I had an auto tire mishap the other day and stopped by my friendly neighborhood Les Schwab Tire Store to have it repaired. Unfortunately, a nail had ruined the tire so it couldn't be fixed and I had to order a new tire that took a freakin' week to get here from Pennsylvania but that's not the point of this entry.
While in the store I saw this placard advertising the current Les Schwab sales promotion in effect: Buy some new tires and get some free beef. Huh? Yep. Buy two and get $7.50 worth of cow. Buy four and get $15.00 worth. Again, huh?
How do you suppose that meeting went?
"Guys, we've got to move some more tires. Whaddya got?
"Well, we could offer a free giveaway with purchase. "
"Great idea! How about meat?"
"Makes sense to me. Let's do it."
Here's what the company website has to say,
"It's that time again. FREE BEEF with the tires you buy!
A "thank you" to the farmers and ranchers of the West, and a way to show our gratitude to you, our customer. Party pack, or fresh from the freezer. Buy some tires, get some beef. It's a big extra at no extra charge. While your (sic) there, ask about Les Schwab's easy-pay credit, including 90 days same as cash.
Sudden Service, Supermarket Selection, On-the-spot Warranties, and right now FREE BEEF.
You'll find it at Les Schwab. Ask about it."
I did. I asked. The guy beyond the counter didn't know a thing about the farmers or the ranchers. Still seems weird to me.
Haha! I once saw something similar to this in an advertisement for a hotel. Stay for a night, get a free turkey (for the record, it was summer and not even close to Thanksgiving). That made us laugh pretty hard, but we were quite reticent to stay there, as one has to wonder just how nice that hotel could possibly have been.
Advertising affordable rates and good service would surely be more effective for my money, but to each his own.
Posted by: Frances | February 07, 2008 at 05:15 AM
If only Clara Peller had lived long enough she would have got an answer to her question "Where's the beef?".
Posted by: brother john | February 07, 2008 at 08:02 AM
What happens if you are vegetarian? Are you just SOL, or do they kindly hand over $7.50 in tofu with your tire?
Posted by: Chrissy | February 07, 2008 at 08:31 AM
And here I thought all those government subsidies were enough to a thank you . . .
Posted by: Diane | February 07, 2008 at 08:36 AM
that is cross marketing gone horribly, horribly wrong!
Posted by: maltese parakeet | February 07, 2008 at 08:39 AM
on a slightly unrelated note, perhaps in honor of upcoming chinese new year... i've come across something i think you would find amusing and it has taken up way too much of my time. but, www.engrish.com... they've compiled photos taken in the far east where someone has poorly translated something into english.
Posted by: cari | February 07, 2008 at 09:27 AM
LOL There is just an inherent problem with marketing "things" with "food", I mean you are looking for tires and You are not offered a discount, but meat. It would be like shopping for a bed and getting $25 in free Garbanzo beans. It just doesn't seem "right".
If you don't eat meat, get a strange look and a coupon for TOFU at the local Trader Hippie store. :)
Posted by: Chris | February 07, 2008 at 09:33 AM
It is certainly weird, but I think it harkens back to some sort of small town service theory. Les Schwab has been doing the free beef thing for many many years. The beef offer certainly doesn't get me slapping new rubbers on my ride, but Les Schwab is one of the best companies I have ever dealt with. They have fixed hella tires for me for free and replaced tires that I didn't even buy from them for free.
Posted by: Steve Schroeder | February 07, 2008 at 12:05 PM
kosher?
Posted by: db | February 07, 2008 at 01:44 PM
that is just wrong on way too many levels.... and not to mention NASTY. where are are they keeping this beef they are giving away?? the last time I was at a tire store, I do not remember seeing anything remotely close to a refrigeration unit...
Posted by: cathy g. | February 07, 2008 at 02:54 PM
Bean, this is what you get for living in the boonies. Here in LA we may not get "free beef" (*ding*), for buying tires but neither do we have to wait a week to get our new tires. Believe it or not, most tire stores up here actually have the tires right there in the store.
Posted by: lynne_t | February 07, 2008 at 03:34 PM
Such a deal. But you seem like a nice boy, maybe you'd like chicken soup instead.
Posted by: Geo | February 07, 2008 at 05:56 PM