Bitchin' Blog Posts
Dear Teleflora. Fuck you.
by SB Sarah | by SB Sarah | February 02, 2009 | Monday at 4:26 am | 147 CommentsIf you’re watching the Super Bowl, you saw this utter shitcake of a commercial from Teleflora mocking women who read romance novels.
Ok, Teleflora. Eat a dick. You need flowers? Let me tell you: I’ve never had anything but wonderful results from ProFlowers.com. Click the radio icon in the corner and you can often get a free vase. The flowers have lasted a long ass time, and to my knowledge, ProFlowers has never mocked my love of romance novels.
ETA 2/3/09: Folks who complained via email to Teleflora are receiving apologetic email with a $15 coupon good toward a future purchase. Looks like complaining yields some results.
Filed: General Bitching, Ranty McRant
Tagged: make the burning stop, asshattery, asshat
Lisa #2 said on 02.02.09 at 04:42 AM • [link]
Holy shit! I can’t believe I was so surprised at that commercial. Fuckwads! I didn’t expect to see your post quite so soon. I’ll have to order some flowers from proflowers now.
Rosie said on 02.02.09 at 04:44 AM • [link]
Holy cow patties! Do they know their target audience?????
Angela James said on 02.02.09 at 04:48 AM • [link]
Heh. I was wondering who would post this first. Katiebabs beat you to it.
Judi said on 02.02.09 at 04:50 AM • [link]
Tele-who? Sorry, it’s not computing. Guess I’ll never call them…
Idiots.
Elyssa Papa said on 02.02.09 at 04:52 AM • [link]
Yup, I thought this commercial sucked, too. Big time. Major personal foul on Teleflora. They’re never getting my business. Mocking romance novels and being misogynistic in one breath? No, thanks. I’ll get my flowers somewhere else.
Pat said on 02.02.09 at 05:03 AM • [link]
You folks are fast! And yeah. ProFlowers. And just in time for Valentine’s!
Laura K. Curtis said on 02.02.09 at 05:04 AM • [link]
Whoa. That’s BAD. Now, I don’t use Teleflora, because ProFlowers is totally awesome, but if I had been thinking about it that would turn me completely off.
Lisa #2 said on 02.02.09 at 05:07 AM • [link]
I sent an email to teleflora re: their massive FAIL! Wonder if I’ll get a response?
Whitney said on 02.02.09 at 05:09 AM • [link]
Thank you for posting about this! My jaw literally dropped when I saw this commercial. I’m still trying to think how anyone thought it would be a good idea to air this travesty.
rebyj said on 02.02.09 at 05:24 AM • [link]
My ugly mug and fat stinky pussy will pass teleflora up for sure. Teleflora isn’t just against romance novels it’s obviously got a poor opinion about women overall.
Jill Sorenson said on 02.02.09 at 05:28 AM • [link]
Flag on the play! 15 yard penalty, personal foul, unnecessary lameness, etc.
Go Cardinals.
Wolf said on 02.02.09 at 05:28 AM • [link]
I agree, that’s bullshit. I’ve gotten a gorgeous vase and Gerbera daisies from Proflowers before. They lasted 2+ weeks.
Rinda said on 02.02.09 at 05:42 AM • [link]
Mocking romance novels right before Valentine’s Day? Smart.
katiebabs said on 02.02.09 at 05:46 AM • [link]
And don’t forget they mocked cat owners also.
Jennifer C said on 02.02.09 at 05:47 AM • [link]
I was so furious I screamed and threw stuff at the TV. My boyfriend, bless his heart, didn’t even blink at my outburst. He went on to say that they were jerks. *grins*
Stupid stupid people to make an ad like that.
vickiso said on 02.02.09 at 05:47 AM • [link]
This ad makes no sense. It doesn’t sell the company or the flowers or even the idea of sending flowers. I’ve forgotten what the company is already.
And anyhow, men should know that if they really want to impress, they should send an attractive naked man in a chocolate G-string.
Karen said on 02.02.09 at 05:53 AM • [link]
DH and I were also surprised at this commercial. Yeah, Valentine’s is coming up…and yeah, he knows not to use Teleflora.
rebyj said on 02.02.09 at 05:53 AM • [link]
http://www.teleflora.com/FLOWERBLOG/post/Flowers-get-the-last-word-this-Sunday!.aspx
teleflora’s own blog. sock it to them.
theo said on 02.02.09 at 05:56 AM • [link]
All I can say is, if there were any women involved in thinking up this commercial to begin with, they ought to be drawn and quartered! And shame on the actresses too!
neanderthals…
Fiamme said on 02.02.09 at 05:57 AM • [link]
Oh I dunno—the target market is clearly the blokes who BUY the flowers, not the women who receive them. This is going to pander to a few prejudices quite nicely.
Agree with the summation of it being a pathetic ad. Up there with the annoying one in my local movie theatre that berates men (!! because y’know, men pay for the ticket if you are on a date) for being cheap asses for not buying their date a GOLD CLASS ticket!
