Cash4Gold nabs Ed McMahon, MC Hammer for Super Bowl spot
Photos: Matt Sayles / Associated Press; Jeff Chiu / Associated Press
Cash4Gold.com, the "As Seen On TV" meltdown factory that solicits baggies of your unused chains, rings, coins and earrings in exchange for a bit of quick cash, has kicked a PR field goal.
The company said today it had signed Ed McMahon and MC Hammer to star in a commercial for Sunday's Super Bowl, one of the last few slots NBC had available. Hammer will bring a veteran's touch to the endeavor, having starred in this Lay's Super Bowl spot in 2005. And McMahon is no stranger to corporate sponsorship himself. In fact, when they finally establish the Hall O' Fame for Eazy Money Infomercials, Cash4Gold may end up right alongside McMahon alma mater Publishers Clearing House.
It's not clear to me whether there's an intentional ironic element here, given that both Hammer and McMahon are famous for their serious financial woes. Hammer blew through a multimillion-dollar fortune in a few years, and McMahon recently contended with a near-foreclosure on his Beverly Hills home.
On the other hand, it could be a brilliant sympathy play. Times are just as tough for these faded stars as they are for average Americans. Which is why, obviously, we should all dross our valuables.
"As a nation, we are in uncharted economic territory, and Cash4Gold’s rapid growth is a clear indicator of our new reality," CEO Jeff Aronson said in a press release trumpeting the signings. “Since the credit and housing market collapses, Americans are feeling strapped for cash. Cash4Gold.com has become the reliable source of fast cash for anyone who needs it, without driving them any further into debt.”
For his part, Hammer seems excited about the whole affair. He sent out a tweet today noting he was on his way to Tampa: "Got to work that SuperBowl.... 'Melting Gold Baby' .... fun commercial !!!"
Let's hope that he was just typing hastily there, and that the commercial isn't actually called "Melting Gold Baby." That would be an immodest proposal indeed.
-- David Sarno
Why did Cash4Gold.com chose Ed McMahon to endore the metal recycling company in their latest television commercial advertisement?
Posted by: Hobo1964 | January 30, 2009 at 10:48 AM
"t's not clear to me whether there's an intentional ironic element here, given that both Hammer and McMahon are famous for their serious financial woes"
Yes, I'm sure it's just coincidence. Are you retarded?
Posted by: Boone | January 30, 2009 at 10:53 AM
You have got to be kidding me! Wow they sure must be taking advantage of a LOT of suckers! Places like that give you PENNIES on the dollar for what the gold is REALLY worth!
RT
www.internet-privacy.us.tc
Posted by: John Wright | January 30, 2009 at 11:05 AM
Well, I sure hope it works out well for both parties.. It could turn out to be very lucrative. Good Luck Peace...
Posted by: r5416 | January 30, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Now maybe Ed can pay his freaking housenote
Posted by: Johnny Carson | January 30, 2009 at 12:54 PM
has nobody read the cash4gold scam description yet?
here's the original cockeyed article:
http://www.cockeyed.com/citizen/goldkit/cheat.shtml
which got picked up by consumerist:
http://consumerist.com/5059452/how-to-avoid-getting-ripped-off-by-cash4gold
here's an exposé by a former employee, confirming the scam:
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/cash-4-gold-c87309.html#c181304
and here's cash4gold's attempt to bribe cockeyed:
http://www.cockeyed.com/citizen/goldkit/reputation.shtml
Posted by: p.r. | January 30, 2009 at 01:11 PM
total scam - I live ini the town where there are located. It is a dumpy warehouse in a trashy neighborhood and they hire known con artisit who lie and steal. Tsk Tsk - shame on Mr. Aronson. Taking advantage of poor people in hard times, taking the last things of value they may have.
Posted by: | January 30, 2009 at 04:22 PM
I hope people read http://consumerist.com/5059452/how-to-avoid-getting-ripped-off-by-cash4gold before getting screwed by Cash 4 Gold.
Posted by: Dan0 | January 30, 2009 at 05:55 PM
I am wondering how successful this commercial really was given the negative publicity surrounding the company. I have heard that this company changed from one employee about a year ago to now 300. Maybe they should make some of those 300 people strategic consultants who would have said, lets clean up our online presence before we spend $3 million getting people to write cash4gold into Google. Duhhh.
Posted by: Jason Mitchell | February 02, 2009 at 12:52 PM
I thought the commercial was great!!! I think the buisness is unfair. But the commercial was very clever.
Posted by: Miabonehead | February 03, 2009 at 11:10 PM
Cash for Gold is a massive scam. You'll make more money entering contests online than selling your valuables to those con artists.
Posted by: Kevin | February 11, 2009 at 06:29 PM
Great! I just wonder if you can recommend some blogs or forums about open house sales and appraisals. By the way, nice article.
Posted by: Cash For Gold | April 07, 2009 at 08:21 PM
Check out cash4gold blog http://cash4gold.blogspot.com/ for the response to consumerist & cockeyed
Posted by: cash4gold | April 24, 2009 at 01:54 PM
What a strange, strange duo.
Posted by: Sell Scrap Gold | July 28, 2009 at 03:36 PM