posted on September 20, 2001 01:47:20 PM new
You know that Meg and her brainy lieutenants are going to earn major marketing awards and bonuses for their brilliant promotion of their Billpoint service. But what other techniques have you seen used since 9/11 to "Sell it!"?
Of course, using the Stars & Stripes comes to mind--from icons in ads to decorating just about any widget you can imagine. (How long before someone comes out with patriotic toiletpaper?)
One auction I saw had O. Ben Loadon in a sniper's crosshairs. But what else have you seen--from the appropriate and heartfelt to the tasteless to the unbelievable...?
posted on September 20, 2001 04:12:18 PM new
I actually haven't seen that much, though I admit, I've been pretty busy, and not searching that much on eBay.
I can only speak for me, but I will neither participate in A4A, nor will I put a flag in my listings.
While I realize that some people who put flags in their listings now are just trying to show solidarity, there will be some who will look at it and see "exploitive." Where was all the da** patriotism before 5000 people got squished?
I'll exploit xmas, valentine's day, ad nauseum, just like any good seller. I won't exploit this. I may never be rich, but looking in the mirror is a piece of cake.
posted on September 20, 2001 04:43:33 PM newWhere was all the da** patriotism before 5000 people got squished?
Unfortunately it often takes life-changing events to put things in perspective and make us realize what's truly important. On the evening of September 11th I was ashamed that I didn't already own an American flag and that I had to buy one at Lowe's for the "occasion." But coming together at times like this with shows of patriotism isn't a bad thing. I have flags in my listings.
posted on September 20, 2001 05:24:48 PM new
i agree with rainybear. this was a huge event, unlike any i've been around to witness. it's created a solidarity amongst us living in the u.s., and abroad. a friend and i drove to l.a. last saturday, and one out of every six or so cars had a flag on it - some were homemade
i did put up one item on the 11th, which was a memorial/'you aren't going to get us down' listing. didn't expect it to do anything, because i'd listed it with no bids before. and i didn't care. it was the only red, white, and blue item i had, which seemed the most appropriate. it wasn't until i saw the thread here about the flag pins that it occurred to me people might be searching for red, white, and blue items.
waffled back and forth on the issue of putting a flag in my listings. at first i was, then decided not because people may be coming to ebay for some relief. finally decided to put it in. it feels right for me. i would hope that no one would bid on my listings because i've got a flag in it, or not bid on anyone else's because they don't.
posted on September 20, 2001 05:53:54 PM new
I think patriotism, like spirituality, is in your heart, so normally no, I don't put out the flag every day. But right now we do as, yes, a sign of solidarity. It's very true that people die or are killed all the time, and each loss is a tragedy. But this event was also unprecedented and carries a frightening meaning that automobile crashes do not. I feel that putting out the flag is a way to say silently "hang in there, everyone".
posted on September 20, 2001 07:21:45 PM new
Bueller's not here.
No opinion on the WTC logo above?
Opinion? Here you go...
If you included it at the bottom of your auction, it wouldn't make a difference to me one way or the other. With no disrespect for those who have suffered, I have seen more than enough logos and jpgs and t-shirts in the past week to last for quite a while, but that's just me...
posted on September 20, 2001 08:50:50 PM new
Marketing 101 Lesson #1: You can never go wrong associating your widget with the Stars & Stripes, the Statue of Liberty, or the American Eagle.
posted on September 20, 2001 09:00:02 PM new
Think about how small our economy would be if we didn't have exploitation in marketing; if we had a small economy think about all the poor people sitting in the streets that would number far greater than it is now. Ebay turned a negative event into a positive, nothing wrong with that.
posted on September 21, 2001 08:54:14 AM new
As a ebay seller who lives "way out in the country", my auctions are one of the very few ways I have to express my patriotism and grief over this horrendous act. I have put flags on some of my auctions.
I am also the webmaster for a medium sized, somewhat well-known, mid-western city government. I have also placed flags and a message of grief and sympathy on the city's webpage.
While some people see this as a marketing ploy, I entirely disagree. For a lot of people, we would just like to express our feeling and support in anyway possible.
As to the comment, "Where was the D*** patriotism before this happened?" Well, I didn't really have it to the extent I have it now. Like most people, I have lived in my own little world, while being sure that bad things really only to other people in far away places. And yes, I used to consider New York, to be a far away place. But now, New York just doesn't seem so far away after all. I weep for those involved and I am angry just like everyone else. I know that now, I will never picture New Yorkers as rude jerks ever again.
posted on September 21, 2001 10:23:29 AM newYou can never go wrong associating your widget with the Stars & Stripes, the Statue of Liberty, or the American Eagle.
posted on September 21, 2001 10:40:04 AM new
I don’t personally think anyone who is proud to be American, needs a logo to remind them not to forget.
September 11th is already a day marked in history. Years from now people will ask where were you on the 11th? What were you doing? What was it like? How did people react? We are or should be aware, there is a price for freedom and from the numerous people I have spoken with people are ready to stand up and fight for that freedom. Even give their life if necessary to end the global threat of terrorism. I have no doubt millions of our countrymen and women are grieving for nameless people they never met, myself included. There is no doubt in my mind that seeing this or any other logo will instill any additional pride in our country, or the internal fortitude to stand up for what we believe to the point of laying down our lives to uphold those beliefs.
I concur with keziak who said, “patriotism, like spirituality, is in your heart”. I agree with mrpotatoheadd’s statement “If you included it at the bottom of your auction, it wouldn't make a difference to me one way or the other. I know my heart and don’t need to be reminded by a logo what my patriotic duty is to God or Country.
I do however feel that if this is how you want to express to the world your patriotism then you are most certainly FREE to do so. FREE being the key word. No one should criticize your display and it is by far one of the best designs I’ve seen. Do what makes you feel good in your heart, the heck with what others think. Does it really matter if what anyone else thinks? Express your feelings any way you want, that’s the American way. That is the true root to the freedom we enjoy and hopefully will continue to enjoy for many generations to come.
posted on September 21, 2001 02:15:42 PM new
I am glad to see people showing patriotism again. A few months ago I saw people rolling their eyes when the national anthem was played at events.
Several of the payments I have received lately have "proud to be an American" handwritten on the envelope or the payment itself.
posted on September 22, 2001 01:05:56 AM new
I can't resist contributing to this discussion...
I too have put the American Flag in some
of my listings. I did it because I was debating whether I should list things at all.
This was on Sunda, following the attack.
I decided along with many others that it would be best to continue to list and not completely
alter my life---which ebay for better or worse--is a part of.
I was originally planning to add a statement as well like "We Wlll Never Forget" but decided
not to for the following reasons.
Initially, I was having trouble with the .html.
I could've solved this though had I taken more time.
More importantly, I decided not to add a statement because I wanted to let the
flag do the talking.
Especially in times like this, when every American is United and has solidarity with one another--the flag can have a very deep meaning just by itself.
I wanted to, as others have stated, show my patriotism and support.
When I traveled to England several years ago, our leader told us not to draw excessive attention to the fact that we were Americans.
After all, there are those who don't like us
around the world (though England is a pretty safe country).
Over this past week and a half, I wanted to show people in anyway that I could that I was an American. I am proud to be an American and I think I have always been proud.
But like others have stated....sometimes it takes a catastrophic event to bring these
feelings to the surface.
Personally, I don't believe that Ebay's A4A
program is a great way to show patriotism.
Others would disagree. I want people to know that even though I will not participate in this program and have an A4A icon beside my listing, I am still proud to be an American.
