The Musings Of An Opinionated Sod [Help Me Grow!]


Is This One Of The Most Tragic ‘Marketing Idea’ Ever?
January 15, 2008, 7:18 am
Filed under: Crap Marketing Ideas From History!

I’m all for finding alternate uses for products to maximise sales potential – but while trawling ebay, I found one of the worst examples I’ve ever seen …

Yep, some sad/cheeky [delete as you feel fit] bugger is trying to flog a mobile phone holding ‘sock’.

It’s not even a PAIR OF SOCKS … you just get the one.

AND IT’S IN GREY!

And they even have the nerve to list a bunch of items they say it is compatible with.

How about saying ‘IT WILL HOLD ANYTHING THAT CAN FIT INTO AN AVERAGE SOCK BECAUSE IT IS A BLOODY SOCK!’

However, in an act of marketing genius – and to stop people thinking they could just pull out any old sock from their drawer and get the same benefit – they then go on to list a bunch of sock ‘features’ …

How brilliant are they eh? 

I love how they detail how to actually use the sock – as well as that it’s suitable for all occasions. That puts my mind at rest I can tell you!

Mind you, my favourite bit is that they say the ‘bottom of the sock has been sewn shut to hold your phone from falling out’.

Errrmn, aren’t all socks already sewn up at one end?

Mind you this does highlight another issue … the ‘sock’ they’re flogging is obviously not the whole sock, but just the ankle/leg bit.

Hmmmmmn, this isn’t looking as good value as it once appeared!

Oh hang on, they counteract that by talking about the quality of the goods …

Sock Info 1

What do they mean when they say ‘mostly Grade A quality’.

If I’m to pay over SG$5 for a small, grey sock that I won’t ever be able to use because the ‘foot bit’ has already been removed … I want ALL Grade A quality.

Infact, at that price, I’d want a 19 year old Swedish personal assistant included so she can slide my phone in and out whenever I wanted!

[No subliminal sexual innuendo in that last comment is there! Ha!]

OK, so in Asia these ‘phone protector’ things are very, very common [because people are continually upgrading and don’t want their phones to get scratched as it dramatically impacts the re-sale price they can command] but I’ve never seen them marketed literally as a SOCK – or more correctly, a knitted sock!!

I tell you, I’m going to keep a close eye on this auction because if I see someone buys one, I’m going to contact them immediately and ask if they’d be interested in buying a pair of my old underpants which can also double as an onion bag.


10 Comments so far
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You’re finally getting back on track. You can tell George is heading back 🙂
Why don’t you write a post about Theatre because what you did was really interesting and a much better example of refocusing brands/products than this sock come technology holder.

Comment by Pete

IT WILL HOLD ANYTHING THAT CAN FIT INTO AN AVERAGE SOCK BECAUSE IT IS A BLOODY SOCK!’

brilliant!

Comment by Charles Frith

But it’s not a sock, it’s a social object!

Comment by John

How many onions?

Comment by John

do you still have your sock, charles?

Comment by lauren

2 great big onions John.

Comment by Rob

lol @ Rob.

John you’re in fine form today buddy!

Comment by Age

Don’t encourage him, ha!

Comment by Rob

I was looking for the claim ‘Made with odour control fibre technology [tm]’ to be completely reassured about this product. For me, “Suitable for all occasions” doesn’t ring true without this key factor.

Comment by fredrik sarnblad

They had me at “BRAND NEW”.

Morning.

Comment by Marcus




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