Why do people give Corporations free advertising wearing their CORPORATE LOGOS ?

[AnArmyVeteran]

I do not buy ANY clothes with corporate logos prominently displayed. I refuse to be a walking billboard for a company.

Corporations should be required to PAY people wearing their logos. They are forced to pay celebrities, why not us? I wonder how much Tiger Woods makes just for wearing his red shirts with a Nike swish during golf tournaments. Just because someone is well known shouldn't give them special rights under the law to force companies to compensate them, when we get nothing.

I have never figured out why anyone would want to voluntarily showcase a corporation's brand on their bodies. What kind of status symbol is it to be an unpaid walking billboard for a corporation? I just don't get it. And I don't understand the fascination people have with buying Nike or Reebox shoes. Every clothing or department store I've shopped all have logo-laden clothes for sale. I've seen racks of t-shirts with nothing on them except a corporate logos selling for $10-$15. A lot of times I find a piece of clothing I like, but when I see it has a corporate logo prominently visible, I put it back on the shelf.

Every time I look at a sporting event it looks like all of the players are 'infected' with the same logos, like they were branded by their masters. It's sad when you even see middle and high school teams all wearing uniforms with corporate logos. How did schools get by before selling out to corporations? And how did kids learn more in the past without corporate intrusions into their school lives than they do now with corporate intrusions? (1) (see below)

Count me out. I would rather go barefoot and naked before buying 'brand name' pieces of clothing with corporate logos splattered all over them. The Nike 'swish' just reminds me of the slaves and children working in sweatshops who made those shoes. BTW, when I researched this a few years ago it cost Nike 5 bucks to make each pair, including paltry salaries for the exploited workers, shipping, taxes, import fees, and all other expenses to get them into the US. Then, they turn around and sell their shoes for $100 - $200 a pair. That's a big price to pay for a swish logo. I bet 99.99% of the people couldn't tell the difference between a real Nike shoe or a fake one without that logo.

In the 1970s companies started offering VW Bug owners payments to have their cars painted or decaled with advertising. A friend of mine took them up on their offer because the amount she was paid was equal to her car payment. It was called "Beetleboarding". I thought it was a clever way to advertise and at least the person advertising for the company was compensated. I'm not anti-advertising, but I believe people should be compensated for being walking advertisements.

(1) Has anyone seen that story aired a couple of months ago about poverty stricken Somoans who hold football practices with nothing but old, used, broken and discarded sports equipment? And yet Somoans have the highest per capita representation in the NFL. So it doesn't take the best and latest equipment to learn or be great. They are teaching their children something a lot more valuable in American Somoa than they are here.

[The_Commonist]

1. Because people are suckers?

I don't wear corporate logos either.
I have been paid (a tiny amount... I'm not any kind of celebrity) to do so.
Other than that, I would not even consider it.

It's branding.
People want to identify with the lifestyle their favorite brands represent.
It's sort of shorthand for "this is who I am."
And, of course, because people are suckers...

[existentialist]

2. "A farmer wears a cap with the logo of a

fertilizer or farm equipment manufacturer on the front symbolically placed to indicate who owns his frontal lobes."

Wes Jackson

[Juche]

3. Advertising works

You find a way to associate your company with coolness, success, wealth, prestige, etc. and people spend money on it.

Luckily knockoffs are ripping into their profit margins. Gucci and various other companies have huge knockoff issues.

[AnArmyVeteran]

51. I could put a Lexus logo on my Chevy and most people wouldn't have a clue.

That's a lot of money to pay for status. Why would I want to impress people who I wouldn't want to associate with? If they are so trapped by status they don't have their priorities in the right place.

I agree with you though. Cucci and others are having their brand ripped off. But if knockoffs of their products are identical and made for 1/100 the cost of a 'Gucci' don't ya think they are overcharging for their products? IMO, they almost deserve to be ripped off if they are ripping off people.

If you had a big celebrity wearing a cow chip on his head a lot of people would be lining up to buy them. Good grief, how shallow to be trapped in such a materialistic world...

[ParkieDem]

68. You'd probably do a better job than this guy

[earth mom]

4. Totally agree.

:thumbsup:

[Forkboy]

5. Probably like their products.

:shrug:

[depakid]

56. I certainly like Lucky Labrador's products...

:beer:

...and the shirts are damn cool, too.

