2 ms·

Since everybody on HN never ever sees an ad, much less would actively buy something based on one, let me confess to having spent thousands of dollars on product

by pavlov 5y ago

Since everybody on HN never ever sees an ad, much less would actively buy something based on one, let me confess to having spent thousands of dollars on products seen in ads. For example, I have many pairs of awesome Portuguese shoes, and I originally found this vendor via their Facebook feed ad. That’s over $1000 of revenue over several years from a targeted ad which (I assume) cost them a dollar when I clicked on it. I’m genuinely happy I saw that ad and found a shoemaker I like without having to research it. Ads within the FB app still remain much more relevant than the stuff Google shows me on third party sites, which is much more random and often an eyesore. (Yes, I know nobody on HN uses the FB app either. What can I say: I joined at the age of 38 and was surprised that I genuinely like browsing FB because it’s so chill, just old friends and relatives. Nobody is angry or picking a fight, unlike Twitter where that’s 50% of the traffic.)

georgyo 5y ago
Interesting, Instagram ads have convinced me to buy several products. However after 3 bad experiences I have concluded that most ads are for absolute junk. Without a doubt I'm sure there are some ads that are for decent products, but it feels like a gamble to even consider buying something being advertised to me on these social platforms. If you find something you actually enjoyed at random, I think that is the equivalent of winning the advertisement lottery.
bigDinosaur 5y ago
I just don't see how you actually know you're going to get a good quality product without research. Since you have to research to know if the product seen in an advertisement is good anyway, if you do your research well you will come out of it with some good quality products in mind, and can then simply search for vendors. Nobody ever puts the negatives in their ads - why would they - so at best they're triggers to buy a product you probably don't need (after all, otherwise if you needed it you wouldn't wait for an advertisement, you'd be researching, or just buying whatever was at the top of the online store.) Basically I don't see how a targeted advertisement ever helps me. I find myself in these scenarios: - I need a product, say a new pair of shoes. Since I need these, for example in the situation where my current shoes are literally falling apart of inadequate for the weather, I will simply start doing research, asking people, etc. I don't need targeted ads here, and they don't target me based on product quality, so there's no point paying attention to them anwyay. - I don't need a product: well, then I don't need an ad for it either. - I'd like a product, say a new luxury pair of shoes I don't need. Well, why should I trust an ad? Upon seeing an ad I'll just go and research it anyway, since again, nobody will list the negatives of their own product in any advertisement. - I need a product, but am unaware it exists: the only area where a targeted advertisement really makes sense, since it saves me time (I don't know I should be researching it because I'm unaware it exists). But, uh, I've literally never had this happen ever in my life, and I'd be curious if anyone has any examples.
HWR_14 5y ago
What on earth did the ad say that convinced you "I want to buy shoes from some random Portuguese company online?" What did the ad look like? What did it claim? I have no idea why I would trust that company to deliver a product on par with, let alone better, than my current shoe supplying options. I also wonder if you're in the EU or not, as that changes the story. But I understand a lot of people wouldn't want to say on a forum.
- pavlov 5y ago
  The ad and pitch on the website was typical for a European higher-end brand that has local history but not the name recognition to really qualify internationally as luxury. They told a credible story of the artisanal tradition and so on. I knew already Portugal had a good reputation for leather products. The risk of buying a pair and maybe having to return it didn’t seem high. I think I was living in London at the time (pre-Brexit). There’s obviously no shortage of nice shoes in England, but I was new there, so finding a physical store I like was a lot more work.

by pavlov 5y ago

georgyo 5y ago

Interesting, Instagram ads have convinced me to buy several products. However after 3 bad experiences I have concluded that most ads are for absolute junk. Without a doubt I'm sure there are some ads that are for decent products, but it feels like a gamble to even consider buying something being advertised to me on these social platforms. If you find something you actually enjoyed at random, I think that is the equivalent of winning the advertisement lottery.

bigDinosaur 5y ago

I just don't see how you actually know you're going to get a good quality product without research. Since you have to research to know if the product seen in an advertisement is good anyway, if you do your research well you will come out of it with some good quality products in mind, and can then simply search for vendors. Nobody ever puts the negatives in their ads - why would they - so at best they're triggers to buy a product you probably don't need (after all, otherwise if you needed it you wouldn't wait for an advertisement, you'd be researching, or just buying whatever was at the top of the online store.) Basically I don't see how a targeted advertisement ever helps me. I find myself in these scenarios: - I need a product, say a new pair of shoes. Since I need these, for example in the situation where my current shoes are literally falling apart of inadequate for the weather, I will simply start doing research, asking people, etc. I don't need targeted ads here, and they don't target me based on product quality, so there's no point paying attention to them anwyay. - I don't need a product: well, then I don't need an ad for it either. - I'd like a product, say a new luxury pair of shoes I don't need. Well, why should I trust an ad? Upon seeing an ad I'll just go and research it anyway, since again, nobody will list the negatives of their own product in any advertisement. - I need a product, but am unaware it exists: the only area where a targeted advertisement really makes sense, since it saves me time (I don't know I should be researching it because I'm unaware it exists). But, uh, I've literally never had this happen ever in my life, and I'd be curious if anyone has any examples.

HWR_14 5y ago

What on earth did the ad say that convinced you "I want to buy shoes from some random Portuguese company online?" What did the ad look like? What did it claim? I have no idea why I would trust that company to deliver a product on par with, let alone better, than my current shoe supplying options. I also wonder if you're in the EU or not, as that changes the story. But I understand a lot of people wouldn't want to say on a forum.

pavlov 5y ago
The ad and pitch on the website was typical for a European higher-end brand that has local history but not the name recognition to really qualify internationally as luxury. They told a credible story of the artisanal tradition and so on. I knew already Portugal had a good reputation for leather products. The risk of buying a pair and maybe having to return it didn’t seem high. I think I was living in London at the time (pre-Brexit). There’s obviously no shortage of nice shoes in England, but I was new there, so finding a physical store I like was a lot more work.