Lending Tree ~ Self-described loan shark?

Given all the media hype about the sub-prime loan market and adjustable rate mortgages, I was surprised to see Lending Tree (the “online lending and realty services exchange that empowers consumers”) offering some summer loan specials from their lenders. And when the Fed takes action today to lower interest rates, they could be very happy. Hmmm, I think I’ll buy a house by clicking on this loan shark:

20070827LendingTreeLoanShark

This image sums up why I write this blog. We use images of escape and paradise so willy-nilly that we forget how we are representing ourselves with the underlying themes of the images we choose. This ad is a complete and utter failure.

Everybody is so excited this month about how much the Fed is going to cut interest rates, but I worry about the problem of solving a debt crisis with more debt. I was under the impression that when you increase the money supply with no corresponding increase in production you get a fancy little thing called inflation.

Be sure to check out my other fleeting summer post on Sam Adams seasonal brews.

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Posted on September 23, 2007
Filed Under Business and Commerce, Sea and Oceans, Sharks | 5 Comments

Comments

5 Responses to “Lending Tree ~ Self-described loan shark?”

  1. Reporting live from the Monaco Yacht Show website : Rapidsea ~ Escape from Paradise on September 18th, 2007 10:49 am

    [...] I don’t know about you, but I’m going to buy three at those prices.  Maybe the shark at Lending Tree can broker some low-rate mortgages for me.  According to Advertising Age (temporary open [...]

  2. Jumping-the-shark Fonzvertising at Rapidsea : Rapidsea ~ Escape from Paradise on September 21st, 2007 11:28 am

    [...] means that we’ll be able to apply it to a lot of different posts here at Rapidsea.  The Lending Tree loan shark instantly jumps to mind as an obvious Fonzvertising [...]

  3. e on December 27th, 2007 3:21 pm

    Lending tree doesnt advertise their $1200 referal fee!!! tHEY SUCK

    [SITE ADMIN NOTE: We have not been able to confirm this Lending Tree fee. It appears that the fee probably varies by state. Here is Lending Tree's disclosure page http://www.lendingtree.com/stm.....nline=true . Be sure to read the fine print if you are dealing with any referral services so that you know exactly how much you are paying either directly or indirectly.]

  4. Find the treasure ~ lower my bills : Rapidsea on February 5th, 2008 2:05 am

    [...] ad is almost as bad as the loan shark from Lending Tree. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “Find the treasure ~ lower my bills”, url: [...]

  5. Cigar-smoking penguins : Rapidsea on March 4th, 2010 9:11 pm

    [...] This web page is from the company that brought us the worst print ad of the year.  You can see the same creepy guy in the lower right-hand corner literally burning money and looking like a total loan shark. [...]

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