Ads: Not all sugar

Many products sell a lot more due to creative advertising. Many indulge in misleading ads too. Apart from the TV sales items, prestigious products also misled consumers.

In July, Peugeot advertised a package deal "To celebrate the French national day" which offered "limited stock of their latest car which would cost only Rp 1 million per month".

As it turned out, this deal is still being offered today and the Rp 1 million per month over four years amounts to Rp 86 million.

A normal four-year loan would cost less than this "package deal" which, as they put it, is "to celebrate the French national day".

I do not see how the French Embassy can allow Peugeot to associate their national day in this misleading manner.

Recently, a Peugeot showroom in Kebayoran sent me an invitation to collect a free key-ring "at the closest Peugeot dealership". With this in hand I visited the showroom in Kelapa Gading, where the lady sales executive advised me to collect the key-ring from the branch that sent me the invitation. On questioning her on the term "closest Peugeot dealership" she conferred with some of her associates and somebody else came up to me and said: "Very sorry Sir, but we are out of stock."

Finally, Peugeot in Kebayoran confirmed that you have to order a car, make a down payment and only then as a token of appreciation you will be given a key-ring. Another misleading promotion. I wonder if the marketing team at Peugeot realizes that one does not have to spend Rp 60 million to receive a free key-ring, but only needs to walk into any department store and buy a Rp 150,000 bottle of perfume, and rest assured you will be showered with gifts more valuable than a key-ring.

Clark Hatch's recent three times a week advertisement seemed good; so I decided to try their gym at the Papandayan Hotel in Bandung recently. Surprise, of the two treadmills, one was out of order, the other not suitable for jogging on as the rubber mat on it was torn/worn out. The spa which consists of only a sauna was out of order, and has been for quite some time.

Well, advertising -- not all sugar as some make it seem.

SUBASH L.A.

Jakarta