Comments on: New Brooke Shields Routan Ads

By: Betsy

Betsy — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 18:26:28 +0000

It took me several viewings before I got the message of this ad, and I was disgusted. Having babies to get a stupid SUV? I am thoroughly amazed and disappointed with VW America for their incompetent ad campaigns. In a time when MPG is important, they push these stupid gas guzzlers on the American market, yet when is there ever an ad about the Tdis? I have owned a Tdi for years, and to this day, when I tell people I get 50+MPG they shake their heads, as if they had NEVER heard THAT before! What a shame! When I pull up to a gas station, often when I tell them to fill it up with diesel they question me and think I’m some dumb broad who doesn’t know the difference between gas cars and diesels. This ad was just another let-down from the marketing folks at VW. Another missed opportunity to reach a huge market in the US. And, if there is one thing this world does NOT need is an armload of babies.

By: Ladies' Hood Journal

Ladies' Hood Journal — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:24:40 +0000

Why is Brooke Shield putting her faded stardom, behind the German auto maker? The last time I checked, she was American with all her stretch marks. So, why try and influence the U.S Mom to go German?

That won’t help her come-back.
Ladies’ Hood Journal reporting.

By: Aimee

Aimee — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 03:31:25 +0000

In response to those making comments to the point that those offended by this commercial have no business being offended: It’s the responsibility of the advertising firm to think ahead and avoid offending a large part of their target audience, not the other way around. Those that are offended by this commercial have every right and reason to be– they should not have to feel obligated by anyone to suspend their sensibilities so that the commercial’s good reputation can be protected. An individual’s response to an ad should be respected and the respect for this should be in the forefront of an ad writer’s mind.

By: Still Offended

Still Offended — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 23:16:16 +0000

After watching this commercial when it first came out, I was offended. I have given it time, and I am still offended. Am I overly sensitive due to my own infertility and the knowledge that the actress in the commercials struggled with infertility herself? Probably. But, the point is that for the last several months my disappointment and frustration with VW has not changed. This means that my original reaction to never purchase a VW has solidified. VW has not only missed the mark, but has isolated prospective consumers, and some may be isolated indefinitely.

During the period this ad ran, I purchased a new vehicle and did not even look into purchasing a VW, despite my family’s prior VW purchases.

By: Matt Radel

Matt Radel — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:33:12 +0000

@ gregory: Well, if it’s on the internet it HAS to be true. ;)

By: gregory

gregory — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:21:55 +0000

I saw the ad and I was interested to see what other people were thinking. I didn’t find much on the internet, but stumbled onto a website that said the German government was supporting the touching of little children. I goes on to say that when a child touches an adult, that the adult sould in turn touch the child sexually. I don’t know what the German’s are doing promoting and distributing a booklet instructing how to do it. I associate the Brook Shields commercial selling VW, and touching the little children. I just think it is all weird what is going on over there in Germany.
There is a link to info about it if your interested.
http://elliotlakenews.wordpress.com/2007/09/18/german-govt-promoting-incest/

By: b5f51a1@yahoo.com

b5f51a1@yahoo.com — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:31:02 +0000

To me, what Ms Brooke said in the VW commercial was equivalent to others saying that postpartum depression was in your head and not real. Oops didn’t Ms Brooke have one of those ? oh, maybe she forgot

By: chris

chris — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:30:30 +0000

It stinks a bit like Lebensborn.

By: cris

cris — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:34:46 +0000

I agree with all of you about the insensitivity about this ad. I absolutly HATE it. I have fertility problems and recently had a pregnancy loss, and NO I’m not blaming this commercial for being sad about it, but it’s an awful reminder of what a women goes through to try to have a baby. To all of you who are talking smack about people expressing their feelings, I hope noone you love ever has to go through pregnancy loss or infertility, because if they ever do you will change your mentality of it. I can’t beleive VW is still running this ad, I do change it when it comes on, but it’s still awful, I was planning on buying a Passat as my first brand new car, but now I will never own a VW even if it were given to me, Id sell it first. I hope VW is happy with the amount of money they spent on the ads, because they probally lost twice as much in potential customers.

By: Volksbloggin.com » Make Babies at VW.com

Volksbloggin.com » Make Babies at VW.com — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:15:41 +0000

[...] on the heels of the controversial Routan TV ads, VW has launched a new site that invites you to make a baby without…ahem…actually [...]

By: Amanda

Amanda — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:00:36 +0000

Infertility or no infertility these ads just aren’t funny. If you are like me and are fighting this battle of infertility and these commercials hurt you that doesn’t mean that you can’t step back and see the humor in these ads – it means they aren’t funny. They are stupid. I take offense at the commenter who said “that we are weak to be offended by a commercial.” I pray that whatever struggle that they have to go through in their life that others show them more compassion than they appear to be showing here.