[Initech]

6. I refuse to as well.

The only shirt I have with a corporate logo on it is Dundet Mifflin - which only exists as a corporation on a TV show.

[DrDan]

28. then there is the other one - Dunder Mifflin

[beyurslf]

7. Corporations are not "forced" to pay Tiger Woods or other celebs for wearing their clothes.

They want to pay the famous to wear them so that people who idolize those stars will also want to wear their clothes. There is no law about it or special rights. Nike would pay you to wear their clothes if they believed that having you do so would get others to do it as well.
And schools turned to corporations when states started slashing budgets and cut funding for sports' programs.

[Canuckistanian]

8. My wife got me a "Tommy Hilfiger" shirt once

I refused to wear it because Tommy Hilfiger didn't pay me anything to be a walking billboard for his products.

[dchill]

16. My Tommy Hilfiger shirt...

(also a gift) was 10 years old and good as new when I threw it out 10 years ago.

:hi:

[Canuckistanian]

41. I guess I don't understand fashion

I used to. I've bought fine Italian suits, expensive shoes, mohair sweaters, silk socks and pure wool overcoats.

But I draw the line at $60 T-shirts and $100 sweatshirts plastered with the name and pictures of the designer on them.

Call me crazy, but I think it's the ULTIMATE in tacky.

[immoderate]

57. I have some Tommy Hilfiger shirts without discernible logos.

There are some in his line. That's why I bought them. (Well, the price was right.) But I don't wear clothes with visible logos, or that can't be easily removed. The stupid polo pony that shows up on a shirt where the pocket should be, disqualifies that shirt. OTH, Chaps and Dockers labels are easily removed.

Some items traditionally come with labels, logos and trade marks. Sneakers and jeans come to mind. They are part of the design, like the hood ornament on a car.

--imm

[bobbolink]

9. I take it, then, you don't wear those bicycling outfits?

I just shake my head in wonderment that people PAY to wear such ugliness.

[reggie the dog]

24. i wear old shorts and an anti war t shirt when i go biking

[bobbolink]

29. .

:applause:

Someone talented with photoshop should do the suits with the corporation logos for politicians we KNOW are bought and paid for.

It would make great billboards! :hi:

[reggie the dog]

33. make music not missiles

is the custom shirt my buddy got me in the uk, and we live by the artillery range, so it is provocative that I wear it outside all the time

[Foo Fighter]

46. Heh.

I have one that says on the back "Friends don't let friends ride junk." ;)

That said, I find cotton T-shirts to be too clammy to ride in so I do wear bike jerseys. However, the main ones I generally wear are those from the local road/MTB clubs. I don't mind advocating for them as they're non-profit and I like to support the local biking community. That said, nothing with the Nike swoosh (or similar trademark from other evil companies) will ever enter my house, much less adorn my body. Fuck Nike.

[chillspike]

10. i refuse to wear corporate logos as well

i like the idea of the native americans where everyone dressed as a reflection of themselves and who they were.

[NYC Liberal]

11. Who cares? I buy what's comfortable and what I like.

I don't really give a shit if there's a "corporate logo" on it. Logos aren't the only way companies advertise.

FYI, you just gave Nike, Reebok, Volkswagon, and the NFL free advertising with your post. Congrats.

[HughMoran]

12. Free stuff

...or you work for the company.

[Gin]

13. I agree that we should be paid....same with car dealerships

slapping their name on the vehicles we buy....irritates me to no end.....it's free advertising.

[RC]

39. It's for the cops to be able to better ID the car.

That's why the logos are on both ends and the model in usually on the back.

[onenote]

50. nothing is stopping you from asking them.

Of course nothing is stopping them from telling you no.

[DBoon]

18. I wear the logo of my employer

they own me during working hours

[rrneck]

14. P.T. Barnum's second most famous expression:

"This way to the egress".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnum's_American_Museum
At one point, Barnum noticed that people were lingering too long at his exhibits. He posted signs indicating "This Way to the Egress". Not knowing that "Egress" was another word for "Exit", people followed the signs to what they assumed was a fascinating exhibit...and ended up outside

[gvstn]

15. Me too!

"A lot of times I find a piece of clothing I like, but when I see it has a corporate logo prominently visible, I put it back on the shelf."

I just hate logos. It is a shame when they appear on something I like because I will not wear them.

