Success of a business depends on countless variables, and their number rises during the economically turbulent times. Business owners are dealing with so many negatives born out of this recession. Lack of financing, health care issues, managing an unmotivated stuff, revenue drop, those are just some of the hardships they deal with on a daily basis. This is the story of some bad small business marketing moves and some really extreme small business ideas.Small businesses are realizing that they need to put an accent on the promotion and spread the word out to get new customers, and some of them our shouting loudly.
There is a thin line between a business promotion that is effective and has a positive impact both on the business and its customers, and a promotion that puts the customers in a vulnerable position. It means that sometimes businesses use not so ethical tools for promoting themselves, because offering something rather unexpected can attract serious number of customers. There are examples where some business took the “Bye one, get one for free” formula to the very extreme. In the fast food industry offering a complementary XXL portion of fries to go with that tasty double burger is tempting, but it has nothing to do with thinking about the consumers’ real benefit. And examples are countless in almost every industry. But no matter how used we are to the irresponsible promotion tactics from firms and corporations, there is always someone with a bright idea to push the limits a bit further.
Desperate times maybe do call for desperate measures, but a line must be drawn somewhere. If all the businesses that are recording a drop in revenue turned to the morally questionable methods to attract customers, what would happen? All of this is inspired by a story that traveled the globe today, a story of a motorbike dealership from Seattle trying to increase sales by giving away gun shop vouchers to customers. If you are undecided weather to buy a Harley Davidson motorbike or not, maybe you will lean towards buying it when they spice the deal up with a $500 voucher for shopping in the local gun shop. At least that must be their reasoning.
Those pro-gun oriented will certainly see no harm in this, mildly said unconventional promotion, but for the people who are aware of and concerned by the huge number of deaths caused by fire arms in the States this is a big concern. This promotional tactic caused outrage in the Washington State, and many are in disbelief that this is actually bringing more customers to the dealership. The thing is they are not doing anything illegal and the procedure of acquiring a gun is the same, there are no shortcuts, so they see themselves free of any responsibility. Still, there is this little thing called responsible business promotion that they also willingly neglected. Everyone has a right to chose how they’ll play the game of business, because if there is no conflict with the law, the only conflict left is with one’s conscience, and luckily most of us still do posses one.
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Originally posted 2009-08-06 14:32:27. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
My impression would be that those using guns to wrongfully kill people do not typically get the guns in a legal/safe way. And those criminals, the one’s we should be worried about, will still not be able to use buying a Harley to get a gun because there are laws in place that are being adhered to here. (And they will still be getting guns through the black market while the law abiding citizens and the desired Harley customers here respectfully adhere to the guidelines enacted.)
Stereo-types aside, I would say this Harley dealership did great market research. They figured out that ‘maybe’ the majority of their Harley riders are people who hold their constitutional (2nd amendment in particular) rights close to their heart and they want to add incentives that are more in line with their desires. I feel that your argument here is deduced from stereo-types and fear, or lack of clarity on touchy issues (and no I do not ride a Harley or own a gun).
What would your stance be if Whole Foods offered to make a donation to P.E.T.A for every $100 spent in their locations? Are they then a “bleeding-heart, Hippee run” organization or are they a company that understands that their typical shoppers are interested in doing more charitable work towards the ethical treatment of animals? My point is that we can not be so quick to jump to conclusions based on our perspectives, biases and experiences. While it is elusive, objectivity can never be overrated.
I look forward to your feedback and I thank you for initiating this wonderful discussion.
I agree Jonathan, kudos to Harley Davidson’s marketing department. The person who wrote this article is an idiot for several reasons. First, guns don’t kill people, people kill people. If we ban guns then people will use machetes or clubs. Also, people who have CCW’s, otherwise known as concealed carry permits, do not commit crimes. Deaths caused by firearms usually take place in your local ghetto, not where the law abiding reside. If you ban guns then you empower criminals, it’s really that simple. A criminal will not register a handgun, because that would be stupid. The registration process is quite stringent. It includes a background check, fingerprinting, and tons of paperwork, etc.
Yes, sure, guns don’t kill people. People with guns kill people.
Does owning a gun make you safe? The US have the most guns per resident for a long time now – did it help?
Sure – the next great thing would be is ‘Buy a car, and then get a tank to protect it’. Geez…
Relax… the motorcycles are far more dangerous than the guns.
Besides, gangbangers do not buy Harleys. Nor do they purchase their guns at the local gun shop.
Clever buying incentive by a company that knows its market. Otherwise it’s a non-story.
I am a motorcycle enthusiast (a.k.a. a biker).
I am a fervent supporter of the 2nd Amendment and all other parts of the Constitution.
I am a veteran who has spilt blood on foreign soil to protect our freedoms from those who believe we should not be free.
I fully agree this is a masterful stroke in marketing, as most riders I know appreciate and value our freedoms. We, as bikers, have always known that Freedom is not Free.
atraktor: you are partially correct, People kill people, regardless of the tool. When there were no guns, people used club, slings, bow and arrows, etc.
Last week I had a sizable cash deposit to put in the bank. Rather than walk or drive to the bank in my normal working clothes (shirt and tie), I changed into my leathers and rode the bike. This is nothing more than marketing. I was marketing to others that might guess I had cash NOT to mess with me. If I was not a convicted felon from an error in judgement 20 years ago, I would have been carrying a gun, with or without the bike. I choose to uphold the law. I Choose to obey the requirements set forth to keep a productive society, despite my disagreement with the law. I CHOOSE to make changes that make me less of a target, because I no longer have the right to protect myself against others, who are illegally armed who would illegally cause me harm.
The fight for ‘gun control’ is not about controlling the guns, but about controlling the people. The founders of this nation knew that all governments will become corrupt. With corruption comes tyranny. Those wise men ensured through the 2nd Amendment that the PEOPLE whom the government is employed BY would maintain the ability to remove a tyrannical government, if necessary through armed opposition.
Think about THAT the next time someone is telling you that guns are evil, while your government is wise.