The power of a commercial can sway me to visit a particular restaurant, I admit it. Especially commercials for pancakes that look so light and fluffy I can almost taste them.
A few months ago I saw a Denny’s commercial involving a mom and her daughter. (I found it once on Youtube, but when I looked again, I couldn’t find it.) Anyway, it went something like this.
Mom: This $4 menu is a pretty good deal. We get a lot for a little, and it saves us money.
Daughter: Then can I buy a computer?
Mom: No, but you can have a milkshake.
What’s the power of the commercial?
On one level, the mom is teaching the daughter positive lessons – that spending less than they expected to means they have money left over, yet it doesn’t mean they have enough to buy an expensive item like a computer.
On another level, the mom is teaching her daughter a negative lesson – that ordering (and consuming) a milkshake is fine whether or not she’s hungry as long as the cost fits within their budget. Am I reading something into the script? Perhaps. But I don’t think so. Have you seen the quantities at Denny’s?
In my experience, ordering larger portions of food because they come that way in a deal doesn’t pay off if my stomach feels stuffed after the meal and if I get in the habit of eating more than I have room for. (Taking home some is a great solution.)
What’s your take on the commercial? I value your input!
p.s. If you’ve seen this commercial and remember the exact dialogue, please let me know. Thanks!
Posted on June 23, 2015
Norma Nill 