Question

Please answer the following question in at least two well-developed paragraphs. (300 min words)

Dunlop Tires offered a set of free tires to those who would have the company's flying D logo permanently tattooed somewhere on their bodies. Ninety-eight people complied.

Is it ethical for advertisers to resort to such promotions dubbed "skinvertising"?

Do you think it is even effective?

Would you participate? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Personally speaking, it is unethical for companies to use the skinvertising as a media to persuade people in doing something for the business. The reason is that any persuasive advertisement should not exploit the individual’s personality. Dunlop’s advertising to offer free tires to people who permanently tattooed is an extreme promotional strategy. Though ninety-eight people complied, this is not an effective persuasive advertising because the people’s psychology was instigated for getting a free item. The tires might not be of good quality. It can be faulty, non-durable, etc. The persuasion is a form of misleading and manipulative just to lure in the people. An effective persuasive advertising is to attract potential customers and convert them into loyal customers. An effective advertising ensures long-term sustainability of the business. In the case of Dunlop, the people who bought the free tires might not become loyal. They just bought the tires because they were free. Dunlop exploited the concept of cost savings by middle-class people by offering the free tires. To conclude, the skinvertising is unethical because of the two unethical categories the advertisement falls into, namely- unacceptable purpose (tattooing) and unacceptable encoding/channel (free tires for the tattoos)

The advertising is not effective because Dunlop forced the audience to do something that exploited the self-belief of tattooing. The force is something that is exerted on someone to do it immediately. However, people do a task by force without any preference for it. The skinvertising is highly ineffective because people are forced to tattoo on their body for free tires. A good effective advertising should be build a good image in the minds of the customers that they volunteer to do things for the business. The company should act as a guiding member rather than exploit their income level status.

I will not participate in such advertisements because I strongly don’t like the concept of tattooing at all. This is my religious belief and I will not accept anything that compromises my strong belief. I am ethical person and find this Dunlop advertising unethical providing unethical purpose. The only reason that people complied in this form of advertising is because of thier income level status that might be lower.