I dont think ads work, for the most part, and I think its dumb that some of you are so convinced it does work enough to call them a fool.
Now let's say I like Oreos, because they taste good. Not because of the AD, but Id buy them because they taste good.
If I dont like Oreos and I see a AD on TV about Oreos, and I see that AD even 20 times, I'm STILL not going to buy Oreos.
Tropicana Orange Juice is advertised on TV, and not once have I seen the "Ross Swiss" brand advertised, but I buy Ross Swiss, you know why? Because it tastes better. Ads do NOT influence my likes and dislikes.
100 Ad's of Oreos just isnt going to make me like the way they taste any better.
The only way I believe they do work, and I'm almost certain the people who say that it doesnt work on them will agree with me here, is when advertisers introduce a new product into the market. I would probably not know about it otherwise, and if I like the product I see I just may go out and buy it.
How many people go out and buy a 30k car because they saw it on a ad? I find it hard to believe that such a large purchase would be made so arbitrarly based on ad.
And back to smaller items, like food. This goes back to my Oreo example. If you hate McDonalds food, and you see their AD, are you going to go there? You may recognize their name through the ADs they put out, but is that going to influence your going there to buy the food you hate? I sure hope not! If you dont like a product, or you like a product, I dont see how AD's would effect it.
Maybe in developing your orginal preferences they can play a part in, but when it gets down to it, your own personal opinions (such as taste in certains foods that are advertised) are created by your own self.