CommBank asks: Why are we waiting to buy the things we need?
CommBank has launched a new ad campaign aimed at persuading consumers to switch to the bank’s new credit card in order to make the purchases they have been putting off.
With a soundtrack of “Why are we waiting?”, the M&C Saatchi-made ad features people making do with fridges, vacuum cleaners, spectacles and iPhones fixed with tape.
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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from the same bank who brought us the ‘equity maate’ commercials that persuaded people to remortgage their homes during the housing booms to spend money on stuff they didn’t need. How many of those guys are regretting that advice now that their houses have dropped in value and they owe more than their properties are worth?
nice, responsible stuff then from a financial institution whose future we guaranteed the minute times got tough 5 years ago.
perhaps they should stick to making jokes about bombs at the Olympics.
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An irresponsible campaign. Why are people waiting? Because they CANT afford it. The last thing people need is more debt.
Maybe if you passed on more of the RBA rate cuts they would be able to afford to buy more things using money they own.
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A credit card is now a personal loan.
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I find this super offensive. “Why are we waiting?”- because I can’t afford to fix my smashed iPhone, and I can’t afford to be in any *more* debt with Commbank- that’s why I’m waiting. Commbank, don’t pose the question if you’re not going to like the answer.
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Really? Is it all that bad that a bank can enable you not to put up with crappy stuff in your life?
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Watch out, nitwits. I’m going against the now popular sport of CommBank Bashing.
What’s wrong with a bank enabling you not to put up with crap in your life? If I could swipe away your tired negative comments, and owe a bit of cash? In a heartbeat.
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Why are we waiting? Fiscal responsibility perhaps.
Oh hang on, this is Australia. Sorry, carry on as you were.
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since when has advertising had to be responsible?
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Shameful. What happened to responsible lending?
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I am waiting because I am saving money and don’t need a new iphone5 because my iphone3 is kind of working just fine.
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Made me smile. Nice and simple.
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The premise is fine by me. Life’s too short, waiting sucks.
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Usual haters out I see.
Get back to work.
I didn’t mind the ad at all.
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If I Can, I will,, plus, the sun’s shining, sniff the light people
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Moral questions aside – Pretty clever though – good insight led campaign
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insight led? what? people want to spend more than they can afford… no shit! that’s an awesome insight. i agree, People should enjoy spending, but this is an ad worthy of the lowest of the low sub-prime marketers in the US. The sad thing is the offer will work and they will use it to rationalise the ad to themselves… this organisation is lost in the wilderness and is slowly getting hooked on the crack of “promo”… hopefully it wont be long until they check themselves into the Betty Ford Clinic for brands
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Commonwealth bank posted -47 billion- in revenue last fin year.
If that’s your definition of lost then I don’t want to be found.
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I agree that this is a very nicely led campaign and a well shot simple message with friendly voice and clear and effective background message. Excellent work.
I am troubled by the message, only because I have been here for a long time. and I remember a world in which Dad worked five and a half days a week, Mother kept house and family together and in order, and we all benefited from a home, three meals a day, warm clothes, beds, a television, a car, a telephone and annual holidays.
My brother and I had bicycles and we mowed the lawn on the weekend with a motor mower, and we got birthday parties and presents and the same at Christmas.
We never had a brand new car, but we always had a car, and I remember Mother buying a new fridge, a new vacuum cleaner and a new electric stove when I was a school boy. Mother died eight years ago and she still had the stove and vacuum.
Neither my Dad or my Mother ever had a credit card.
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A garden sprinkler made from a soft drink bottle…
Genius…
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For Christ sakes can we just comment on communication rather than taking the moral high ground every time a commercial comes up for a bank or a supermarket.
I’ll add Qantas. And even fucking Target to that list.
They’re just businesses you left leaning tossing journos. Yeah, yeah – it’s a pity they make a profit – through not if you’ve got shares in them, which you probably all do.
Hypocrites.
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Because it’s more financially responsible to save up to buy things, much like the Commonwealth Bank’s Dollarmites program taught me when I was in primary school.
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Hahaha this spot rings true. That taped up fridge shelf looks like mine.
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Because the last time I had a Commbank (student) loan, they incorrectly overdrew my account, whacked me with a $50 overdrawn fee and I didn’t eat for three days.
Harsh lesson in banking, but turned me off credit for life. Not owing a cent rocks. No bank tax on your daily existence. Thanks, Commbank!
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Feels like an old ANZ ad strapped to an Optus soundtrack.
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Hugely irresponsible campaign. Just at a time when we need to start making do with what we have, both for our back pocket and for the health of the planet. Cut up the credit card Commbank …
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If I had one of those cards I would buy Margaret a hug.
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CommBank tactics.
Sure, we’ll lend you money, go forth and spend on anything you want, but, if we are doing it “tough” we’ll recall the loan facility which will put you in default then we’ll up your repayments to triple what they were in the initial contract sending you bust then we own your asset and call in the receivers to get our money back leaving you with nothing. This is how they post $7.11 Billion profits…
Check out Unhappy Banking and Save Our Sando websites!
Ralph Norris is earning $63,000 a day for running the bank in this manner.
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Not sure it’s a question of moral high ground – more like basic brand management.
All the banks complain about bank bashing and spend $millions on campaigns that try to attach themselves to positive emotions – like Can – and projecting images that they’re really nice people honest and not like the others/don’t put profits before customers’ best interest (despite the supernormal return on equity they enjoy in Australia). And then they go and do campaigns like this.
Just basically not smart to undo your positioning with your own work – actions speaking louder…
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I *like* this ad. It reminds me of the values of creative problem solving that have kept this country rolling. It reminds me of all the things I have managed to prop up and keep functional, sometimes for years, when they were doing the job perfectly well but were no longer as pretty as they might once have been (a bit like me, really!).
There’s a lot to be said for duct tape and wire coathangers.
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Everyone’s complaining about doing it ”tough” am I missing something?
No, just well off. Smell that..? Smell of wealth! Oh my wallet…
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Ward – you cant be seriously suggesting that the target is to get you to default so your assets can be siezed? Profits would be much higher if there were no defaulters!
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5 months of spending on the bank and the rest of my money sits in my Home Loan offset minimising interest – Too easy, …as long as I pay it all back at end of 5 months its a freebee on CBA! …why not
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The country is in uncontrolled debt and one of the big four are telling us to rack up a bit more… perhaps they should jump to pass on interest rate cuts to its customers and reduce or (aha moment here…..) ELIMINATE fees on their general accounts.
Could result in stimulating the economy and keeping their customers happy. Let’s face it, loyalty is diminishing in the Australian banking world.
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