Are You an Advertising Billboard

[Narragansett]

I try whenever I can, to not buy clothes or other items that provide free advertising for any company. Not unless it is a small business, and have a relationship with them.

When I go into the parking lot of a Cabelas or Bass Pro It never ceases to amaze me the bumper stickers and window decals that people pay for and then drive around displaying them like a badge of honor.

You got your Hooker Headers decal in the back window?

 

[CH4]

Only have my NRA decal.

 

[Oldengineer]

Especially the ones that are politically vulgar. They teach our children inappropriate things!

 

[LVSteve]

To the annoyance of multiple car dealers, I either remove their advertising number plate frames entirely or turn them around and put them behind my plate.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have had Ruger, Browning and Berretta give hats and shirts to my wife and I, as we shoot their guns.

We were at the NRA convention about 12 years ago. We normally are long gone by Sunday afternoon, but we stayed late that year. My wife needed a new light weight shooting shirt, and we were at the Berretta display. She found what she wanted and we paid for it. In talking with the display people, they found out she was an actual shooter (not just eye candy!) They ended up giving he a tee shirt, a medium weight button up shooting shirt, 2 baseball hats and a visor. Along with the normal trinkets. As we walked out of their area and into The Women of the NRA area, they gave her hats, tee shirts, 2 range towels and a bunch of trinkets. I told her "It's good to be a woman Sporting Clays shooter that can be mistaken for Linda Joy!"

I own 8 Ruger's, and the gave me a tee shirt, just because I already owned that many.

I currently own 16 S&W's and they gave me squat.

Ivan

 

[Bald1]

I try whenever I can, to not buy clothes or other items that provide free advertising for any company. Not unless it is a small business, and have a relationship with them.

When I go into the parking lot of a Cabelas or Bass Pro It never ceases to amaze me the bumper stickers and window decals that people pay for and then drive around displaying them like a badge of honor.

You got your Hooker Headers decal in the back window?

Guilty as charged Pete. When I drag raced my 68 Camaro, performance parts came with decals. Decals went on back seat windows. It’s what WE did. This is 1987.

 

[RetCapt]

In these parts character assassination is a way of life. I try to do my part.

We live on the third largest lake in Calif. Bass fishing is a way of life here, including at least several tournaments per year.

That means the usual elaborate rigs bearing plenty of labels.

I am a fly fisherman. It is the only way I fish. I find fly fishing for bass out of my float tube to be one of life's great joys. We also have large trout here when the water is cooler. Great environment.

I need a way to counter all this crass commercialism. Since much (but certainly not all) of my gear is Orvis I do fly their flag. I find that many of my buds don't know who Orvis is. I tell them that is okay because they are just not the target market for Orvis. Their target demographic is superior, snobby, elitist fly fishermen like myself.

I also point out that us fly fishermen are minimalists, going forth armed with a single rod and reel and a few flies. This implies a reliance on skill rather than a boatload of gear. It also ignores the very considerable quantity of gear at home. The right label, without a lot of gear visible, implies the expensive gear necessary to go after trout and bass with just a fly.

Subtle condescension can be tough to bring off.

For this I need my Orvis label.

 

[JohnRippert]

I have a Shiner beer cap, but other than that I don't advertise.

 

[VaTom]

To the annoyance of multiple car dealers, I either remove their advertising number plate frames entirely or turn them around and put them behind my plate.

Back in the 1980s a large Oldsmobile dealer in my area would not service an Oldsmobile that had a metal dealer plate from a small family owned country Olds dealer (in business since 1930s) where a lot of city folks went to get the best deal. I know because I took a used Olds Cutlass in for a recall repair and the service writer said the dealer I’d plate needed to come off before next visit. I never went there again!

 

[Repeater]

Well Pete...I've got a couple that I always wear...

 

[Rule3]

I refuse to wear clothing with a big commercial label


I find it annoying when a gun company or ammo will "sell" you a ball cap with their name or logo on it! Heck, I do not wear ball caps anyway!

 

[JET4]

When I buy a new car I tell them to pay me to advertise for you or take off your name.

 

[CH4]

The only merch I wear is that I get for free, most of which I get at SHOT.

 

[mrchick]

When I buy a new car I tell them to pay me to advertise for you or take off your name.

I agree. Removal of the dealer sticker and plate frame is requested before the papers are signed.

I am a Carhartt fan, but will not buy their products that are emblazoned with the Carhartt name down the sleeve or across the chest. Nothing larger than the little square logo patch.

 

[Ματθιας]

When I was a kid, we took the logos off of everything. It all changed when the air Jordans came out. I remember the fad of shaving nike and other corporate logos on to heads a few years back. The other fad was putting "sex wax" stickers on everything. But, whatever.

As far as dealership logos, at least they are stickers and not metal ones screwed in place.

 

[Shark Bait]

I am guilty of wearing Black Rifle Coffee t-shirts. But I like their coffee and their politics better than Starbucks.

 

[wingriderz]

I am guilty of wearing Black Rifle Coffee t-shirts. But I like their coffee and their politics better than Starbucks.

I like Black Rifle never ever a dime from me to Starbucks

 

[326MOD10]

I don't have stickers on my car nor do I put gun/NRA stuff on except on my safe.

But I guess I don't get what the issue is if somebody wears a Pepsi shirt or puts bumper stickers on their car. Seems to be their choice and no harm to anyone.

 

[NYlakesider]

To the annoyance of multiple car dealers, I either remove their advertising number plate frames entirely or turn them around and put them behind my plate.

As a person that has bought a lot of cars & trucks over the years, It don't leave the lot with dealer stuff on it. I tell the sales guy and put that in the contract and as usual I do a good walk-around. If its there I have them take off the sticker and/or the plate surround.

I have bought a few Vettes and I have to say, those people know how anal Corvette people can be and know right from the get-go not to put junk on a Vette!

 

[G-Mac]

Generally, I agree. Why should one pay to advertise for big corporations? I do make a few exceptions. I have a Remington camo ball cap. They may have left New York State, but I still respect their heritage here and own a few of their products. I have an FMF cap. It's how us old motocross racers identify each other. I also have one from a local rod & gun club. I have had hats and T-shirts made to advertise my own business. I give them away.