News

**MSE Lawrence** · 15-06-2009, 10:21 AM

This is the discussion to link on the back of Martin's blog. Please read the blog first, as this discussion follows it.

Read Martin's "The best worst shop slogan... can you beat TK Maxx?" Blog.

Click reply to discuss below.

morg_monster · 15-06-2009, 12:02 PM

Not really moneysaving, but along the same lines I saw a board outside a gym advertising

"We guarantee you will lose up to 10lb in your first month of membership or your money back!"

Maybe you could get your money back if you gained weight?!
And what if you lost more than 10lb?!

young_victor_meldrew · 15-06-2009, 12:46 PM

One from the archives that makes me cringe... And I shouldn't even be involved in this thread BUT

"Safeway, everything you want from a store and a little bit more"

Erm, if its EVERYTHING I want from a store, then what is the little bit more? Something undesirable?

skhmmi · 15-06-2009, 12:51 PM

Some of the First bus routes in Bristol proudly display that the buses run "up to every 12 minutes" on the side. By my reckoning that means if you ran a bus at noon, and then 12:12pm, and then no other buses, this claim would be valid. You might be waiting nearly 24 hours for the next bus, but they are definitely 'up to' every 12 minutes.

Halloway · 15-06-2009, 1:41 PM

There are several things in slogans which irritate me:
1. The aforementioned 'up to'.
2. Use of inverted commas, e.g. We're "giving away" our sofas. Any text enclosed with quotes may be safely presumed to be a lie.
3. Any slogan which rhymes 'rest' with 'best'.

Best worst slogan I recall from twenty years ago was from a company called 'Ridgid Tools' (you know where this is going.) Slogan: some day you'll be glad you had a Ridgid Tool.

In similar vein, in the early nineties Camerons Brewery (from Hartlepool if memory serves) launched a low-alcohol beer called 'Stud Lite', whose slogan was "It's up and coming".

irrelevant · 15-06-2009, 6:14 PM

I used to go past a bakery in Stockport that had the slogan "Bread is better every day" above the doors. What, always better than the day before's loaf?

The worst I spotted was at Woolworths (may they rest in peace) once ... it said something along the lines of "Save from 50%" ... except most of the savings were less than 50%..

As far as "up to" (and "from") prices and discounts go, CAP advice is that at least 10% of the products should be available at the price stated. The ASA have certainly found against advertisers for using these phrases when there are not sufficient products available at the cheapest price.

Of course you also need to specify what the 60% is less than!!

Shop window displays are unforunately exempt from the ASA's remit, but if you can find the same unqualified claim on anything you can take away from the store, then they'd look at it..

Flickering Ember · 15-06-2009, 9:34 PM

Not exactly a slogan but it really annoys me when they'll say "Get this for less than £10" and the item is £9.99. I know a penny saved is a penny earnt but really!!

twentypenceoff · 15-06-2009, 9:39 PM

a tv ariel company had a slogan

satisfaction with every erection!!!!

wolvesinwales · 15-06-2009, 10:13 PM

We drove past one of these storage places at the weekend and now they offer 'Student Storage' might be a wise investment for parents with stressed students at home.

whitegoods_engineer · 15-06-2009, 10:29 PM

My Dad always claimed to have invented a phrase which, in the 50s and 60s days of hire purchase for household goods, worked well which was "Feather your nest for a little down"

DrFluffy · 15-06-2009, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morg_monster

Not really moneysaving, but along the same lines I saw a board outside a gym advertising

"We guarantee you will lose up to 10lb in your first month of membership or your money back!"

Maybe you could get your money back if you gained weight?!
And what if you lost more than 10lb?!

How much does it cost? £10?

DrFluffy · 15-06-2009, 10:34 PM

I love "SellFridges" in Stoke Newington...

http://noisydecentgraphics.typepad.c...1/dsc00125.jpg

vodkawitch1 · 15-06-2009, 10:39 PM

The word I hate at the mo in any advert is `Treat` it is used everywhere ` You deserve a treat` etc.
Makes me feel like a five year old.

twentypenceoff · 15-06-2009, 10:40 PM

i hate evrything being MY at the moment you know whsat i mean sets my teeth on edge

wolvesinwales · 15-06-2009, 11:12 PM

I hate the signs on reduced items that say 'Today you only pay £10'

Dont tell me what to do ! I dont pay anything unless i want to

vegankris · 16-06-2009, 12:05 AM

The Best Dance/Rock/[insert genre of music] Album in the World, Ever!...volume 5 etc. Er, does that mean volumes 1,2, 3 and 4 are falsely advertising by claiming they are also the best, ever!?

krazykidskate · 16-06-2009, 12:28 AM

Not exactly a slogan but brandnames that don't really work in the UK - Benefits - how can people associate this with luxury makeup products when it couldn't have a more different meaning in the UK and Subway -OK their sandwiches are finally catching on but has it taken so long due to the dodgy name? to me a subway is somewhere rather smelly that you are likely to get mugged.

Flickering Ember · 16-06-2009, 3:21 AM

"Your very own"....well, yeah, hopefully. I'm not shelling out for an item only to share it with loads of people...unless I buy something to give to someone or to share with them.

And again, a little off topic but, "Win a free...." Again, yeah, I'd hope so. A bit more appealing than, "Win a 42" LCD TV. Yours for only £399 plus VAT." Because if it's not free, it's not a prize!!