Unexpected Advertisement in Your Own Car
Imagine starting your car, and instead of the usual multimedia system splash screen, an advertising message appears on the display. While this sounds like a scene from a dystopian film, such practice already exists, and the Jeep company is actively using it.
Evidence from Users
According to a Reddit user’s report, their 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee tried to sell them another car. The ad notification offered a $1500 bonus for purchasing a new Jeep SUV. This is not an isolated case — similar notifications advertising extended warranties have appeared before.
Posts from the assholedesign community on Reddit
Attempts to Opt Out of Advertisements
The advertisement contained a phone number to opt out of further notifications. However, this number turned out to be a general one for several brands, including Dodge, Ram, Alfa Romeo, and Fiat, and is intended for inquiries regarding Connect service packages. This significantly complicates the opt-out process, as customers have to spend time on phone calls.
Manufacturer’s Response
A Jeep representative explained that similar notifications had appeared earlier due to a temporary software glitch, which in some cases complicated the immediate opt-out from advertisements. However, in the new case, customers are offered to call a number, which can hardly be called a quick solution.
Advertising in Other Devices
Such practice is not limited to cars. For example, Samsung has started showing advertising messages on expensive Family Hub series refrigerators, which have external displays with diagonals of 21.5 or 32 inches. Initially, the ads were small, but later full-screen advertisements appeared, for instance, for Apple TV series.
Apparently my samsung fridge has ads now… by u/Shellnanigans in assholedesign
How to Avoid Advertisements
Samsung refrigerator owners can disable ads in the device settings by selecting the “Advertisements” option and turning off “Cover Screen Ads”. However, for Jeep car owners, the opt-out process remains more complicated and requires additional effort.
Impact on Customers
Showing advertisements in existing products can irritate customers and, conversely, deter them from purchasing new models. Some users are already expressing dissatisfaction and considering switching brands for their next purchase.
The integration of advertisements into everyday devices such as cars and household appliances is becoming increasingly common. This raises questions about the balance between additional revenue for manufacturers and user comfort. Many believe that such actions violate personal space and can lead to a loss of trust in brands. In the future, manufacturers will likely have to reconsider their approaches to avoid losing customer loyalty.