Turned off by Bond-related marketing

[SpaceWanderer]

Originally Posted by Tony64

Woah, woah, woah. Hold on there a second. We can have a civil disagreement on product placement, but to describe F1 as a 'useless event'? That's just uninformed.

Formula One racing is a billion dollar industry that has produced major contributions and technological advancements that we enjoy every day. Do you drive a car? Thank Formula One.
Suspension, ignition, steering, traction control, brake technology, advanced safety features, and even tire development is in large part thanks to Formula One.

Still think its a 'useless sport'? Take some time and read a little about the incredible developments that have translated from track to road. I think you might reconsider your opinion.

Well said, and it's the same as with motorcycle racing. So many of the advancements (especially on the tire and braking side) that modern street bikes enjoy come straight from racing development. In many ways the line has been even more direct from the track to the street with bikes, but F1 racing has even helped motorcycle development especially in the area of materials use. To say these advancements have saved a lot of lives is no overstatement.

[themaninblack]

Originally Posted by Tony64

Suspension, ignition, steering, traction control, brake technology, advanced safety features, and even tire development is in large part thanks to Formula One.

Still think its a 'useless sport'? Take some time and read a little about the incredible developments that have translated from track to road. I think you might reconsider your opinion.

All of that could have and would have been developed without F1 if there was a will to do so. There are many ways to conduct R&D but all of the stuff about advancements in technology for the everyday man through F1 is largely marketing hyperbole. Okay call me a cynic. Tesla has substantially blown the entire nonsense of the auto industry out of the water but that's a big and seperate debate.

Back to this debate, Rolex is really no different to Omega or Tag Heuer in the marketing of myth and legend and saturating popular events with their presence.

[cardiel]

The new Bond movies are one gigantic product placement.

[photodork]

i enjoyed brosnans take on jb. i liked it enough to buy my first 'real' watch, the seamaster pro. more than 15yrs later, i still enjoy the hell out of this thing. its my daily wearer and rarely take it off.

cool story, i was working as an lan admin and was doing some upgrades on a primary/elementary school, when a 6 yr old boy came over to me and asked if i had james bonds watch as he has seen it in the video games. i told him i had the civilian model. he was disappointed as he wanted me to shoot the laser through the 400 gallon fishtank to see if it would burn a hole in the glass.

[IMG][/IMG]

[locutus49]

Ian Fleming used certain brands - Rolex, Smedley shirts, etc. - as social markers to color his Bond character as an upper class gentleman, which Ian himself was. Ian Fleming also wore a Rolex and his character was partly based on himself. Source: the biography of Ian Fleming.

[psv]

I cannot stand Omega's forced connection to James Bond. And the Swatch Group's tendency to beat a dead horse when it comes to marketing (how many limited/special run Speedmasters can you make?)

Don't get me wrong, Omega is a great watch brand, they have some epic designs, but their modern day marketing dept drives me crazy.

Oh well, bought product placement in movies irks me in general, but nothing more so then Omega and JB.

[superdog]

Sitting waiting for a customer. Long, tough thread to get through.

My favorite post was the picture of the watch.

I saw at the boutique they had a watch designed for the bond brand. It's got a 007 on the dial.

I admit to not loving the overly overt association.

However, upon seeing the spectre watch I was very impressed. The whole presentation is nice. And the bond association is minimal. A tiny thing on the nato, and something on the case back.

I think it was very tastefully done. I much prefer it over the original 300. Even the notice on the clasp is tucked away.

Just like 99% of normal people don't notice the minutiae that most of us watch nerds notice, no one would ever know it was associated with "Bond"

[Brianlap55]

I like it

If you read the bond novels there is a ton of product placement

No different here

[locutus49]

You are dead wrong. Product placement means the company pays for their product to be used/mentioned. Ian Fleming used brand names as status signifiers to better describe Bond's character and personality, which had much in common with that of Ian Fleming himself. No corporate payments were made.

Originally Posted by Brianlap55

I like it

If you read the bond novels there is a ton of product placement

No different here

[OneEyedHito]

The film was the worst Craig entry yet, and the product placement throughout including commercials for alcohol and such was a drag for sure. Looking forward to the next set of entries and less seriousness.

[vman]

Originally Posted by OneEyedHito

The film was the worst Craig entry yet, and the product placement throughout including commercials for alcohol and such was a drag for sure. Looking forward to the next set of entries and less seriousness.

+1

You know that product placement goes wrong when M wears a better suit than Bond. Oh, cute matching sunglasses too :-)

In any case, I found the movie to be an expensive ad.

[Roll the Lex]

Could be worse- saw a Star Wars themed ad for make up. Make up? Really?

Anyways, Omega is makes great watches- I just chalk it up to the necessasry evil of doing business in the luxury watch market

[DCheeta]

I think in the new Star Wars movie Darth Vader wears a DSOTM. That disappoints me, as the real Darth Vader never wore an Omega. Just terrible.