Hilfiger used to have a tiny square with his USA colors on the shirt-tail of his button downs. If you tucked it in there was no logo visible. That was acceptable. By the time his popularity waned the whole shirt was a logo. Blech!

Calvin Klein started to get out of hand for a while too.

They should just let the cut and quality of their garments speak for themselves and keep their logos on the labels.

[truedelphi]

17. Have you ever tried to shop while on a strict budget for

Things like wind breakers, or long sleeved tee shirts? They are almost all corporate logo-ed.

My spouse drove me nuts one weekend because he refused to get anything with such a logo, and we went from department to department looking for non logo-ed items. He needed clothes - but everything had them.

[Warpy]

19. People used to do that because the stuff was free

and I'm going back years to T-shirts that advertised cigs and caps that advertised farm equipment or beer.

Now they expect us to pay to be walking billboards. No thanks.

The running shoes I have on now are black Reeboks, the logo barely visible on the tongue. My jeans cover it. There's no way I'd wear Nike shoes with that stupid swoosh, although my last nursing shoes were New Balance with a sideways "N." At least that was more restrained.

I've always thought t-shirts with writing and/or logos on them were tacky, fine if you'd gotten a souvenir band t-shirt at a concert but certainly nothing to wear outside the house.

If anybody wants me to buy their stuff, they have to keep the labels inside, thanks. I don't even wear Izod for that reason.

[gravity]

20. Most people don't care

When I buy sports shoes, I find the ones that fit me best and the brand doesn't matter. All the good sports shoes come from corporations and its brand is style into the shoes. In most cases they are able to style the shoes so they look nice with its branding image so people don't mind.

Usually the items on sale are the ones where the logos are too big and too prominent. They look tacky so people don't buy them.

The ones where the logo is small and subtle look fine and are more popular. Some people like the look of the brand. Some people don't mind either way. Other people like the look without logos. It is all preference.

[Codeine]

21. I don't wear them, but I'm neutral on the issue

because I do wear a lot of band t-shirts, and I don't much expect Morrissey, Flogging Molly, or Death in June to pay me for wearing their stuff.

[Sherman A1]

22. I too go out of my way to avoid them.

I don't want to be a billboard. I do have some, but mostly my t-shirts are bought at gift shops on vacation so they reflect the places I have been. I will happily wear one that says Cafe DuMonde from New Orleans, because I think it's a fun and it's a bit of a memento from the trip. Just to wear one that says Pepsi or Bud Light... Nope.

[reggie the dog]

23. I wear hempys, crop circle clothing

jus naturelle, braintree hemp, and hempworks clothing that has logos, mostly they are obscure, but I like wearing hemp clothes that have a logo with "hemp" written somewhere in it just because said hemp is illegal to grow in the usa, in other words the corporate logos I wear are all alternative fibre corporations using hemp, so yes, I wear ads for them because they are HEMP and i want many people to know about hemp. Also hemp costs about as much as main brand stuff, even less, and you are not getting cotton, but durable cannabis hemp.

[fleabert]

64. hemp.

hemp, hemp hemp hemp; hemp...hemp. HEMP!

i think you like hemp, but I'm not sure, can you elaborate?

(just kidding- :P )

[Initech]

25. NASCAR is essentially free advertising as well.

I have come to the conclusion that NASCAR is watching billboards move in a circle at 500 mph.

[sylveste]

31. it isn't free

it aint free avertising, it costs a lot to have your logo on those racecars.

[bobbolink]

26. Hartmann suggests all politicians should have to wear the logos of corps they get $$$ from.

[DrDan]

27. do you support free speech on t-shirts? Does profanity on t-shirts bother you?

If someone wants to wear a "Nike" t-shirt, or "Adidas", or "Corvette", why would anyone be concerned?

I think there are real issues to be concerned about. This is not one of them.

[county worker]

30. I wear TaylorMade hats and glove. I like the clubs.

[RedCappedBandit]

32. To show off how much extra money they have to spend on clothes.

I used to be very opposed to wearing logos and such. I just don't care anymore.
I'm not going to buy an article of clothing specifically because it has a logo, but if it is something I really like and is comfortable I won't rule it out just because of the logo either.
I still have a problem with spending $70 on a t-shirt just for the brand, though. If the purpose of such clothes is to show off/attract people, I really am not interested in getting the attention of those to whom such things are important.

