The Thrill of the Chase

Inspiration meets innovation at Brandweek, the ultimate marketing experience. Join industry luminaries, rising talent and strategic experts in Phoenix, Arizona this September 23–26 to assess challenges, develop solutions and create new pathways for growth. Register early to save.

These new, elaborately produced eBay commercials are cute and funny, but initially seem so old school that I thought they came out of the Wayback Machine, circa 1999.

First, there’s the obvious irony of a $7 billion digital titan promoting itself through warm and fuzzy television spots that will run heavily through the Christmas season.

Speaking of way back, in the late ’90s eBay appealed to its “early adopters” by showing, as these spots also do, literal groups of collectors hanging out en masse, forming new, magically Net-enabled human communities (“The Power of Us”).



AW+

WORK SMARTER - LEARN, GROW AND BE INSPIRED.

Spring Special

Save 30% Off an ADWEEK Subscription Today!

View Your Options

Already a member? Sign in