Oh, wait, I think Vader is dead.

[TK-710]

Originally Posted by DCheeta

Oh, wait, I think Vader is dead.

What! I never saw that coming. Next you're going to tell me he was Luke's father. Thanks for the spoiler warning

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by DCheeta

I think in the new Star Wars movie Darth Vader wears a DSOTM. That disappoints me, as the real Darth Vader never wore an Omega. Just terrible.

Oh, wait, I think Vader is dead.

[Blasketbanshee]

Total turn off. Let the watches sell themselves with design and quality. I can understand a small association but it's been way too much.

[TK-710]

Love it or hate it; there are four pages of people talking about Omega on TRF.

[Le Chef]

Whatever you think movie viewers like what Bond wears, drinks and drives. The metrics give more and more marketers good reasons to spend large sums of money on product placement in Bond movies. Ultimately they're not after you, for many reasons, but for the guy/woman who is going to buy one expensive watch in his/her lifetime and is looking for inspiration as to what to buy. James Bond and Spectre might just be enough to get him or her to go take a look at what Omega has to offer. The retailers are doing a good job of capitalizing on that opportunity.

[Xenophon]

Originally Posted by Le Chef

Whatever you think movie viewers like what Bond wears, drinks and drives. The metrics give more and more marketers good reasons to spend large sums of money on product placement in Bond movies. Ultimately they're not after you, for many reasons, but for the guy/woman who is going to buy one expensive watch in his/her lifetime and is looking for inspiration as to what to buy. James Bond and Spectre might just be enough to get him or her to go take a look at what Omega has to offer. The retailers are doing a good job of capitalizing on that opportunity.

And I'm sure that that is exactly the reason of product placement. I know a guy who bought a Seamaster because "James Bond wears one".

[Le Chef]

Originally Posted by Xenophon

And I'm sure that that is exactly the reason of product placement. I know a guy who bought a Seamaster because "James Bond wears one".

Same for a lot of people who bought Subs "Because James Bond wears one" Whether people like it or not marketing works.

I heard a good argument on the radio about Spectre - the argument was that without the expensive product placement the movie would have lacked some of the most dramatic stunts. It's a trade off between drama and commercialization. Of course the alternative is you could pay a LOT more for your movie theater ticket. Take your pick of how you prefer to pay.

[Tony64]

Originally Posted by Le Chef

Same for a lot of people who bought Subs "Because James Bond wears one" Whether people like it or not marketing works.

I heard a good argument on the radio about Spectre - the argument was that without the expensive product placement the movie would have lacked some of the most dramatic stunts. It's a trade off between drama and commercialization. Of course the alternative is you could pay a LOT more for your movie theater ticket. Take your pick of how you prefer to pay.

How bout if we just have a few commercial breaks throughout, like at the beginning and maybe add an intermission with a couple more? Then the movie could be free.
Pass.

[vman]

Originally Posted by Tony64

How bout if we just have a few commercial breaks throughout, like at the beginning and maybe add an intermission with a couple more? Then the movie could be free.
Pass.

How about less stunts and more suspense or action. North by North-West and other early action thrillers did it in a tasteful manner. I guess stop dumbing down the movies :-)

[Tony64]

Originally Posted by Xenophon

And I'm sure that that is exactly the reason of product placement. I know a guy who bought a Seamaster because "James Bond wears one".

Sad. Just. Sad.

[s30n9g]

I'm turned off too.

[Tk421]

This was my first expensive watch and although I loved it at the time I flipped it because it felt a little 'kiddy'. Still think it was a cool piece but I traded up to the real thing.

A 5513 sub.

[s30n9g]

Just saw my mate wearing the new bond seamaster (with the lollipop seconds hand) on the omega bond nato strap tonight.
I just didn't have the heart to express my opinion!

[superdog]

All I know is that this watch is actually appreciating.

Very tough to get and in high demand.

Bond or no bond, they did a great job on this watch.

[psv]

Originally Posted by superdog

All I know is that this watch is actually appreciating.

Very tough to get and in high demand.

Bond or no bond, they did a great job on this watch.

SM300 Spectre sold out? It is readily available at most Omega boutiques, at least they ones I have been at. It is a "limited" edition of 7,007, for crying out loud.

[superdog]

Originally Posted by psv

SM300 Spectre sold out? It is readily available at most Omega boutiques, at least they ones I have been at. It is a "limited" edition of 7,007, for crying out loud.

Are you sure of that?

I've tried a little and been unable to locate one except on eBay which has a big mark up.

I mean, 7,007...that's not a lot in the grand scheme of things.

I could very well be wrong, but based on my small research, the feeback I have consistently gotten is that there are no more to be had.

Have you seen otherwise?

[superdog]

Originally Posted by psv

SM300 Spectre sold out? It is readily available at most Omega boutiques, at least they ones I have been at. It is a "limited" edition of 7,007, for crying out loud.

Not conclusive by any stretch, but online research and my own boutique tells me the same thing.