[Johonny]

34. Yes Fashion is evil

I wish everyone wore the same burlap sack as me

[Codeine]

35. I wear brown paper bags.

I am MUCH more pure than you. You and all your Burlap Bourgeoisie will be the first up against the wall in the Fashion Revolution.

[AnArmyVeteran]

42. Hey, that wasn't nice. I think a lot of people here have Stockhom Syndrome!!!

BTW, I don't wear burlap! It makes me itch. But I have wore a bag over my head at ball games in protest...

I must have hit a lot of 'guilty' buttons in some of the people in this thread. That was not my intent. I just wondered what motivates some people to want to display corporate logos, like it was a thing of status or something. I don't need a logo to give myself identity or prop up my self worth. I'm not judging, but rather just observing and wondering. And I do find it to be a very curious phenomenon.

A lot of people attacked me for my OP. I guess they can't sort out their anger at corporations and then giving them free advertising at the same time. Maybe they are victims similar to those with the Stockhom Syndrome?

[Codeine]

43. "Stockholm", actually.

But my comment wasn't meant seriously, just a play on the other fellow's gag.

[AnArmyVeteran]

45. Until I get my glasses Im gonna have a lot of tpyos...

Please forgive me! I'm using a 5 year old pair after I lost my good ones in a lake...

[Codeine]

48. Off topic,

save yourself about a bazillion dollars by getting your glasses online.

http://www.slate.com/id/2198746/

I got two pairs for less than fifty dollars, and they're the best eyeglasses I've had in years.

[AnArmyVeteran]

49. THANKS for the tip!!!!

[AnArmyVeteran]

67. Codeine, I checked out that site and thank you! I also spread your tip around...

In the 1980s, my Dad read a report saying glass frames cost 25 cents to make. But then they charge $300, $400 or $1000 for them. I asked a clerk once why the glasses were so expensive and I was told all the engineering, etc that had to go into the manufacturing of the frames. But then I reminded her I was an engineer and I knew it took as much engineering to make those $3-$5 pairs of glasses at convenience stores as it did for those $500 pair of glasses.

The consumer has been ripped off for years by companies which peddle eyeglasses. But thanks for your tip. I didn't realize I could get a get a good pair of glasses that way.

BTW: Love the pic!

[Codeine]

73. I burns me to see people pay $350

for the same glasses and same lenses made by the same factories in Hong Kong that they can buy direct for thirty bucks shipped. It's one of the ugliest ripoffs I've ever seen. Get your Rx and focal distance and use them to save yourself a bundle. :hi:

[Cid_B]

52. I think Under Armour makes a great product...

... and it doesn't bother me in the least that they stitch a logo on the stuff I buy.

[NeedleCast]

77. I like Under Armour a LOT

They also do quite a bit of philanthropic stuff, it seems.

I know they're a big supporter of breast cancer research in my area and they've give away a lot of gear to local school where they're based.

Funny story about looking a gift horse in the mouth. The owner of Under Armour is, apparently from Frederick, Maryland. About two years ago he went back to his old high school (catholic school, I believe) and told them that he'd supply the school with about 2.5 million dollars in facilities, gear and other things (not all soley aimed at sports) if they'd exclusively use Under Armour products. The dean of the school (some sort of high level clergy type) went back and said he'd only do the deal if Under Armour gave them five million dollars of free stuff. So the owner told him to get bent and the school lost 2.5 million in free shit.

[NeedleCast]

76. I don't wear anything, ever.

And I use the word skyclad a lot, which makes me superior to all.

[yodoobo]

72. But we're not talking about fashion

We're talking about logos and advertising.

fashion is the cut, color, style of the clothing.

wearing logos are the advertising that we sheepishly do for free.

[Green_Lantern]

36. why do people drink Pepsi in public?

Isn't that giving them free advertising? I don't spend a fortune to buy name brands or go out of my way to get name brand clothes but if something is reasonably priced and looks good I'll wear it.

I don't think people need to walk around feeling guilty over clothing.

[Warren DeMontague]

37. Because they like the clothes?

:shrug:

I've got this corporate logo ALL over my shit:

[Morning Dew]

54. Yeah, me too.

I also have a shirt with the Callahan Auto Parts logo.

