BrandBrains

Technorati Tags: Funny, Humor, Facebook, Social Networking, Social Media, Comedy, BBC

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Thanks to Paul Colligan (via Michael Geoghegan)

Technorati Tags: Video, Humor, Presidential Elections, Funny

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I want an iPhone 3g.

I haven’t purchased one yet because the waiting time on “the iPhone line” at Apple retail stores is just more than I can invest on any given day.

But the iPhone 3g doesn’t represent the only bit of coin I intend to drop at The Apple Store: I’m also planning to get a new MacBook as my first generation machine is showing its age after nearly 3 years.

My “CFO” (A.K.A. “My Management“; A.K.A. My Wife) suggested that I wait until after our summer vacation to get my new MacBook. OK. Fine.

Then I had an idea: if I bought a new BlackBook now (a top-of-the-line black MacBook), couldn’t I also purchase and activate an iPhone 3g (a top-of-the-line, 16 GB white iPhone 3g) at the same time? What self-respecting, capitalist, cash-motivated store manager wouldn’t want that, right?

An Apple Store Manager.

A “Genius” at the Apple Store in Soho told me, “that’s the official policy.”

Now, I understand managers at Apple retail stores need to keep the line-sitting iPhone fanboys/girls happy and motivated - these customers don’t want to watch someone walking out of the store with a new iPhone 3g after only a few minutes while they’ve waited for hours to get their hands on their precious iPhone.

That said, I’m offering to accelerate my purchase of a new piece of Apple hardware just so that I can purchase still more Apple hardware.

WTF!?

Put another way: I’m offering to spend more money at an Apple Store, so that I can have the privilege of spending money at an Apple Store.

Is it just me or is that a freakin’ crazy policy? Can anyone else confirm this is the “official” policy?

UPDATE: I’ve received a few comments/questions from some folks on my little rant. (Thanks. Why not just post them in the comments next time?)

1) Where do you draw the line in terms of price point?

Sure, this makes sense. Someone buying a $20 iPod case can make an argument that they’re also spending additional money at the store and they’d like to check out at all at once.

Answer: turn it into a new Mac promotion! You then have two lines outside the Apple store: the iPhone line and the iPhone + Mac line. “This line is for customers purchasing a new Macintosh with their iPhone 3g.” I’d bet that you’d sell a lot of Macs that way!

2) What about returns? What’s to stop someone from buying a Mac + iPhone on a credit card, then returning the computer the next day?

This is a tough one. Maybe a restocking fee? (I despise restocking fees, but it could be one of the Terms & Conditions of the above “promotion.”)

Technorati Tags: Apple, The Apple Store, iPhone, iPhone 3g, Retail, MacBook, Computers, Notebooks, Hardware, Laptops, Corporate Policy

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We’re doing our first LIVE episode of On Digital Media tonight! Regular listeners will get to experience all the foibles in real-time. (Those of you who download the podcast will probably get an edited version…)

Tune in here on BlogTalkRadio at 9 PM Eastern time.

Technorati Tags: On Digital Media, Podcasts, Podcasting, BlogTalkRadio

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I’ve recently seen this transit billboard on my regular subway ride from 34th street to Lafayette & Broadway on the F/V/B/D line in NYC.

Ostensibly, there’s nothing wrong with the ad - until you consider the context: except for probably a few El stops in Brooklyn and Queens, it’s in the subway. There’s no cellular coverage in the subway.

How many people are going to be so motivated as to record the SMS short code for use when they reach the surface? I’d like to know. Probably a lot fewer than people who would respond to this type of promotion on billboards above ground.

Technorati Tags: Advertising, Subway, Transit, Billboards, Chase, New York City, NYC, SMS, Texting, Contests, U.S. Open, Tennis, Sponsorships

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Technorati Tags: Video, Google, Advertising, YouTube, Tim Armstrong, Business Models

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A couple of new services I noticed while running to Starbucks for my afternoon espresso.

My Fresh Shirt (http://www.myfreshshirt.com) is billed as “Your Online Dry Cleaners.” (If it were truly my online dry cleaners, I would be able to upload my dirty shirts and download them when they were clean. But I digress…) That said, the company uses their web site extensively for scheduling pick up and delivery times.

Their marketing communications focuses a lot on being Green and caring for the environment, but when you factor in the gasonline powered delivery trucks, it seems a bit of a hollow claim.

The Pet Chauffeur is a transportation service for pets. No, I’m not making this up.

We know that pets are a beloved part of your family. And you won’t settle for anything but the best when it comes to your family. Let Pet Chauffeur help you handle all types of pet transport – when you don’t have a vehicle available, for emergencies, transporting your pet to shows, the groomer, the vet – even driving your pet cross country!

They provide more than just transportation - they also provide a full line of food, toys and grooming supplies to keep Fido (or Flipper) fed and happy.

Technorati Tags: Services, Marketing, Urban Living, City Living, New York City, NYC, Pets, Dry Cleaning, Laundry

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A series of posters found in Soho, NYC for St. Germain liqueur.

Now, I’m far from prudish but I have to ask: Just because the photos are shot in what appears to be Victorian-era styling and the women aren’t the usual waif-like models, does it make it more appropriate for a public place? What if I were walking around town with my 5-year-old son?

You should click through to the entire photo series on flickr here to get a better understanding of what I’m talking about.

Technorati Tags: Advertising, St. Germain, New York City, Soho, NYC, Billboards, Out-of-Home, Outdoor Advertising, Wildings, Posters, Liquor

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[tags]Video, IPTV, Internet Video, Television, Ask A Ninja, Predictions, Humor[/tags

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From CommonCraft.

Technorati Tags: Social Media, Social Networking, Common Craft, Video, Howto, Education, Instruction, Education

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