The Price Of Free Advertising

[tgm]

Do you have decals on your boat or truck?Does it make sense to pay for a decal ? how much to advertise a manufacturer's product?

I e-mailed a bunch of companies whose products I use,to see what their response would be.I did not tell them I used their products,asking them

to send me a decal.How many were just looking for a buck instead of looking to promote their product? I'll let you know tomorrow.Some folks

are truly interested in their customers.

[ChrisAW]

The guys I work with have their vehicles' back window plastered with stickers.

 

I have a TW sticker and a Bass Pro sticker. I would probably run an Abu sticker if I could get one. Thats about it.

[CayMar]

The results will be interesting I'm sure.

[00 mod]

Coming from a racing background, where you had to pay to get on the car. NO.  Not only no, but so much that I choose to have the tires on my truck mounted black side out, to not advertise for free what tire I am using.  Call it hard headed, but it was a cut-throat deal landing and keeping sponsors.

 

Jeff

[flyfisher]

So you are looking for free stickers and are going to complain if you have to pay for them?  Sounds silly to me.  the only stickers i currently have on my jeep are a Phillies and an Eagles logo, other than that the only one i might consider putting on there is Sage fly rods but even that would be a stretch.

[Brandon Dozier]

So you are looking for free stickers and are going to complain if you have to pay for them?  Sounds silly to me.  the only stickers i currently have on my jeep are a Phillies and an Eagles logo, other than that the only one i might consider putting on there is Sage fly rods but even that would be a stretch.

 

I don't understand what the issue is to begin with.  I have decals on my truck.  I don't get paid to have them on there.  I paid for none of them.  I do however appreciate the products I use and that is why I choose to put them on there.  Free advertising or not, who cares?  Promoting a product by a fishing company helps the sport as a whole.  I don't think he is going to complain if he has to pay for them.  I think you are a little off base.  Consider this an experiment.

 

As a side note, I am curious to see how OP's responses turn out.

[tgm]

I don't need a free sticker,It's about conglomerates grabbing every buck they can get.One company told me thankyou for contacting us,we are happy to send you a decal.after they said thanks for your interest,they sent me a truck decal and a boat decal.No charge,just plenty of character,the kind of people I want to do business with.  Quantum.Nuff said.

[Mr_Scrogg]

I got a SC Palmetto Tree/Crecent Sticker, and a Tottenham Hotspur sticker on the back glass of my truck.  A smaller Palmetto Tree/Crecent on my boat windshield. Will be adding a Autism Awareness to both soon. That's it.  I use to be a sticker wh*re, my kayak is littered with them (well not my kayak anymore), even the back glass of my WRX had a Wilderness Systems, Aquabound, Hook1, KBF.  Now I'm not big into them.

[flyfisher]

I don't need a free sticker,It's about conglomerates grabbing every buck they can get.One company told me thankyou for contacting us,we are happy to send you a decal.after they said thanks for your interest,they sent me a truck decal and a boat decal.No charge,just plenty of character,the kind of people I want to do business with.  Quantum.Nuff said.

so charging someone the price of the sticker means grabbing every buck they can get?  the stickers and advertising doesn't just come free and the purpose of advertising is to get more business.  I am not sure about you but i have never purchased soemthing because i saw a sticker on someone's truck before and unless you are sponsored and promoting products and promoting doesn't mean putting a sticker on your truck then you are not really helping them out in any way shape or form.

 

It is kind of sad that character is defined as giving me free stuff because i asked for it....to me that sounds like money grabbing even if money isn't changing hands someone is losing out on the deal.

[Brandon Dozier]

so charging someone the price of the sticker means grabbing every buck they can get?  the stickers and advertising doesn't just come free and the purpose of advertising is to get more business.  I am not sure about you but i have never purchased soemthing because i saw a sticker on someone's truck before and unless you are sponsored and promoting products and promoting doesn't mean putting a sticker on your truck then you are not really helping them out in any way shape or form.

 

It is kind of sad that character is defined as giving me free stuff because i asked for it....to me that sounds like money grabbing even if money isn't changing hands someone is losing out on the deal.

 

Advertising is so much more than "buy something because I saw a sticker".  I believe the point here is, why would a company charge a few dollars or sticker, rather than handing them out?  The cost is minimal and the return would definitely be higher than cost.  Even if people didn't run out and shop because they saw a sticker on a truck window, they will stick recognize the product. 

[J Francho]

I have a Delta Sonic Speed Pass sticker on my truck. 

[flyfisher]

Recognizing the product is different than buying.  20 years ago it may have made a difference becasue you had ot go to a store to buy something but with the majority of people shopping or at the very least researching online a sticker is just a way to say yeah i like this stuff and want everyone to know about it.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I've got stickers on my boat from sponsors on here who have treated me well and whose products I believe in.

 

I also could give two poops what someone else thinks of me. Must be the beard.

[buzzed bait]

interested to see how it turns out, i work in the home improvement retail business and many companies that stand by their product are often willing to provide free promotional material (decals in this case) as it helps to spread the word.  you may not buy something based off one person having a sticker, but if you pull up to a boat ramp and see the same sticker on a dozen trucks and the boats they're putting in you may feel more compelled to at least look into that product.  often times companies have funds set aside for promotional/marketing expenses, and just like their products they often update their giveaway materials.  you may not get the newest and coolest graphic, but perhaps they will give you last years decal for free....

[Mr_Scrogg]

I think I've PURCHASED 2 stickers in my life.  The SC Palmetto Tree, and KBF Bass.  All the other stickers I have recieved has been from purchasing things.  Tackle Warehouse, Spend 50 bucks.  Aquabound, I bought a paddle (2 actually). Wilderness Systems, From Chad Hoover.  Hook1, From Chris Stewart at Hook1. 