[joe_sixpack]

38. Think about Harley-Davidson

Not only do people wear the company id on their clothing, some even tattoo the logo on their skin! Now that's brand loyalty for you. I often consider a similar question about why people would want to drink Corona beer, which is terrible imho. Marketing works, and people want to identify with the faux lifestyle and attitude companies try to create around their product. Harley conjures up a tough, outlaw free spirit image, and Corona, even though it tastes like watered down piss, associates itself with a tropical, kicked back lifestyle in Cancun or something.

[shedevil69taz]

40. Tiger woods gets special treatment

because those companies think (and rightly so) that having him wear their stuff will get more people to buy it. There is no corporation that thinks having you or me have as much influence as Woods.

Now to avoid buy products from a company because you don't like their business practices I can totally get behind. I would just ask that those "generic" clothing items you do buy you check into those companies as well, my guess is you'd dislike those companies for some very similar reasons.

Not all companies that have products prominently displaying their logo treat their workers like Nike. Under Armour is a great example, and generally I like Under Armour products better anyway.

[eppur_se_muova]

44. They're good for a little fun sometimes ...

[AnArmyVeteran]

53. No, if you wear one you are bad and should feel great shame :)

[ZombieHorde]

47. I own a few band t-shirts because I like the bands. nt

[Dulcinea]

58. Same here.

I like REM, the Ramones, & U2. And I wear Adidas running shoes because they have the support I need. The only time I buy trendy brand name T-shirts is at the thrift store so I can sell them on eBay. (They sell well.)

[depakid]

55. Never fails to crack me up

Back when my alma mater won the Fiesta bowl I considered purchasing a sweatshirt, but instead of the Fiesta Bowl and my school's insignia, by far the biggest thing on the shirt was the Tostistos logo.

I asked the clerk at the Uni store if they had any without that crap on it -but apparently not, so they lost a sale.

As I told the clerk- I don't even like Tostidos- or damn near anything else made by Frito-Lay.

[deutsey]

59. Even my sneakers are No Logo by Adbusters

https://www.adbusters.org/cultureshop/blackspot/sneaker

[Name removed]

60. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[fleabert]

65. Care to post the companion piece that goes with that?

or did you sign up just to post one side?

[WeDidIt]

61. Marketing has made corporate logos status symbols

So it's all about projecting an air of status.

[spanone]

62. not only free advertising....PAYING to advertise free....don't get it

[slackmaster]

63. Without realizing it, you answered the question in your first sentence

I do not buy ANY clothes with corporate logos prominently displayed.

Choices, you haz them.

So does everybody else.

[BakedAtAMileHigh]

66. Read Baudrillard

he did a fine job describing how post-modern consumer culture "creates meaning through advertising" and how we use that manufactured meaning as a form of personal identity.

[LanternWaste]

69. I imagine there are many reasons...

"Why do people give Corporations free advertising wearing their CORPORATE LOGOS ?"

I imagine there are many reasons, one of which being (at least in my case) that I don't care one way or the other. That it is in effect, a wholly non-issue with zero consequences (again, in my case only-- as there may be severe and dire consequences if others do the same... :shrug: ).

Some people advertise politics, others religion, and still others a movie, game or television show. Six of one, half a dozen of the other...

[yodoobo]

70. I was just talking about this on cars.

on a trip back from somewhere far.

Why do we all run around and advertise on our autos to everyone?

Why is it necessary to have a big label on my back that proclaims "CHEVROLET, or TOYOTA!"

Or "ANTI-LOCK BRAKES!" or "FUEL INJECTED!"

I know what kind of car i have. why do i need to advertise to other drivers for free.

Why does the guy behind me care that I have fuel injection? He doesn't. The auto maker justs me to be a free billboard.

[fishwax]

71. "special rights under the law to force companies to compensate them"

huh?

I don't generally buy a lot of anything with big brand logos either, though ...

[Xenotime]

74. They don't know that they are partakers in capitalism.

[NeedleCast]

75. This Post Brought To You Buy Timberland and Nike

Seriously, is it that big a deal? I wear fashionable clothing most of the time. Sometimes it has logos on it. Who cares?

[OregonBi]

78. Why do you wear a t-shirt with

Che on the front?

[murdoch]

79. Hard to find it without

When I buy a shirt I go looking for ones without a logo on it. Sometimes it is very difficult! Sometimes I give up and look for one with a small logo instead of a giant one.

I wear a lot of L. L. Bean shirts, which have no logo on them, thankfully.