By: scott

scott — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 04:38:58 +0000

Having been a creative director for an ad agency for years I know that the car company was not thinking about those that are infertile. And although you may feel it insensitive, there isn’t any ad out there that doesn’t offend someone no matter how demographics are studied. I don’t personalize any ad campaign. And, those that do obviously can’t just change the channel or ignore it. As a gay male, I certainly can’t have children and it’s difficult in this country for us to adopt unless we go out of the country. Straight, infertile couples, like my cousin and her husband, adopted.

However, it took me a few times of seeing these ads to get them. I don’t think they’re particularly good or clear. One thing that adds to this is the rather complicated website they drive you to. I didn’t write it down, but when I attempted to place the url in the web browser, I had it wrong. And, I did a google search and still couldn’t find it. That’s not very smart.

So get over it, stop blaming the car ads for your shit. No one means to be insensitive, it’s just you personalizing the ad. It’s really you being insensitive not the other way around. If I personalized every ad on tv I’d be writing letters saying how dare people shove this heterosexual stuff in my face. How dare women show their tits on tv. I mean come on, do you hear straight people saying this stuff.

Get a therapist.

BTW… cool blog, man.

By: janice

janice — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 04:26:23 +0000

You are obviously not someone whose life has been touched with infertility. When someone you know (and possibly care about) faces this issue you may become enlightened. And no, people who walk down the street with their families are not offensive. Crass commercials are offensive and unecessary as well as actresses who have had personal trauma related to pregnancy and parenthood who are insensitive to their “sisters”. Lastly, adoption is not a picnic either and currently it is not a simple process. Look into the scope of infertility today and also into the eyes of those parents who want to have babies (but no so they can buy stupid German cars!)

By: janice

janice — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 04:19:19 +0000

Your incredibly rude comment is a sign of your ignorance and very disappointing to humanity. When someone you love (if you could love someone) finds themselves in a situation where they would like to have a child and they are not able to you will regret your horrendous mistake. And it will happen, because infertility rates are increasing by the second and you will at least know someone who it affects – even if you are heartless and don’t care.

By: Penni Peterson

Penni Peterson — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 02:49:22 +0000

“….to throw Nazism into this is a gross overgeneralization…”
Throw it? Overgeneralization? Hardly. When I heard “German engineering” coupled with “babies”, the only thing called to mind was Nazi Germany. Those powerful are keywords. It was so blinding, I failed to notice what the ad was even for. I had to overhear it several more times before I heard Volkswagon.

I later asked three friends if they’d seen the commercial. They had. I asked them what the commercial was for. Two said they hadn’t a clue. The third said “I think it’s for a car”.
No immediate name recognition or branding for 4 of us. So you see, it might not even be effective advertising. Of course, your target audience and VW ad execs are probably too young to remember Nazi Germany otherwise, there’d be no thought of “overgeneralization” or “throwing Nazism into this”. To older generations, it may be hard to be reminded of anything else.

Now that I’ve read the comments from those with infertility, the commercial becomes even more offensive. Tsk.

By: MAF

MAF — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 02:37:26 +0000

I find these commercials completely humorless and offensive. I owned a Jetta when I was in college, and am currently looking for a new car. I have also been trying to get pregnant for years, and have been so completely turned off by these obnoxious commercials that I will never purchase a VW again.

By: Wayne

Wayne — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:42:27 +0000

This is an attempt at German humor. The Germans have no idea about American humor and are clueless. They think mthe commercial is funny? It isn’t. It dosen’t offend me but is just stupid. The Germans are a mudane people and humor is unknown to them. Kind of like Swedish humor. I’m 25 % German and have been there several times. Let me assure you they are a humorless people.

By: Bill Gerstenberger

Bill Gerstenberger — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 01:52:16 +0000

My daughters VW is currently in the shop because after 60,100 and 62 months, the engine is blown! We have kept up with the maintenance but VW is denying the claim and will not offer any help with the $8,000 bill to replace the engine. All this because we are 60 days out of warranty. I hope Ms Shields knows what kind of company she is representing. We now have a daughter in her last semester of college, looking for an intership, with no car. I dont know about you, but I don’t have an extra $8,000 lying around. Buyer beware, they will not help you out. I know Ms Shields will never see this comment. I’m sure VW will hide it from everyone else as well.

By: ms

ms — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 01:29:15 +0000

I am very disappointed in these ads and especially that Brooke Shields of all people would partake in them. She herself had difficulty getting pregnant and that she jokes around about this subject is hurtful. I have lost respect for her and for VW.

By: JT

JT — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:08:31 +0000

Offended?? Do these adds also offend those who cant drive due to birth defects? How about the mentally handicapped?

What a bunch of weak whiners. Grow up, grow a pair and worry about things that matter.