My gut instinct was to be offended at the apparent insensitivity of Groupon to the plight of Tibetans. In evaluating the advertisement using the "AD PLAN" framework, it seems as though Groupon generates negative amplification, thereby hurting it's brand equity.
In actuality, Groupon's commercials were intended to be 'funny' through their call to action (Save the Money) while hiring a well-known actor. Furthermore, each of the three Save the Money commercials failed to highlight their altruistic component; that is, Groupon was matching users' contributions to three different charities (up to $100,000 each).
What's your take on the commercial? And do you think that, if executed differently, these commercials could have been successful?
I should also mention that, in Tibetan culture, all animals of the sea and sky (e.g. fish) are considered sacred due to burial rituals. It seems as though Groupon failed to think about the frame of reference of their audience, both domestically and internationally.
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