Thread: Trying to teach or trying to sell?

I went to Quilters TV (http://www.quilterstv.com/) today, as was greeted by a Wal-Mart video ad. Yuck! I tolerated the ads that started to pop up at the bottom of the video screen, because I realize they need a revenue stream and I could always icon them - but having to watch an ad between videos is too much for me. I'd rather pay (and I joined QNN, so I do.) The fact that many of these programs originated thru PBS and are now 'commercial' just makes it worse.


Embroidery club at the machine dealers = trying to sell me something. Classes at the quilt shop = trying to sell me something. Now quilting shows = trying to sell me something. Please tell me I'm not the only one sick of seeing advertisements attached to everything!

Nope, you're not alone, Roben. And as consumer spending goes down because of the current economic situation, the ads will only increase. Supply and demand...the lower the supply of customer dollars, the more the retailers will demand them! :roll:

My biggest gripe is TV ads. It seems that its more commercials than programing. Then they turn up the volumn and I live in a condo so I have to put my TV on mute.
I am very rude to people who call me on the phone wanting me to buy something. After being bombbarded with ads from all sides, I refuse to have my phone taken over.
My next purchase is a TIVO.
I also have QNN but you do have to pay for it. Quilters TV is free.

Even my e-mail is swamped by flash animations across the bottom, hawking things. It is depressing when you can't avoid reminders that "shiney new stuff" is not in your financial future.

Nope you sure are not alone Roben!

I am even getting ads on the bottom of these pages.

Ads usually pay for the sites, the tv shows, etc. Just like newspapers and magazines, and yes, even the local sports arena.

I choose to not let 'em bother me. :lol:

I go to this site every once in awhile - went there just now. I'm a bit surprised that WAL MART is advertising - didn't they just take the material section out of most of their stores??? I know the whole supply and demand thing - and how it works, but this, to me, is adding insult to injury. I don't like excessive advertising either. I guess it's just something we will have to deal with.

One more thing - I just emailed the advertising dept of the site - asking why Walmart could/chose to advertise. She emailed back - "What ads? Where are they? I don't have a contract with WalMart." I told her where they are - maybe they will disappear??? Didn't mean to cause a stink. BUT if they are there and shouldn't be maybe I did an ok thing.

I try not to let the ads bother me. Without ads, the sites would not be there for me to enjoy. There are plenty of pay sites for those who want to avoid the ads, but I really enjoy having free sites to go to for information and tutorials. The ads at the bottom of the pages on this forum allow us to exchange ideas and ask questions free of charge. I love the fact that we're not charged for some of the best advice from some of the nicest and most knowledgeable quilters I know. :D

BTW, our local Wal-Mart was going to remove the fabric department but Wal-Mart received so many calls from quilters in this area that they decided to keep the fabric. Our local guilds also encouraged their members to call. Possibly if quilters in your areas started calling the company headquarters and asking to have the department re-instated, they may rethink their decision. If you call, be sure to tell them the town where your Wal-Mart is located. Hope this works for those of you who have lost your W-M fabric departments.



.

OK, ads on regular (free) tv, but when you pay for the privilege (cable, satellite), grr. Even WORSE in my book is the ads going on WHILE the program is playing! For example, I am watching "Deadliest Catch" and they put up promos for another program! VERY distracting and frustrating!

Celeste,
I was talking about free internet sites - not TV. We pay a monthly charge for satellite, so I record the network shows on DVR and FF through the commercials. It's amazing how quickly you can watch a show if you don't have to sit through the commercials. :D

Our Walmart retained the fabric dept due to so many calls but the quality nor the quantity is what it was. And so much of the other sewing things are gone. I know they need the ads - just annoys me when BIG companies run the show and can do what they want - no more complaints from me - I'm done!! :)

Roben, we all think that from time to time but I have to admit I am a quilt advertising junkie!! I love all quilt ads..even junk mail. I comb them over looking for that little tidbit of free info or something I didn't know or how to use a tool I have seen etc. I not only buy quilt mags for the 1 or 2 quilts I might make, but, the ads in the back!! Okay, I am sick...and, maybe not:0)LOL I live w/my sticky notes to paste on the pages to get online and check whatever out from them. If we can have free sites to go to and watch a quilting video and they have advertising...I'll put up w/it. Just get up at that moment and grab a drink in the kitchen and it will be over when you return:))...:0)Skeat...guess you could call me an advertising junkie:))LOL

Originally Posted by grammo013

I am even getting ads on the bottom of these pages.

