Millions of people drive past here

Frits Pieper
20 January 2023

'Millions of people drive past here!

Your advertisement appears on screen 10 times per hour!

Every hour, from 6am until late at night!'

 

The ad salesman runs out of exclamation points to explain to me that I'm going to miss out on a great deal if I don't listen to him any more. That's what I'd really like: to stop listening to his nonsense... But first I'm going to let him sweat a little.

 

Because I'm sick of it.

Why doesn't this company make a note in their system that they better not call me anymore?

That almost every salesperson hangs up during the conversation with me, or bursts into silent, soft tears?

 

Our telephone operators Adriëlle, Vincent, Fleur, Bart, Else and Micha have known this for a long time. 

If that company calls about advertising at the airport along the A2, they can happily transfer the caller to me. Normally I'd rather not, but now I do. I speak to the salesperson with a devilish pleasure.

 

You may remember those advertising salespeople from the old days.

They always called during dinner.

My standard response was, 'Just a minute, my child is in the bath. I'm going to run upstairs to make sure he doesn't drown.'

Then I put the receiver down and calmly finished my plate.

It was always fun to check after fifteen minutes whether the salesperson was still waiting on the line: 'Yes, it took a bit longer, sorry! My child pooped in the bath. Oh, wait a minute! I see my dog ​​really needs to get out. What are you calling for anyway?'

Handsome salesman who managed to sell me something.

 

Well, the mega screen-along-the-highway-sellers do remind me of that. What perseverance!

 

It always starts like this (if the seller has been transferred): 

'Good morning Mr. Pieper, this is Marcel speaking. How are you? I have a great offer for you. Can I tell you a little more about it?'

Well, what do you say? Who doesn't want a great deal?

 

So I say, 'Yes, I'm always interested in great deals. What do you offer?'

'Do you know the advertising mast along the A2 at Maastricht-Aachen-Airport?'

'No, never seen it before, why?'

'Well, there's a huge screen hanging along the highway that you can hardly miss. Well, you can, but almost everyone can see it. And with Adrem Autoverhuur you can show a great advertisement on it. A previous advertiser dropped out, so I now have a great spot for you. What do you think of that?'

"I think it would be great. I've never seen the sign, but if you put our advertising up there, I think that would be a good idea, if it's not too expensive."

'Your advertisement will appear 10 times per hour and will be on screen for 6 seconds. From 6 a.m. to midnight! Millions of motorists drive along the A2, so there are definitely people who will see your advertisement. And that for a special price of €750 for a whole month. Excluding VAT. Only valid today.'

 

What an enthusiasm.

The man is so happy for me that I almost immediately ask where I should sign.

 

But wait a minute.

A photo that they show for 6 seconds, 10 times an hour.

There are 3600 seconds in an hour. So our ad is visible for 60 seconds. Per hour.

And that's not even all day long.

 

I ask Marcel: 'You're a salesperson. Can you count?'

"Yes, of course I can!" he shouts. "Otherwise I would never have become a salesman here."

'If I am visible 10 times an hour for 6 seconds, and that is 16 hours a day, what percentage of a day is that?'

'Yeah, I can't say that' Marcel answers. 'I'd have to figure that out.'

'Well, go ahead,' I say. But Marcel apparently doesn't have a calculator at hand.

'Calculator on your mobile?' I try again. But apparently Marcel is not allowed to use his mobile during his work.

Unfortunately.

 

'In any case, you are quite visible on the advertising mast along the A2 for millions of people who drive past there.' Marcel persists.

Nice summary of his story.

 

I tell him: 'Dear Marcel, it's okay. Not every entrepreneur you get on the phone will notice this. But 6 seconds long, 10 times an hour and that 16 hours a day is 1,66% of a day in view on your advertising mast.

That's not so much.

Or, better said: that's ridiculously little.

Marcel, if you were at work for 1,66% of a day, would you be quite visible to your boss, or quite invisible?'

 

'Toot-toot-toot.'

 

Oh, Marcel hung up.

What a shame.

 

Do you want to be more visible in this world? Then please don't go along with the bullshit stories of salespeople who try to make you believe something. Get a calculator or think for yourself.

 

You know what else you can do for that $750?

Rent a car for a month.

Draw a big middle finger on the rear window and write your message next to it.

Visibility guaranteed, during all 2000 km included in the price.

24 hours a day, 30 days a week.

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