Made me:
Posted on 12/01/2007 4:07:38 AM PST by ButThreeLeftsDo
Target Corp. is learning the hard way that life in the blogosphere can put you right in the bullseye. The Minneapolis-based discount retailer is being outed in online blogs and discussed in college ethics classes after students allied with the company were told to "keep it like a secret" while singing the company's praises on the social network site Facebook.com.
"Keep it a secret? That sounds unethical," said Rosie Siman, 21, a senior at the University of Georgia and a member of the Target Rounders. The group of mostly college students gets discounts, CDs and other prizes for marketing Target products to their friends and providing the company with feedback.
"You're essentially asking people to lie for you," Siman said. "People will be seeing all these posts saying, 'Target's awesome' and they don't realize they're coming from people who essentially are being paid to promote Target."
The hubbub began in early October after Siman received a Rounders newsletter as Target was launching a new Facebook page. Like many companies now setting up sites on Facebook and MySpace, Target hoped to get people talking about new products, get feedback and continue to find ways to promote its hip image.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
Thanks for educating me with your reply #25. I had no idea they were that liberal.
know anything about the Purple Heart charity organizaion?
Well said.
You have a great sense of humor! Made me really LOL
Made me:
FReepers are funny and witty! (quick and clever, too!)
I love starting my day out laughing!
So then Target's problem is in requesting secrecy on the part of its shills. Otherwise it seems to be more or less in public view how they offer benefits for testimonials, such policy being available through the web sites where shills may apply.
Spot on. Good post.
| "'Advertising?' But that's so--what's that word Mom used?-- that is so bourgeois!" |
ark Dayton is a jerk, but I believe the Dayton family sold the corporation many years ago.
Ugh! Here we go, more attacks on Target.
Rounders: I don’t know about whether this marketing tactic is ethical or not but you can bet that many MANY companies do the exact same thing.
Salvation Army: Let me just say I totally agree with some of the comments here about Salvation Army becoming more and more “liberal”. I donate elsewhere now as well.
As far as Target banning the bell ringers, this is true, however there is more to that story.
Here are a couple of articles on Snopes that address some different rumors about Target including SA and Christmas:
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/charity/sallyann.asp
http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/target.asp
http://www.snopes.com/politics/christmas/target.asp
As far as the Christmas thing goes, you can look at their website today to see that Christmas is indeed on the website and in promotional material.
I totally understand why some people would not shop at Target, whether it is for political reasons or personal taste, but I personally love Target(no I am not paid). I’ve had nothing but terrible experiences with Walmart in 4 different cities across Texas and I try very hard not to shop there if I can help it. I’ve always had good experiences at Target and like their products. That’s just my personal opinion though. Take it or leave it.
Oh and the one closest to me has Starbucks! Mmmmm...coffee! :oP
But it’s perfectly ethical to plant leftist questioners in Republican debates and to refer to them as “undecided Republicans”?
The left has yet to find a consistent definition of “Ethics.” For them, it bends to their will.
The same organization that had Hillary Clinton as the speaker at it’s national meeting?
>>Ugh! Here we go, more attacks on Target.
Rounders: I don’t know about whether this marketing tactic is ethical or not but you can bet that many MANY companies do the exact same thing.<<
The list of companies caught “anonymously” editing their Wikipedia profile, for example is enormous.
I choose my battles and Target isn’t one of them. You have at it.
Nice Rant! I have not been impressed with the SA for years. I rang bells for them in Washington, DC when I was in college. They paid the college students very well. I could never figure out why they didn't have their own people to ring bells...why fly kids in from Kentucky and pay them to ring the bells.
Nope. From the day the bellringers start to the day they stop, I buy nothing at Target.
viral marketing.
politicians are using it (even here on FR)
Poedesta of the clintonistas is using it.
The administration tried it with the immigration amnesty effort.
The fact target is trying to hide it is laughable.
I’m not after Target. Don’t care what greeting any store uses as long as it is polite. Just don’t like an organization that is for the wounded vet supporting one of the most anti-military people around. ( I am a member and have complained)
no but I’d love to hear about it. We mostly donate to the rescue mission, but I am always looking for a deserving place to help out.
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