The $4 paper bag!

Last Saturday afternoon I had a delightful time taking my daughter and a friend to the cinema to see a film. We were seeing The Pink Panther 2 and it was actually very funny.

Unfortunately, the outing was slightly marred for me in the fact that I was asked to pay $4 at the popcorn counter for an empty paper bag. The fiasco started when I ordered one large popcorn for all of us to share. However, the verdict was split on whether we should indulge in the extra butter or not; the thinner member of the party wanting nothing to do with the greasy stuff, while the more robust participants were more of the 'bring it on' mindset. So I decided to keep the peace by splitting the popcorn in two, so that butter could be safely applied to only half the bag. I returned to the counter and asked for an empty bag in which to transfer 50% of the popcorn.

Much to my amazement, the boy behind the counter started to look shifty, and shuffled off to confer with his manager - over a paper bag for goodness sake. The manager then returned with the counter boy (was I about to be hauled off in handcuffs?), and quietly told me that he couldn't give me a bag without the popcorn in it. I proceeded to say that I would pay for it and was promptly told that it would be $4, only $1 less than a full bag. His tone of voice also indicated in no uncertain terms that he was counting on me not turning into a crazed housewife and flail around the theater, demanding my bag.

So now I hate The Grand Theaters. Just think that they could have won over an avid fan with $4 - who would then have spread the word to more potential fans of this great destination. Instead they have an avid enemy who will also gleefully be spreading the word about the ridiculously poor service she got at the hands of a monstrously short sighted business policy.

Oh well....

The End of Shame?

About a week ago I saw a commercial for the Mitsubishi Lancer on television and guess what the tag line was? 'The End of Global Blanding'. Once I got over the shock of having heard this incredibly stupid statement, I then had to ask myself how they could have been blind to how inappropriate it is.

Firstly, it is a message that is almost guaranteed to alienate a large part of the female population (not that most automobile companies are that interested in their female consumers). Women on the whole are concerned about the environment and what global warming will mean to their lives and more importantly the futures of their family members. Although there is some skepticism out there regarding 'green washing', for the most part women appreciate companies that seem to be doing something to help with the environmental crisis. Clearly this is not the case with Mitsubishi. Not only is Mitsubishi not doing anything to help the environment, but it is actually making fun of the problem.

Secondly, it makes Mitsubishi as a company look stupid and superficial. Most people want to buy brands and products from companies that at least appear to share their values. I can't imagine that anyone except perhaps teenagers would think that making fun of global warming is really appropriate. For most people, the personality that Mitsubishi conveys through the use of this line is 'trite, small minded and superficial'. I bet that wasn't part of the idea when they came up with the tag line.

I think that Mitsubishi might want to consider having a serious talk with its agency - at least ask them to re-think their advertising idea. I doubt that 'the end of global blanding' is going to help them sell too many more Lancers.

Make Up Madness

I have been dying to write on my blog about the experience of going to the cosmetic counter in a department store. I know that most women have experienced it and some probably even like it - but I am not one of those people! I am a Sephora fan. I like to be able to go to a store and step inside something that feels like Aladdin's Cave. I want to be able to wander around the store in a state of imagined invisibility and play with all the different brands, products and colors. I don't want to be disturbed until I am pretty near the end of my decision making process and then maybe someone can check in with me.

This unfortunately is not the experience I get when I go to the cosmetic counter in a department store. If I decide that I want to treat myself to some new make-up and I want something a little more special than the drugstore variety, I will plan a trip to the department store. This is definitely a 'love/hate' decision. On the one hand, I love the idea of indulging in a whole new set of high priced make-up that I can covet and keep beautiful in a little black velvet bag forever - in principle anyway. On the other hand, I have a visceral loathing for the women who work behind these counters. It isn't their fault - they are only doing what they are told, and undoubtedly if I was in their position (working on commission), I would be pretty pushy too. This doesn't negate that it is a terrible experience. You only have to skulk up to one of the counters and put your pinky finger on a lipstick and you are mowed down by a complete heard of beauticians. You don't have time to breath, think or luxuriate in the shopping experience(a very important part of spending in excess of $100 on an indulgence such as make-up and face cream). Sometimes I am so annoyed that I actually slink away again without buying anything - even though I had my heart set on a large and irresponsible purchase.

So ultimately I can't understand why these large cosmetic companies don't modify their sales strategies a little. Give people a little room to play and fantasize. Let them work themselves into the mood to buy rather than forcing it on them. I for one, would definitely be a better - and more extravagant customer!