<p>I guess people do otherwise there weren’t be any celebrity endorsement ads. But really?</p>
<p>Am I really going to eat at Subway because Michael Phelps says he does? I am not going to be some 6’6" world class swimmer because I eat at Subway. I liked the fat guy who turned skinny better as an endorser.</p>
<p>I am going to buy a Rolex because top golfers do?</p>
<p>The quarterback for the Green Bay Packers does ads. The guy is so stiff. I guess that is part of his appeal. I have no idea what the products are that are being advertised.</p>
<p>I make a point to shop at the stores that sponsor my favorite race car driver, and will stop going if they drop sponsorship. It has affected my hardware and office supply purchases. I know I am not the only fan that feels that way. Because it is a sport where advertising money actually can affect a race team, I make a point to be loyal to those stores that are bankrolling one of my favorite weekend activities. </p>
<p>Other than NASCAR sponsors, celebrity wouldn’t influence me much, except to avoid products endorsed by Kardashians, Hiltons or otherwise untalented people.</p>
<p>Assuming he is still sexually active at all, I bet he did use it. Because he had prostate cancer surgery prior to that, and impotence is a common side effect of this surgery. Not all post-surgery prostate cases respond to Viagra and similar drugs but some do.</p>
<p>I used to make a point of buying Mobil gas back when they sponsored the US Track and Field tour, but I wouldn’t buy a say a specific pair running shoes or eat a certain breakfast cereal because some individual athlete got paid to endorse them. Today I still make some effort to steer my business to companies that sponsor the various PBS shows that I like. </p>
<p>So in general, if some company is sponsoring some endeavor or event that I consider to be worthwhile, I do what I can to help make their investment worthwhile. But I’m not swayed by the “Be like Mike”-type endorsements made by individuals. I’m not fooled into thinking that I’ll actually be any faster, cooler, richer, or better-looking for using the same consumer products they do.</p>
<p>I buy running skits, bras and dresses endorsed by tennis players with one caveat - if the players wear them. If it is good for lightning fast Sharapova, it will be good for slowpoke BB. </p>
<p>As far as Phelps and Subway… Turkey sandwiches from Subway had been staple food on pool decks eons ago when my little kiddo used to swim.</p>
<p>I think with the exception of the Joe Namath pantihose ad in 1974 [Joe</a> Namath and Pantyhose - YouTube](<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube) no other celebrity sponsorship had mattered much, at least in comparison.</p>
<p>And that brings up another question from me – how do companies know why a customer buys a product? Did I get this product because it was cheap? Did I like it because it was carried in the store that was closest to me? Did I buy it because I liked the commercials they aired with Kanye West in them, or because of the commercials they aired without him? </p>
<p>I think celebrity endorsements can work, but I think only if the decision is really small and there aren’t any other critical issues. I don’t think anyone would buy a house or a car (for example) based only on a celebrity endorsement – but it might be the tipping point between two products that they liked more or less equally. And if the decision is small, like buying a pack of gum, you might get it because of the celebrity endorsement since it’s not a life-or-death decision or one that causes a lot of money.</p>
<p>As if I could fit into anything those pros would wear!!</p>
<p>Agree with Ema–I wouldn’t buy something just because a celebrity endorses it, but I might actually watch the commercial because a celebrity is in it.</p>
<p>If I was in the market for, say, tools, I would pay attention to what a “celebrity” like Norm Abram uses on “This Old House” or “New Yankee Workshop”, or what shoes a runner is actually wearing during a televised track and field event.</p>
<p>I try to support the sponsors of my favorite race team and also certain products that contribute to charities that I support. I won’t go out of my way for breast cancer charities, but there are others that I keep an eye out for.</p>
<p>My son (14) tried out a golf driver because a golfer used that brand in a tournament. It wouldn’t have ordinarily crossed his path otherwise. He didn’t choose that one, but I can see that he is aware of the clubs and balls used by pro golfers.</p>
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