Ad-block is a wonderful thing. ;)

I agree that ad blocker and pop-up blocker are great and I'm grateful I have them. I don't mind the small little ads at the bottom of this site either, it's my choice to ignore them. I don't much like the ads posted on the resources page cuz you can't tell without opening them if it is an information site or a commercial site so I am probably missing out on a few good reference sources, but that, too, is my choice. Ignoring ads that run at the bottom of TV programs is downright impossible! The in-your-face stuff is the kind that makes me intentionally NOT buy that product. :evil:

don,t you just hate it ,i used to like watch alex anderson on simply quilts ,then she moved over to the quilt show , now you have to buy the tapes or became a member just to watch her show, some show are free but they only let you watch their show so far ,then they tell you, if you what to more of their show you have to pay for their show to learn more about the projects or products pay pay pay ,that what it,s all about

nellie, you can see a lot of the Alex Anderson shows at the HGTV website - if you type in "Simply Quilts' in the search box on the Video Center page, over 800 show parts come up. http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/shows_qlt Be forewarned: each show is broken into three or four parts, and each part starts with - you guessed it - an ad :cry:

I'm not totally against advertising - as I said earlier, I understand that sites need a revenue stream and I do appreciate those that make the ads as unobtrusive as possible. There are ads even on QNN, but I can go to full screen if I want to. My issue with Quilters TV is that I'm bombarded - there are ads to the right and to the left of the video screen, and now to have to watch one before I get to the video I'm after is just too much.

As far as just ignoring it, I think its only fair to voice my opinion to them. Years ago, television used to be much different and then the powers that be let 'just a little' (insert your favorite pet peeve here - language, violence, etc.) in - and look at it now. I'll feel better knowing I spoke up, even if I can't change the world all by myself :lol:

Roben, for those of us that haven't subscribed to QNN (and are thinking about joining)and have no idea they are advertising on all sides of a screen do need to hear about that and appreciate that info. You are right. When you pay for a service, you should have that choice of ads or not. Think about it, aren't our ads in the back of mags (mostly)...so, why not do the same w/ads on videos, etc. If you are paying for something and the ads are on all sides, I'd be screaming too:)Send them a letter-we'd all like to know their response. Besides, w/QNN, did you want to pay for the ads or the vidoes and if you are paying to see ads, then they should tell all of us that up front. Thanks for the info, Skeat...who is not on any type of cable, dish, etc so I have no idea there either:))

im with you on that roben

QNN has quilting ads before Fons and Porter shows but not Quilt in a Day.
Some shows are broken up into 3 segments some run the full time.
Its crazy. I do like having the shows full screen, its like watching TV.
It is worth the 24 bucks a year. The only quilting shows they dont show is Simply Quilts, Her and Rickey Tims do their own thing.
Oh and why we have so many ads. The government took off all its regulations and free interprise has taken advantage of it. Thats why credit cards can charge whatever interest they want. This happend back in the 80s and it has gotten steadily worse since.

You're welcome Skeat. The ads on QNN aren't bad; just a box to the right of the video screen unless you go full screen.

I did e-mail Quilters TV this morning and got a response. I quote it here because I don't want to mess it up in the translation:

The ads are not from us. They came from the people that deliver our
bandwidth and without warning. We are in the process of switching
providers, but with over 3000 videos to move it will take us a couple
weeks. If you want to see what our new system will look like, click on
Marketplace on the right hand side. Sue Ann

I'm sure it is sheer coincidence, but the ads aren't there now. If they pulled them because people spoke up, then kudos to them for listening to user feedback!

Wow Roben...You got clout!:))That is great news!! Let us know how it works out:))Skeat........who will wait to see before any new subscriptions:))

OK, ads on regular (free) tv, but when you pay for the privilege (cable, satellite), grr. Even WORSE in my book is the ads going on WHILE the program is playing! For example, I am watching "Deadliest Catch" and they put up promos for another program! VERY distracting and frustrating!

I'm with you. Every fifteen minutes they take up the bottom third of the screen WITH SOUND EFFECTS to promo other shows and they need to knock that off. It's very distracting.

When cable came out, it was supposed to be commercial free since we were all paying for it.

Now we're paying an arm and a leg for it and be besieged with excessive and annoying ads and promos.

If I see one more male enhancement commercial, I'm going to blow a gasket.

If I see one more male enhancement commercial, I'm going to blow a gasket.

Cordelia, I agree.
I can't imagine that anyone would actually buy those products!! :roll: