Is it sad that Iām too jaded to cry? Imagining myself in their shoes, I figured my reactions would have been (1) boy, this is creepy, and (2) okay, whatās the catch; what am I expected to give up now?
When I was younger, I was concerned about my growing cynicism, but as I curmudgeoned along in life, I came to regard it as the healthiest option. So now I can feel joy for the beneficiaries, admiration for the creativity of the benefactors, and still understand that the bank is my friend, a friendship limited only by the amount of money they think I have.
Yeah, this is nestled firmly in the uncanny valley of creepy marketing.
Itās like the mafia making commercials about the turkeys they give away on Thanksgiving.
Yeah, and I did tear up a little for the woman who got tickets to Trinidad to see her daughter who has cancer. Iām glad that sheāll get the chance to see her.
But the commercial is the work (albeit extremely effective work) of an ad agency, who spent relatively little to make it, with perhaps a few thousand dollars of their allotted budget spent on the gifts that the āthanking machineā dispensed. And itās designed to make you think that TD Canada is your friend, not one of those nasty banks you hear so much about. Well done, Ad Agency!
Being an american (I donāt capitalize it any more, nor do I sing anthems or recite pledges to it), I confess that I have no firm knowledge about TD Canada. Perhaps theyāre a modern-day equivalent of Capraās āBaileyās Building & Loanā, a lone good guy amongst a world of bad. But you can tell by the snark that I donāt believe that for a second. Anyone out there know of a bank thatās not designed to make all of the money it can (the defined nature of a corporation)? Iām okay with my credit union, but havenāt recently seen a bank that wasnāt reprehensible. (Anyone remember Occupy Wall Street? Lots and lots of bankers on that hallowed streetā¦)
Iāve not willingly watched a commercial of any kindāclever though I know some of them areāin years, because their main objective is to MANUFACTURE CONSENT. So, yesā¦even though this one was, as previously stated, very well done, I felt duped five seconds after it was over for letting the lone tear stream down my face, though happy that the woman would get to see her daughter. Weāve been getting played from every angle by those with power for far too long for me to feel otherwise.
Hello Christine! Iām your ATM! Iām here to thank you! And also to thank your sons Jaden and Christopher hereās two piggy banks! Inside one is a check for a thousand dollars! But I think we both know Christopher canāt be trusted with that kind of money - so instead he gets a coupon for six weeks of rehab!
Whatās that? You didnāt know? Well TD Bank is here to help! We also know your husband couldnāt be here to share, because heās at a conference in Calgary. So weāre sending flowers to the hotel room heās sharing with one Jessica Schumerā¦ Christine? Hello?
Nope, didnāt cry.
But yay that they spy on their customers and take advantage of them for cheap exploitative advertising.
Where are Boston Celtics? 
The lawsuit accused the bank of racketeering and aiding and abetting fraud. A U.S. District Court in Fort Lauderdale had denied TD Bankās bid to have the award overturned or to order a new trial.
ha ha ha @xeni
Had me going there for a second.
I guess Iām not that cynical, because I shed a tear.
The thing is, it doesnāt matter that it may have been the work of an ad agency, paid for by a bank that may not be the best corporate citizen on the planet. The gestures are still good actions, are heartfelt, and will help people. You can applaud a good gesture while at the same time complain of other less-laudable actions an institution takes.
I have to say I am a customer of TD, even though theyāre not my primary banking institution (I bank at a āCaisse Populaireā, a sort of credit union), and I have only had great service from them.
Isnāt this basically the same as the Canadian WestJet stunt?
I liked this commercial when I saw it on YouTube, wound up watching the whole thing. Itās not so creepy when you realize the people in it must have known something gimmicky was up though. In order for them to be so specific for the customers, someone would have had to ask each of them to make sure to go over to the comically oversized ATM that day whether that was their intention or not.
Clearly neither of us got the memo. Silly us with our shades of gray.
Is it real?
FYI the bank is āTD Canada Trustā. Not āTD Canadaā. I guess I am being old fashioned in expecting journalists to get basic facts like names correct.
As banks go, the Canadian ācharter 5ā are fairly good, mostly because they have been legislated that way.
I assume those people are actors paid to play the role of a gratified customer.
Pretty sure that this link is to a Korean bank ad. Pacobel hip hop
Just the Canon in D as done on traditional Korean instruments complete with DJ and break dancing.
The bluejays fan looks a lot like this guyā¦
Ok, TD, now do it without cameras, without the intention to make money and look good as a result of your āgenerosityā and ācompassion.ā
