with obnoxious ads. That means all the idiots in the parking lot with the big signs, the irritating Vision jingles (tip for rational living: don't put an overweight woman in the back of your car smiling with delight about getting a free case of cola just for test driving) and the hollering. I wouldn't have gone near Irondequoit Dodge when they were running ads to save my life.

And remember, the lowest moment in local television history was achieved in a car ad with the career desperation move by Wanda Miller faking a standup report. You just cannot go any lower. Not even the Bob Lonsberry commentaries Channel 10 used to run. Nothing.

And, BTW:


STACK THIS BUDDY.

 

[Mark_Giardina]

Yes, John Gabriele owns a Dodge dealership in Webster. It's still called Marina Dodge. It is the one that was by the Stutson Street Bridge but had to be torn down because of the new bridge. I went there once and looked at a car. I got a real bad vibe from the place. I know most car dealerships use obnoxious methods but I just got this feeling of sleaze and walked away from the deal.

His dealership is right up the road from my house. During the summertime I had to close my windows because the dealership had placed loudspeakers outside of the building and I could hear them paging salespeople out on the lot to come inside and answer phone calls. I called the town's Planning Board chairman about it and said did Gabriele ever hear of pagers, or cell phones? Eventually the loudspeakers were gone.
Tim Balconi owned the dealership before Gabriele and I purchased a mini-van from Tim. I liked the dealership and the person who ran the garage. When Gabriele moved in he replaced the head of the garage with someone I wasn't that comfortable with. Eventually I sold the mini-van and bought a Toyota Rav-4 from Hoselton.

 

[unverviking]

I used to work for the folks that sold Gabrielle his 1st Chrysler-Plymouth dealership in Avon... She told me many stories about them... When he was behind in the rent, she used to sit across the street in the diner waiting for customers to be in the showroom, then she'd storm in and start demanding the rent. She always managed to clear out the showroom... and get her rent money.

I have vowed to not buy anything from a dealer ship any more... Bought a minivan in April from Dorschel's, not a really good experience there either.

I've not dealt with her, but my folks have bought 5 cars in the last 11 years from the same girl @ Patricks, she seems alright, she's not done my folks wrong. My dad's a hard guy to dicker and deal with, and he's satisfied.

Oh well, just thought I'd contribute my 2cents worth on the Gabrielle relate...

 

[Sxottlan]

I had a real bad experience at that auto block place out on 31F in Fairport. Don't remember the name of it, but the salesmen were using every cliche pressure tactic you could think of. I get sucked into going inside to get a business card and before I know it, the kid is trying to fill out a loan application. Then he gets up saying he's going to go get something and I'm thinking, "he's going to go get his supervisor." Sure enough, he comes back with his supervisor. I just got up and left.

 

[BobRoss]

Mark... yeah, others are right. Fucillo's got dealerships all over the state. He started with an "auto mall" up near Watertown. They actually did a lot of advertising in Syracuse and Utica when it was just that, so I'm surprised he never had any ad buys in Rochester until actually opening a property there.

Now, the guy's got dealerships in Buffalo, Syracuse, one on the other side of Utica, and I think even one in the Albany area. His "pitch man" Tom Park is an independent TV commercial personality -- I've seen him on TV in Orlando for other dealerships, and he's probably on the air in other cities working for other dealers across the country. I've wondered how many, but last time I tried to Google the guy, I didn't find anything.

Anyways, the best way in my opinion to avoid "sleazeball salesmen" is to go online. Many dealers have websites where you can request a quote. Tell them what you want, they tell you how much. No BS. It's all in writing. That's how I did my last car. Believe it or not, "Mr. Huge" had the best offer among all the dealerships in the area who sell the kind of car I wanted. I'm not too pleased with their service department, but the sale was hassle-free -- by going online. I've heard different stories from people going there to shop in person.

 

[rochesternynews]

Fuccillo ran ads in this market briefly a few years back for the Waterloo (Seneca County) location of theirs. That county belongs to the Syracuse DMA.

 

[dhett]

I used to work for the folks that sold Gabrielle his 1st Chrysler-Plymouth dealership in Avon... She told me many stories about them... When he was behind in the rent, she used to sit across the street in the diner waiting for customers to be in the showroom, then she'd storm in and start demanding the rent. She always managed to clear out the showroom... and get her rent money.

I have vowed to not buy anything from a dealer ship any more... Bought a minivan in April from Dorschel's, not a really good experience there either.

I've not dealt with her, but my folks have bought 5 cars in the last 11 years from the same girl @ Patricks, she seems alright, she's not done my folks wrong. My dad's a hard guy to dicker and deal with, and he's satisfied.

Oh well, just thought I'd contribute my 2cents worth on the Gabrielle relate...

Iler Motors: typical small-town dealership. I used to take my car there for service. Then Gabriele came in and they were the anti-Iler. I stopped going there.

So she used to sit in Peppermints, eh? I'll have to ask my brother about that - he used to work there. I'll bet if George and old Sam (Peppermints owners) knew about it, they probably loved it - those two enjoyed any kind of mischief.

I never liked TV ads where the pitchman hollered at you - reminds me of the old saw that if you have nothing to say, increase the volume.

Still, it's better than some of the Spanish-language car commercials we get in Phoenix: annoying AND unintelligible with irritating background music to match.