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R/E/P => R/E/P Archives => R/E/P Saloon => Topic started by: feedback loop on August 19, 2007, 11:01:51 PM

Title: Yet another WTF story
Post by: feedback loop on August 19, 2007, 11:01:51 PM

On Friday, my little superstar in training, April Mestiya, celebrated her 17th birthday (FWIW, today is mine, I'm 48).  By coincidence, April's myspace page was going to log friend #10,000 that day.  We decided to reward fan #10,000 with an April tee shirt and autographed CD upon release. Friend 10,000 turned out to be a 15-year-old girl in the midwest.  We were happy about that because we wanted the winner to be in April's target demographic.  So we contacted this girl and made a big fuss about her on April's page; everything was fine. The next day, the girl contacts me and ask again what's included in her prize package.  I wrote back and said tee shirt and CD.  Fifteen minutes later she responds to me with, "I want cash, too."  WTF?  I was shocked!  This from a sweet looking 15-year-old.  Where does this sense of entitlement and unapoligetic greed from a kid come from?  Has anyone else had a similar experience?  

Title: Re: Yet another WTF story
Post by: Careful Collapse on August 19, 2007, 11:06:57 PM

LOL, she wasn't even being sarcastic?


Also, hope your birthday's going well

Title: Re: Yet another WTF story
Post by: feedback loop on August 19, 2007, 11:14:38 PM

Careful Collapse wrote on Sun, 19 August 2007 20:06

LOL, she wasn't even being sarcastic? Also, hope your birthday's going well

I wish!  She repeated her request today.  Thanks for the birthday wishes.  I spent the day buying clothes for April.  We laughed about the fact it was my birthday but I was buying things for her.  

Title: Re: Yet another WTF story
Post by: Barry Hufker on August 19, 2007, 11:47:18 PM

Sounds to me like your "winner" has actually turned out to be the 9,999 "friend".  "I guess we had a computer error.  Sorry it's not you babe."

Happy B'day Fred.

Barry

Title: Re: Yet another WTF story
Post by: RSettee on August 19, 2007, 11:54:14 PM

What does she think she won....the lottery?  

Title: Re: Yet another WTF story
Post by: Tapani Rauha on August 20, 2007, 12:57:53 AM

I understand your shock completely, but you might look at it another way:

Is it not a marketing tool you might use in the future? Cash prizes draw attention. You might weigh the cost/benefit ratio of having a cash prize for the 5000th listen or something. Not a new concept in marketing.

Tapani

Title: Re: Yet another WTF story
Post by: Greg Dixon on August 20, 2007, 03:38:16 AM

I agree, it's quite bizarre. I can understand disappointment that the prize isn't much, but I can't imagine anyone winning something and asking for more.

...and continuing on the birthday theme..... I'm 39 today (20th)!

Title: Re: Yet another WTF story
Post by: feedback loop on August 20, 2007, 04:00:54 AM

pop boy wrote on Sun, 19 August 2007 21:57

I understand your shock completely, but you might look at it another way: Is it not a marketing tool you might use in the future? Cash prizes draw attention. You might weigh the cost/benefit ratio of having a cash prize for the 5000th listen or something. Not a new concept in marketing. Tapani

This wasn't a contest.  More of a spur of the moment goodwill building opportunity. As they say, "No good deed goes unpunished."

Title: Re: Yet another WTF story
Post by: Fibes on August 20, 2007, 10:52:03 AM

Entitlement is the new black.







Please no comments on race, it's a statement related to fashion and if you want to project something go buy a P.C. dildo.

Title: Re: Yet another WTF story
Post by: Tim Halligan on August 20, 2007, 11:04:23 AM

Send the little ungrateful minx a scratched CD, and a Size 16 T-shirt with a Size 6 label.



Cheers,
Tim

Title: Re: Yet another WTF story
Post by: J.J. Blair on August 20, 2007, 11:18:39 AM

Send her a dollar bill.

Title: Re: Yet another WTF story
Post by: jwhynot on August 20, 2007, 01:36:08 PM

She wants cash?  Here's some cash:

Title: Re: Yet another WTF story
Post by: rankus on August 20, 2007, 01:52:31 PM

Happy birthday Fred.  I was going to call you yesterday and wish it in person, but got busy with a long drawn out vocal/writing session. 48 eh?  I'll trade you... I turned 49 yesterday.

Anyway I hope you can settle out of court with your "winner"...  
(And I use the term "winner" loosely.)

Title: Re: Yet another WTF story
Post by: Joe Black on August 20, 2007, 03:20:10 PM

Smells like teen spirit. Give her what she asked for.

Title: Re: Yet another WTF story
Post by: feedback loop on August 20, 2007, 04:39:28 PM

Story update:

My email to winner:  CD.  Tee shirt.  No cash.

Her response: o ok


The song on her page is Hannah Montana.  I wonder how much Disney paid for the privilege to have a song on her page?

Title: Re: Yet another WTF story
Post by: rnicklaus on August 20, 2007, 05:06:20 PM

Part of the "problem" with myspace and "fans" is that in many cases people are joining sites of friends of friends, etc.

So when someone is the millionth person to join, they may or may not be a fan of that artist.

By joining "your" site, that person also has another friend on their site.  That's how social networking sites work (duh)

Someone getting an email saying you are the 20 millionth fan and have won a prize maybe a bit of a "huh?  I was added to 40 sites this weekend".