Have you seen the American Express ad where the guy goes

[Raven]

up to the airline counter to buy a flight ticket and uses a credit card with kitties on it (not AmEx, obviously) and the gal at the counter calls security and he's told "Come with us, sir". Fascism pays!

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. Have you seen the Amex ad

where the guy goes with his girlfriend to buy her an engagement ring and is told his credit card has maxed out?

The girlfriend urges him to call American Express, and he does, and she gets her ring, and they get to start their married life together mired in credit card debt.

It's breathtaking in its stupidity, in its greedy little encouraging of buy, buy, buy, the consequences be damned.

And, nice girl he chose - one who wanted that ring so much, she didn't care that he was already in the hole financially.

It drives me nuts every time I see it.

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. What about the ad where the wife tells hubby "ok we need a new TV, don't go overboard"

and he's checking his balance to make sure there is room for the TV.... basically the ad promotes maxing our or near maxing out of credit cards.

[cliffordu]

4. My wife told me today that consumer groups were so upset at the original

commercial that they actually added the tag line "Don't go overboard.." after the commercial was completed, which is why she says it off camera....

[Liberal_in_LA]

5. Really? So people do notice...good. But the commercial still drives me crazy.

A flat screen TV isn't a necessity... something you need to max out a card over.

[snake in the grass]

8. HDTV

is a must, if you have a PS3. I'll eat rice and bananas for weeks for that.

[Obamanaut]

10. Different priorities for different folks, I suppose. nt

[Le Taz Hot]

11. "Shiny Things"

They do exactly what they're designed to do.

[Liberal_in_LA]

13. lol.

[Berry Cool]

2. I hate that ad.

Like they're not going to be convinced the guy is making a business trip because the card he's using to pay for it has kittens on it? So what?? Who the hell cares what picture the card has on it so long as the charge is authorized?

Every time I see airport security look like they're going to take this guy into custody and waterboard him, I think "Yeah, I'm sure this is the best thing airport security has to do, arrest guys trying to pay for their flight using a credit card with a silly picture on it. They could have Al Qaeda operatives planning to board a plane at some other spot, but no, they're over here arresting the guy whose credit card has kittens on it."

The one with the guy who blows the big business deal with the Germans he tries to treat to lunch on his card is just as bad. The Germans are all ready to do business with him, and then when they see he has a credit card with a picture of a comic book hero on it, it's over. They start making snide jokes in German in front of him, which is rude as hell, and then they leave, making it clear that he blew it. And his annoying female business partner simpers "Let ME get this" and hands over her AmEx gold card.

It's just dumb because it's so unbelievable. If AmEx is scared because too many other companies have come up with highly customizable cards, and they want to compete by selling people on the idea that only getting an AmEx business card will make them look serious, fine. Show the people with the picture cards getting laughed and snickered at, and being embarrassed, but don't show them getting arrested by airport security or blowing huge business deals. It's just not believable.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

12. In the one with the Germans, I believe they called him a child. I find this ad quite

insulting and elitist as are most of AmEx's ads.

[orleans]

6. no. but have you seen the swifter ads where the broom is in the hot tub

and the song "baby come back" is playing and then the brook is at the back door with a towel and the towel drops? or the swifter ad where the woman is getting a flower and candy delivery and the broom pops out from behind a tree and then up from the flowers? i LOVE those ads

[Liberal_in_LA]

7. Me too. Really cute ads.

[Tracer]

9. Another wildly irresponsible ad ...

... I think it was East Coast Mortgage (although I could be mis-remembering).

Encourages a couple having trouble making their house payments, to re-finance their high interest mortgage -- and voila! -- they'll have enough money left over from the re-fi to remodel their kitchen!