Bad Marketing 101

[stubeeef]

Link (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=583&e=2&u=/nm/20050225/od_nm/odd_dutch_cards_dc)

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - A pharmaceutical company which sent anonymous Valentine's cards to Dutch gynecologists in a publicity stunt has been forced to apologize for sparking family arguments.

The doctors and their partners were furious with the company -- whose Web site says it mixes "the ingredients for health and happiness" -- after the firm sent cards saying "Now shall we tell everyone?," De Telegraaf newspaper reported Thursday.

A second card was dispatched to the 800 doctors the next day explaining that the first had been a gimmick to promote a new product.

In some cases, the cards caused so much distress that the company, Organon, sent apologetic bouquets of flowers, the newspaper said.

I bet is hard being married to a gynecologist, but this company didn't help any! :eek:

Don't want to be a field rep walking into some of these offices!

[PlaceofDis]

wow, some companies' marketing departments are really stupid, but thats really no big surprise is it?

[virividox]

genius!!!

[clayj]

I still don't think this is as funny as when Electrolux decided to convert their favorite marketing slogan from Swedish to English without first consulting with anyone who spoke idiomatic colloquial English to see if it would be OK. The result:

"Nothing sucks like an Electrolux."

[BubbaJones]

Speaking of marketing genius... Has anyone heard the Cumberland Farms adds? "Come in to Cumby's". :eek: Link (http://www.cumberlandfarms.com/) I tell ya, I'm not thinking of a convenience store when I hear that stupid add.

[yellow]

LOL! I haven't heard "Cumby" in a long-ass-time! Ah how I miss New England.

[Makosuke]

"Come in to Cumby's". :eek: Link (http://www.cumberlandfarms.com/) I tell ya, I'm not thinking of a convenience store when I hear that stupid add.
As it's not slang I'm familiar with and Google didn't help, care to enlighten us on what it sounds like to you? Apparently "Cumby's" is a pretty common expression in the area that has the stores.

[dotdotdot]

lol...

Thats a GREAT Valentines day gift! How many people had to sleep on the couch THAT night??

[yellow]

As it's not slang I'm familiar with and Google didn't help, care to enlighten us on what it sounds like to you? Apparently "Cumby's" is a pretty common expression in the area that has the stores.

I would assume it's the sophomoric reference to male ejaculate?

[Chappers]

After receiving the second card the next day that told them that this company was promoting a product -I wonder how many of the gynecologists rushed out to buy said product.