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Americans are fed up with bad ads: Study
MUMBAI: Forty-four per cent of Americans won‘t put up with more than three spam emails or online ads before they ignore a company completely; 83 per cent report irrelevant ads are getting in the way of activities such as working (20 per cent), sex (19 per cent) and sleeping (13 per cent)
InsightsOne, which offers consumer predictive intelligence solutions enabled by big data has announced the findings of its 2013 Bad Ads Survey conducted online by Harris Interactive on its behalf from 27 February – 1 March, 2013 among over 2,100 American adults aged 18 and older. The survey, which was aimed at determining American attitudes and behaviour around the ads they see every day, found that 87 per cent are now putting their foot down on the number of irrelevant ads they are willing to see before they ignore a company completely.
Almost a quarter (23 per cent) of Americans say that they will do so after seeing just one spam email or online ad, and 43 per cent say they will ignore a company completely after seeing as many as two.
It was also found that annoying ads are pervasive, with 91 per cent of Americans reporting they see them. While email spam and junk mail tend to get the most attention, it was surprising to discover that almost as many Americans are annoyed by website ad spam (52 per cent) as are annoyed by email spam/sidebar ads (55 per cent). Postal junk mail (37 per cent) actually ranked fifth, behind television ads (60 per cent), email spam/sidebar ads, website ads and ads on social media (37 per cent).
The results may create challenges for ecommerce companies that advertise and sell over the web. In fact, 88 per cent of Americans say they have even been “flooded” with online ad spam, and 91 per cent of those say they take action when it occurs. 36 per cent of those who have ever been flooded with online ad spam say they would leave a website because of too many irrelevant ads, and many more would begin to feel that the company doing the advertising doesn‘t respect their time (26 per cent). For email, 60 per cent will unsubscribe from future messages, but a surprising 45 per cent will simply ignore future communications.
In some of the more extreme cases, Americans who are flooded with online ad spam say they would:
- Stop using the product advertised – 14 per cent
- Completely boycott the company doing the advertising – 13 per cent
- Tell their friends – nine per cent
- Respond angrily – five per cent and;
- Hit their computer or mobile device in frustration – four per cent
Men were statistically more likely than women to take certain actions, including stop using the product (17 versus 11 per cent), completely boycott the company doing the advertising (16 versus 10 per cent), respond angrily (seven versus three per cent), hit their computer or mobile device in frustration (five versus three per cent) and especially feel the company doesn‘t respect their time (30 versus 22 per cent).
InsightsOne CEO Waqar Hasan said, “The American people are tired of companies that appear to not respect or understand their needs. The results of the study show that consumers have a real limit on what they‘re willing to put up with, and this very real problem will have a negative impact on a company‘s income statement if they don‘t do something about it.”
The study looked at where the biggest problems are, and what ads people find more annoying. Overall, more Americans get annoyed by irrelevant pop-up ads and lottery scams (both 70 per cent) than get annoyed by:
- Male enhancement ads – 66 per cent
- Emails from deceased African leaders who have left them money – 64 per cent
- Ads for products and services they do not need – 58 per cent
- Female enhancement ads – 54 per cent
Women were more likely than men to be annoyed at both male and also female enhancements ads (71 versus 61 per cent and 63 versus 44 per cent, respectively)
A great number of people (83 per cent) also report that irrelevant ads are actually getting in the way of their activities, such as web surfing (51 per cent), and in another bad sign for ecommerce vendors: online shopping (37 per cent), further demonstrating that when ecommerce sites fail to treat customers as unique individuals and anticipate their needs, they may be damaging their reputation and losing out on extra sales.
20 per cent also report that irrelevant ads get in the way of working, and surprising percentages believe that irrelevant ads have now started to even get in the way of having sex (19 per cent) and sleeping (13 per cent).
“While the results of the study may seem amusing, they point to a real concern in American life. People are fed up with seeing ads and other communications that aren‘t relevant to them as individuals,” added Hasan.
When you plan to buy medical insurance for your family, the first question is often about savings. You may assume that buying online automatically means paying less, but that is only part of the picture. The real issue is not just whether the premium looks lower, but whether the policy gives you suitable family health insurance without adding avoidable costs later.
Buying online can sometimes appear more budget-friendly because you can compare plans, review features, and complete the process without depending entirely on offline assistance.
Still, a lower visible price does not always mean better value. To understand whether you can truly save more, you need to look at the full buying experience and the policy terms together.
Why Online Purchase Can Look More Economical
When you explore family health insurance online, you usually get access to plan details in a more direct and organised way. This can make the buying journey feel simpler and more transparent.
A few reasons online purchases may seem cost-effective include:
● Easier comparison of policy features
● Direct access to premium details
● The ability to review inclusions and exclusions at your own pace
● Fewer chances of making a rushed decision
● More control over the plan selection process
This does not mean every online option is automatically cheaper. It simply means the online route may help you assess choices more carefully, and that itself can influence how much value you get from the policy you choose.
Saving Money is Not Only About a Lower Premium
A lower premium often catches your attention first, but that should not be the only measure of savings. If you buy medical insurance based only on what looks affordable at the start, you may overlook conditions that matter later.
A family health insurance policy should be judged on overall value, including:
● The scope of cover
● Waiting period terms
● Exclusions
● Room eligibility conditions
● Sub-limits, if any
● Claim-related terms
● Renewal conditions
If the premium is lower but the policy has stricter internal conditions, the apparent saving may not feel meaningful when you actually need hospitalisation support.
So, the better question is not only whether online purchase costs less, but whether it helps you select a plan that remains financially sensible over time.
Comparing Plans Online Can Prevent Overspending
One clear advantage of the online route is that it allows you to compare different options without pressure. This can help you avoid paying for features you may not need or missing features that matter for your family.
Before you buy medical insurance online, look closely at:
● Who can be covered under the plan
● How the sum insured works for the family
● Whether day care procedures are included
● How pre-existing illness rules are explained
● Whether add-ons are optional or built in
● How clearly the policy wording is presented
This level of comparison can support better decision-making. In many cases, savings come not only from the premium itself but from choosing a policy with fewer surprises.
Online Discounts Should be Viewed Carefully
Online discounts can make a plan look attractive, but they should always be read alongside the policy details. A discount may reduce the upfront cost, yet the true worth of the policy depends on what it covers and how it responds during a claim.
When reviewing discounted online plans, check whether the policy has:
● Treatment-specific limits
● Room rent restrictions
● Co-payment clauses
● Disease-wise waiting periods
● Claim deductions linked to the hospital category
● Limited cover for selected benefits
These points are important because a policy that looks cheaper at purchase may involve more out-of-pocket spending later. That is why discount-led buying should be replaced with detail-led buying.
Final Thoughts
Yes, buying online can sometimes help you save more when choosing family health insurance, but only if you look beyond the headline price. The online route may give you better visibility, easier comparison, and more time to review the policy terms.
That can support smarter choices and may reduce the chances of paying for a plan that does not suit your family well.
If you want to buy medical insurance online, treat savings as more than a discount. The real advantage lies in choosing family health insurance that balances affordability, clarity, and meaningful coverage for your household.
