OPINION: RUBY: Would You Like Some Asparagus Sorbet?

May 2—As some of you know, advertising spiels interest me. Especially the ones that I think are dumb or don't make sense (a sub-category of dumb?)

Recently I've been noticing radio ads for the Discover Card. Wondering why someone would find these ads a reason to get their card, because who makes asparagus sorbet or calls the card company at 2 a.m. to ask about a purchase that's "not working for me"?

First off, they seem to feature a direct line to a real person. Now that would be great. Especially considering that I just tried to get through to a real person at MasterCard.

I needed to report a fraud purchase that had posted to a card that I closed last week (because of this). Having trouble doing that in their system, I went to the issuing bank and closed it in about two minutes. They kept the card to destroy it.

Consequently, I had to hassle with heir automated system, which won't let you in without your card number. The only way I got a real person was to call the lost/stolen number. It took four calls to finally get connected to a real person in claims.

So, talking to a real person right off the bat would be great.

But at 2 a.m., about a purchase I now regret? Don't you just return it to the store and credit your account?

Evidently not this ditsy lady, She needs to talk to her new best friend, the Discover rep. And what are the chances of actually getting the same person the next time you call? "Hi, connect me to Gabby, she'll know what I need."

Well, now, wait. I've been without my computer for the last three weeks due to a major hacking issue. In my excitement to finally have it back, I decided to google Discover and their ads. That proved both fun and interesting.

For starters, their age demographic (over 68%) is ages 18-44. The over 65's comprise about 6%, so their ads aren't trying to entice me anyway.

Most of their appeals hit through social media: 50% YouTube, 18% Facebook (not on my page, though). I guess they're using radio ads to pick up some remaining percentage of the audience.

Considering that 68%, though, it's sort of interesting that they spent about $7 million for their 30-second Super Bowl ads.

I also found that Capital One announced in February that they're buying Discover for over a billion dollars. Obviously there's big money in credit cards . . .

Anyway, my other discovery was that Jennifer Coolidge, a well-known comedic actress, is that ditsy lady. Had I been watching these ads instead of listening to them, I would have recognized her as that cute hairdresser in "Legally Blond." Who can forget the "bend and snap" scene?

Well, having discovered that, I watched a whole series of YouTube Discover ads, and I have to admit that I now think they're clever.

I don't know why some ads resonate and others don't. I never did like Progressive's Flo, who I saw years ago when I had cable TV, and then heard in radio ads. I used to wonder why, since my kids liked her, but I never tried to analyze it. Maybe I was just the wrong demographic.

So. I don't think the Discover ads will prompt me to apply for their card. I tend to close charges now rather than open new ones. But I have to admit, especially after my recent hassles with MasterCard, the idea of a real person rather than a robot answering my call is pretty tempting.

All of that aside, though, after my google quest, I have to once again admit: Making judgments without information is pretty much always just dumb.

PS: I also googled that asparagus sorbet. Turns out there really is such a thing. Although I do like asparagus, I don't think I'll be copying the recipe.