A Letter to Samsung

Dear Samsung,

I write as a person who has regular contact with your products, most of which are excellent. (My wife's last four phones have all been Samsung)

My problem however is with your customer service.

I bought a Galaxy Tablet recently, having phoned your support line to ask if it had a physical security lock point; a question to which your advisor gave a clear 'yes' to. On receipt of the item, I noticed it has no security point whatsoever.

I phoned again to complain and try and find a security solution, apart from giving me the accessories number it seemed the person on the phone (definitely didn't sound UK based) couldn't do anything more to help.

I checked your website for a contact email. Nothing.

I rang the accessories number, and was told that "This isn't the accessories line, this is for cancelled orders. I'll put you through to accessories."

The next person picked up, "This isn't accessories" and then gave me the exact number I dialled in the first place.

So. Would someone like to help me by either offering some kind of apology for the incorrect information given before purchase? Would someone like to help me solve the security problem I have given I cannot find a single product that I need to make it secure as required? Would someone like to tell me why a company that makes as many great products as Samsung has given such poor service?

While I Remember

I forgot to post this earlier in the year, but I enjoyed this personalised picture trend stuff from Getty Images' 27 Letters.

The Pop Up Ad

I was thinking this week about online video content and media space; about whether there is a way to use TV like an online spot. I started at Honda's Cog ad, how one full length spot generated huge public interest.

The key ad that got me thinking though was this:


The Halifax radio station ads, or more specifically this:


A genius dubstep remix.

Now go with me here. Imagine if you put that once, on a music channel in the middle of the evening. Most people who saw it would think "what the hell??" and probably go and talk about it. People would ask if others saw it. Yet because it would only appear once on TV it could take on a mystical 'see it or miss it' quality, 'were you there when that ad played?'

In other words, can we use pop up ads, remix ads, proper UCG (not this make our ad for us bullshit) to create one off interesting moments that will create genuine interest and could help brands appear interesting and engaging?

Love to hear your thoughts.

Whilst watching TV yesterday...

"New X Cream from ABC.

Our cream is THIS and does THIS. It's filled with THIS and THIS and THIS and THIS so it does THIS, THIS and THIS.

Does your cream do THIS?

X Cream from ABC does THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIIIS..."

ARGH!!!!

Why not just kidnap us, strap us to a chair and force us Clockwork Orange style to watch a three hour seminar on how your cream is minutely better than the next brand, until we turn into loyal zombies working on auto drive.

For fucks sake, a product feature list is not an ad.

Bus Stop Bubbles

I am a big fan of interactive bus stop media, they give you something to do whilst waiting in the rain (at least in Manchester), and at present are new enough an idea that people will stop and look at them purely because of what they are.

The latest one from Aero looks nice and ties in well with the current brand idea and strapline. It's a simple quiz to determine how Irresistibubble you are, nothing spectacular but it passes a minute of time in an engaging way.

Hello there little cupcake

Hurrah! After a few months of moving my favourite cupcakes are back in Manchester. Hey Little Cupcake opened their doors last Friday and by time I got there at half one they were almost totally sold out!

Lovely people and tasty cakes are a winning combination... I don't do these kinds of posts very often!

If you are ever in near the Spinningfields area of Manchester I wholeheartedly recommend you try one!

Motor City Awakens

There is no avoiding it, this ad is just brilliant. The kind of bold thinking that is everything good about America. The reflection and spirit to create something that has the potential (and indeed deserves) to spark a city into regeneration.

Others have really praised this ad, and rightly so; but even then... The tagline 'Imported from Detroit' is genius, showing the kind of clever thinking that tells you everything about why W+K is one of, if not the best agency in the world. It doesn't try to sugar coat, it doesn't have brazen pomposity or an unachievable dream cloying up the airtime. It is, it does, it works, it inspires.

This is Chrysler's '1984'. It deserves to be looked back on in 20 years as an ad that changed the way people thought about a city, about a brand, and about how to communicate honestly and engagingly with your target audience.

Some Recent Irritations and Some Pleasantries

The Kings Speech - "It's my film of the year, definitely." This ad aired in January, you must have said that in mid January. Are you planning to watch no other films this year?

Niquitin - This is an interesting idea. I like the concept of your future self telling you to stay positive. However, I find it comical that this ad manages to create a homoerotic environment between a man and his future self. A version of Back to the Future I think very few people would want to see...

Plus, if you were to bump into your future self; I think the first thing you would be likely to say is "What on earth? How the hell did this happen?". Not "I've given up smoking."

Quitting Advice from..
Watch the ad...

Go Compare - The latest Go Compare ad is easily the best one yet. I know that's like saying Typhoid is better than Anthrax... but an improvement is an improvement. It also features the first line in the series that is actually kind of witty.

Kit Kat - Lovely. The best Kit Kat ad in ages.

Where the hell is Rob...? (Not me)

This is freakin' awesome



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