 

Stickers do cost money to make.  Believe me, I make them for a living.  Next time you look at your Coleman cooler, your kid picks up a Smilemakers sticker at the Dr or Dentist, or your nurse gives you a injection from a Ampul, Me, and my coworkers made that.

 

 

Go to some events put on by BASS or Heros on the Water, or anybody really.  I'm sure there will be retailers there with some stickers.  Those are the places that people get sold on products.  They talk to the reps, to the makers, to the owners. Get some insight into their product, and even buys a couple. 

[nascar2428]

To answer the questions. No decals on my truck or boat . Makes no sense to pay for someones advertising. I know it's the trendy thing to do, just look at today's clothing industry, nothing but walking billboards everywhere you look. It's one of the greatest marketing and manufacturing gimmicks of all time. 

[J Francho]

Fair enough.  Why the mention of Daiwa and Wavespin in your sig?

[Mattlures]

At some point I will get some decals made so I can give them to customers. I will do this because the cost should be minimal. On the other hand I get asked all the time for free shirts and hats. Guys say they will wear them if I give them to them. Now this just doesn't work for me. Hats and shirts are expensive and that type of advertising does not sell product. I don't think anybody ever buys a bait because they saw the name on a hat or shirt. It would be just a huge waist of money on my part. Honestly most advertising is a waist of money. Now I have sold shirts but I make it so I break even. I think this is fair. The customer gets a shirt at a good price and I think its cool when I see them being worn. If I sponsored everybody that asked. If I gave away free stuff to everybody that asked. if I paid for advertising to everybody that asked I would be out of business within the year. Most advertising is a loss. Good product, good prices, and good customer service are the best advertising. If any company giver their customers those 3 things then the customers will talk about their products.

seriously I get asked on almost a daily basis If I will sponsor Joe fisherman. He will wear my shirt and hat ( that I give him free) he will put my sticker on his boat and truck ( that I give him free) and he will use my baits (that I give him free). He will even put my logo on some event banner!!! a lot of guys just don't get it.

If I like a shirt or hat from a company that I use then I do buy them and wear them, not for any advertising purposes, just because I like the shirt or hat. If a guy has a bunch of stickers on his boat or truck and he likes it then good for him. I don't have any decals on my boats or trucks because I don't like to draw attention. The only time I think this stuff matters is if your a top elite angler and the big companies pay you.Then you probably shouldn't have non sponsor products decals on you, your boat or truck.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

^ This guy could write books on customer service.

 

I have a shirt from Mattlures, paid for and worn proudly by me.

[.ghoti.]

I have a Bass Resource decal on my back window. Last time I had anything on a car or truck it was a bumper sticker.. Said... Grumpy Hippies Smoke Crabgass.

[Sam]

My stickers on rear window and bumper:

A Crawfish

Army

BASS

Jimmie Johnson

Carl Edwards

FLW

LSU Alumni

Richmond Bassmasters

 

That's all, folks.

[derekxec]

no stickers on my truck except the rod building logo but that doesnt make money...that and i dont really like putting stickers all over my truck i like a clean look not a laundry list of stuff that i use lol

 

also hats, shirts, stickers etc all give brand recognition...the more people who always see your brand are more likely to check into it 

 

all that said i dont have a problem telling people what i like and use and telling them its a good quality product that is worth it to buy either 

[Glenn]

As a business owner that offers decals (stickers) for sale, I feel compelled to chime in here.

 

First off, I offer decals because members have repeatedly asked for them.  Not because I feel they're some marketing gimmick.  As Matt said above, decals are not an impactful form of advertising.  People like to show their affiliation with products/companies, and many members here are proud to display a BassResource decal on their truck/boat/trailer/wife's forehead, etc.  I'm happy to incorporate the wishes of our cherished members.  Again - they asked for it.

 

Second, as a small business owner, I don't have the buying power to get discounts on huge volumes of decals.  At a cost of $1 - $4 per decal on average (depending on size), I can't afford to give away hundreds of decals.  In addition, when you add the mailing costs of $3-$8 per order, it adds up pretty quickly.  So I "sell" them, but not at a profit, at cost.  I'm just recuperating the expenses.

 

As for our gigantic line of embroidered apparel that we sell - we get none of the money.  None.  Nada. Zero. Zip.   The orders are made-to-order through a third party that handles it all for us, including shipping and customer service.  It's a great small business just a couple miles away from us that offers outstanding, personalized customer service.  Ensuring our members get top-notch quality and service is more important to me than making a buck off a shirt.

 

As for our tournament jerseys - same deal there.  We make zero dollars off every sale.  We don't get a dime.  Again, quality made-to-order garments from an outstanding company.

 

Bottom line - it costs $$ to manufacture these items, and while larger companies might be able to absorb some of the costs (which I doubt, given the volume), small businesses like ours can't.  So the costs are passed on to the consumer - at cost.

 

If I could give it away, I would.  But I don't have thousands of dollars of extra cash just laying around.  I don't know anyone who does. 

 

Hopefully I've shed some light from the other side of the fence.

[gripnrip]

I don't need a free sticker,It's about conglomerates grabbing every buck they can get.One company told me thankyou for contacting us,we are happy to send you a decal.after they said thanks for your interest,they sent me a truck decal and a boat decal.No charge,just plenty of character,the kind of people I want to do business with.  Quantum.Nuff said.

They need all the help they can get anyways. Just kidding. . . . . . Or am I?

[whitwolf]

If I like a shirt or hat from a company that I use then I do buy them and wear them, not for any advertising purposes, just because I like the shirt or hat.

 

I'm on the same page, Matt.