Upgrade: Travel Better asks Would you drive a free rental car?
Walking around Paris during the last week, I’ve seen a few Smart cars completely smothered in ads.
Finally I got up the gumption to inquire with a driver leaving a Smart car plastered with fish, advertising a plasma TV: “Do you get paid for these ads?”
“110 euros a month,” he said. “It pays for my gas!”
Would you agree to slather your ride in ads for a little extra spending money?
While the philosophically rebellious side of me says, “Hell no!” The hyper-marketed, over-commercialization of the world by ad agencies hell-bent on plastering every available six-by-six inch space with ads is what’s really wrong with the world.
The practical, realistic side of me says, “Bring it on!” If I could fund (partially or in full) my year-long drive across Canada by simply putting ads on my Civic, show me where to sign. Especially if I could trade in my Honda for the super-sweet GMC van above! It’s a no-brainer.
Am I selling out? Maybe. Everyone has their price, I suppose. Mine happens to be whatever it costs to drive for a year across Canada.
Admittedly, I researched this idea a while back. A little Googling reveals that this is already a growing segment of the ad world.