HSBC 'Eels' Ad

[lysakt]

I got a kick out of this video because it is a problem that happens everyday. The man didn't know much about international customs and found himself eating a lot more then he would of liked. In business this could be a deal maker or breaker. A host country loves seeing foreigners adapt to their customs and doing the wrong thing at any one time could hurt a potential business venture with the international organization.

[ASHLEYMARTIN160609]

Does anyone have the advert with the number four or eight in it? I need it!!

Thanks xxx

[infkiller]

my dad is one of the asians

[afalvo99]

YEAh, but that not the way they do it around the world!

[pearlva910]

In the Western culture, a polite person has to eat all food in his dish. However, in China, it means he wants to eat more. :D

[jradetzky]

#LOL the Englishman's look at the first eel

leel is yummy

[1980OCD]

lol! I admit it, I love that my main bank is with HSBC!!

[antoine0328]

Pesonally, part of the story is true. We cannot let our customer's plates blank~~~ but actually we will ask them first whether he wants another one~~~ hehe ..

[KimberleyASamuels]

That thing looked nasty!!!!

[jacij]

it certainly delivers the message. pretty funny ;D

[lilithgallery]

I first saw this ad while living in South Korea and I have loved it ever since.

[seanmfs]

It's a play on stereotypes. Chill guys. It's effective at the end of the day. Makes you think about HSBC after the ad concept.

[MrBojax]

what you all talking about?!,, it is custom to clear your whole plate if your a guest! always, I still do thats the way I was brought up.

[Akibatai00]

really? We Chinese think guests who clear their plates are questioning our generosity? I didn't know that, and I have been a Chinese all my life....um...

[Rab1975bit]

People love to reinforce stereotypes of others by making shit up. They think it has more of an exotic appeal.

Check out all the other British-made HSBC ads about the UK, it's all nice and middle-class, whereas all the other ones about foreign countries are all run down, chaotic and "exotic".

They made Hong Kong look like Rio's favelas, for fuck sake!!! Did they even look at pictures of HK or did they actually go there to research for the ad?? And What's ridiculous is HSBC is a Hong Kong bank.

[Akibatai00]

Well, to be fair, HSBC didn't make the commerical, but some other ad agency----who obviously did zero research and mistook stupidity with sense of humor.

HSBC is a British bank who used to have its headquarter in HK.

[Rab1975bit]

I know it was founded by a British person but it started in Hong Kong and it was based in Hong Kong for over a hundred years, they became what they are now mainly because of Hong Kong too. So I consider HSBC a Hong Kong bank.

So they should have known better and whoever made the ads should've at least done some proper research on HK or Chinese culture before making them.

[Rab1975bit]

Whoever made these ads would have had to pass HSBC.

I know this particular ad is not about HK, but check out the HK ones, they r just ridiculous.

It happens all the time in the UK. There was an Abbey National Bank ad that was set in modern day Hong Kong too, they made it look like some rural southeast Asian village with people in coolie hats. WTF!

British people love that shit, they embrace their superiority complex by reinforcing stupid ideas (not even stereotypes) about others.

[Rab1975bit]

Maybe that isn't fair, I don't mean all British people do that, they are not all like that. I'm only generalising, but I've come across a lot who are like that, only speaking from my experience.

[Sean2122dd]

@Rab1975bit look around thats what most media is, stereotypes, putting people into a category so you can quickly understand them, it would be a very long ad if it went into great detail

[Rab1975bit]

Not necessarily.

An ad can just be as good, short & straight to the point without all those fake stereotypes. especially with ads like these, they think they're educating people about different cultures. WHY NOT something more authentic since people know nothing about them to start with.

They don't have to reinforce idiotic untrue stereotypes of foreign countries to patronise TV audience, but unfortunately they do. What is the point of that? To keep people stupid?

It's irresponsible!

[alphamone]

I have a book that lists a number of culturural diferances, and I might go and review it again seeing as I am going overseas in a few months.

[tunicanl]

hsbc are fucking crooks, where do you think they got the money to make this commerical.

[littleoldmanboy]

From the poor, obviously.

[skickahit10]

this is pure genius! :D

[lyndonhamer]

is that true in china?

[WMAsh1]

Duh, we never cook eels(that huge!) that way! =.= Looks really horrible. lol

When a guest finishes every bit his food, it's kinda like saying he really enjoyed it. Then the host will ask if he needs a second help, of course NOT force it upon the guest like what in the video, though. Ads exaggerate ;o) But it was really funny.

[Dennispokemon1]

@WMAsh1 exactly the point! the british guy believes that not finishing the food another person gives you is disrespect, but the chinese people believes that if you finish your food, you enjoy it, and will give you more and more, a way to show generosity. lol 0:56 that eel is beast! lol XD

[Vincent2128math]

@Dennispokemon1 2 things. 1: Why are you repeating what he said in worse grammar? 2. Not 0:56, 0:55, 56 is the HSBC logo

[FogTraiz]

only if you having tea.

[Rab1975bit]

No. Did they even do any research on Chinese culture before making these stupid ads?!!

I've never heard such nonsense like Chinese people think you're questioning their generosity if you finish your food. WHAT A LOAD OF SHIT!

We Chinese hate it when people don't finish their food, it's considered immoral. Waiters often suggest you have ordered enough.

And since WHEN Chinese people eat their own dishes & sit at long Western tables?? Unless we're grabbing a quick bite, we usually share dishes.

[Akibatai00]

Agree with you very much, but "immoral" may be too strong a word, "impolite" perhaps is better.

[BulletMagnetOWI]

Now that's what I call a conger!

[wongie2k]

funny ad because its true