Stupid and Offensive

[foulecamp]

Is it just me?

My wife (in her 60s) owns a Chrysler Neon. This morning she received thro the mail in our small village a personally-addressed brown envelope reading in large red letters "WARNING - CONTAINS TOPLESS MODEL PHOTOS"

Opening the letter (she couldn't for embarrassment) I noticed the Chrysler logo and it turned out to be a flyer for the PT convertible.

Who the hell thought that was a good idea? I was just glad that it wasn't addressed to me and that I wasn't a middle-aged single bloke. This is how paedophile rumours start.

Since Chrysler UK don't have an email I rang our dealer and told him to tell Chrysler they'd lost a good customer.

[mkt]

i agree that its a stupid marketing idea. pretty juvenile really and not something you'd associate with any car firm but particularly one that makes a lot of prestige cars. funnily enough though i seem to remember this happening with another car company within the last year or so and that was for jaguar or mercedes...something of that ilk anyway. On that occasion the advertising watchdog made the company withdraw the advert so no further were sent out and a public apology was issued. Maybe its the same advertising company doing both! Oh well someone prob got paid loads money to come up with such silly ideas!

[rja211077]

i think it's rather clever. made you open it, didn't it? if you'd really been offended you wouldn't have opened the letter, would you?

[nannon]

i dint think its just you at all. I think thats awful! it can start rumours - ones that could potentially embarass someone. It also sends out a message about what kind of customer they want... not everyone thats for sure! If my grandparent or parent received that i would have been upset - my grandfather is a very proud man and if he thought other people thought he was sending off or receiving topless photos he'd be devestated!

[spacechimp]

Personally addressing it was perhaps a step too far. If it were an insert in a magazine then it would be acceptable, if lacking imagination.

[khana]

You don't think that you may be over reacting a little here ?

Yes it's juvenile and a little thoughtless but at the end of the day its an advert.

I would be more likely to complain about problems with the car then any advertising used, after all thats what is going to effect me directly.

As to being concerned about rumours for paedophilia, well if people want to gossip then thats up to them, however, topless model photos are in no stretch of the imagination anything to do with paedophilia !

[brachiopod]

No, you are not over-reacting, foulecamp. Unfortunately, the marketing people / advertisers go for the highest common factor - so that if a certain make or model of car generally appeals to / or sells most units to, say, young, single males, then expect the marketing to be aimed at this demographic. So, if you are approaching retirement, you will not pay much attention to advertisements assuring you that you will look cool and attract attention by driving XYZ car.
Worse, the type of advertising you received could be downright embarassing or offensive to some, simply because in their drive for sales, you fall outside their target market. They, of course, will not be bothered by this, since you are not the typical driver of the model they were promoting.
You have done the right thing - vote with your wallet !!

For those quick with the accusations of 'over-reacting', then it may be ok for you brought up on a diet of lads mags and channel 5 - but one size does not fit all.

[Farmie]

I wasn't brought up on a diet of lads mags and channel 5 � I was brought up on a diet of Carry On films and I find it hard to believe the UK still has people genuinely offended by silly double-entendre ads. To suggest this is how rumours of paedophilia start is frankly hysterical.

[bonzi!]

what a load of old farts! get over it! o n your wifes too old to be driving a Chrysler anyway, makes me laugh seeing all these oldies driving in their trendy cars

[DiggerDoo]

Chrysler trendy!!!!! dont make me laugh

[foulecamp]

Funny man Bonzi!

Perhaps we can talk again when you're old enough to drive legally?

[nick_wheelho]

similar thing thing with the sky plus valentines cards they sent out to promote a new offer! I know that could have caused a few problems between couples?