hypocritical : talking the talk without walking the walk

February 18, 2005

I'll take a belly, a grilled cheese, and a side of Abe fries

Ah, yes. It's time for another little rant.

There has been a great deal of media coverage for goldenpalace.com, because they have a creative marketing campaign idea involving a tattooed pregnant belly, the Virgin Mary, and Abe Lincoln. Mary appears on a cheese sandwich and Abe on a fry.

(Update 2/24/2005: They just added another model with a "provocative" body tat.)

Yes, they're the little-casino-who-could, who gambled and won some of the more famous wacky auctions. Which brings me to my complaint for today: When did ebay become the primary source for news stories? Oh wait, that's not my primary complaint. My complaint is about this, at first blush seemingly brilliant and cost effective, publicity ploy: They're a casino.

Now, I don't know about you, but I'm not a great gambler. But, when I do gamble, I generally go into it with the intention of winning. And when I win, I would like to win money.

Where then, gentle reader, do you think I would choose to gamble? I'll give you a hint: I don't want to gamble at a casino that is raking in such a ridiculous amount of loot that they can afford to throw 30 large away on a cheese sandwich. No sir.

Me? I want to eliminate the risk. I want to gamble at a casino that can barely afford to pay their staff. I want them shirking on all of the freebies because they pay out so much money in winnings. I'll pay for a drink if I'm making bank. (And given that this is an online casino, I'll have to buy my drink anyway.) Long story short, I do want them giving their money away--but I want them giving it to me. It's gambling. I want to win.

And maybe it's just me, but this tact of buying weird things at outrageous prices doesn't really seem to support that, does it? I mean, I wouldn't set foot or mouse near that place, for fear of funding the purchase of the Spam sandwich Elvis couldn't finish in 1968.

Or is the brilliance even beyond the obvious. Deep down, does the campaign say "We're stupid enough to do buy these silly things at outrageous prices. Do you think we're smart enough to build a winning poker dealer?"

I'd love to hear your opinions. And, I'm hoping you'll choose to return.

 

I'll take a belly, a grilled cheese, and a side of Abe fries
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Rick Turoczy is hypocritical.

Sometimes I write hypocritical, a blog on marketing. Its purpose, beyond feeding my pure unadulterated hubris, is to provide yet another forum for yet another a) frustrated writer, b) misunderstood genius, c) marketing slob to critique concepts, capture thoughts, pose questions, and share ideas, in hopes of gaining a better understanding of the art of communication. While it is doubtful I will uncover anything new, perhaps I will provoke thought or provide the right sugarcoating to make an idea digestible or inspire you, gentle reader, to comment, critique, and return.

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