Please. Your target market is clearly NOT the people like me in the cheap seats (who, may I point out, has a joint account so not really interested in husband Proving His Love by spending OUR money).
When will people learn NOT to insult their customers, either directly or by proxy? It really doesn’t make us want to buy their products.
West said on 02.02.09 at 06:03 AM • [link]
Wow, that was insulting on so many levels, not to mention just plain obnoxious. And that’s why I have a “No-business-with-fucktards” rule.
Amy Redwood said on 02.02.09 at 06:03 AM • [link]
I agree, that was a fricking major FAIL.
But, well, it’s easy really. Hit them where it hurts. I’ve never bought flowers from them, and now I never will.
Judi said on 02.02.09 at 06:05 AM • [link]
hmm. The blog link gets an error - wonder if someone got a clue?
Barb Ferrer said on 02.02.09 at 06:08 AM • [link]
Yeah, but the Super Bowl is as much a social event as a sporting event and as such, there are probably as many women watching as men and if anything, the women probably pay closer attention to the commercials than the men do, so it was an epic FAIL on a lot of levels.
Plus, it was stupid.
I sent them an email too.
rebyj said on 02.02.09 at 06:09 AM • [link]
http://www.teleflora.com/FLOWERBLOG/
Try that one . No comments there yet. They seem rather proud of their commercial.
lilacsigil said on 02.02.09 at 06:12 AM • [link]
I believe that the owner of Teleflora is a woman, so EXTRA FAIL for associating your business with “ugly” “rude” and “misogynist”.
Barb Ferrer said on 02.02.09 at 06:16 AM • [link]
You can also vote on ads at hulu.com.
Tina C. said on 02.02.09 at 06:17 AM • [link]
As I sit here on my fat ass, a purring kitten on my lap, a bagful of books—many of which are romances—at my feet, I find myself ASTOUNDED. Frankly, around here, if I get flowers, he buys them locally and brings them home. If flowers get sent, such as to the MIL for her birthday or my daughter for Valentine’s Day or just to cheer her up on a bad day, I’m the one doing it. I doubt that I’m the only one. So, teleflora may think they were playing to their demographic (guys, watching the game, who have only just realized that V-Day is coming—because women don’t watch football, right?), but they really dropped the ball on this one, didn’t they?
Schmucks.
Proflowers and 1-800-flowers will get ALL of my future business and these women-bashing assholes can just bite me.
Amy Redwood said on 02.02.09 at 06:19 AM • [link]
I left them a polite comment, but I guess that the moderator needs to approve it first. My guess is that he/she won’t feel inclined to approve, but we’ll see. Why don’t you all go and write them something nice? I’m sure they appreciate customer feedback. ;-)
inez kelley said on 02.02.09 at 06:21 AM • [link]
I tried to comment but it won’t show up. Morons.
Tina C. said on 02.02.09 at 06:24 AM • [link]
I posted a version of what I said here on their blog and it didn’t post. Whatever.
Jennifer Armintrout said on 02.02.09 at 06:26 AM • [link]
All I got from that commercial was “blah blah blah we’re a bunch of dick holes.”
thetechdiva said on 02.02.09 at 06:29 AM • [link]
I just sent the lovely asshats at teleflora a professionally written biting email. I was so embarrassed by this commercial. I have never used their service and now I never will. The ad will be pulled by tomorrow I am guessing by the feedback I’ve seen in my last google search. Wait till the ladies at Feministing and Shakersville get a hold of them.
my word was serious78. Yep, serious as 78 heart attacks!
Judi said on 02.02.09 at 06:33 AM • [link]
From their site:
“Flowers and romance are as inseparable as two people in love”
okaaaaayyyy??
Wolf said on 02.02.09 at 06:36 AM • [link]
the main page will get you to the blog post. However, comments are not showing, so I thin k they’re moderated, even though it doesn’t state as such.
http://www.teleflora.com/FLOWERBLOG
Missy Ann said on 02.02.09 at 06:42 AM • [link]
I knew ya’ll were going to be all over this. And good for you! And all of us.
And here’s a pro-tip Google the town where you’re sending flowers. Call the local funeral home ask who does the best flowers, call them and don’t pay Teleflora or anyone their shitty Ticketmasteresque markup.
Julie Leto said on 02.02.09 at 06:42 AM • [link]
Hey, Sarah…why don’t you contact Proflowers and see if they’ll give a discount to anyone who writes the word “Bitch” in as the secret word? Or Smartbitch???
My jaw dropped at that commercial. I foresee a lot of women turning to their husbands and honies and saying, “Please don’t buy me flowers from those ...(insert expletive here).”
Jill Shalvis said on 02.02.09 at 06:47 AM • [link]
Amen. I was fuming too, lol, and was about to put it on my blog when I saw it here.
OH said on 02.02.09 at 06:50 AM • [link]
If someone has a youtube account they should post there too- so far people think it’s funny. (Ok, 6 people, but still, that’s too many)
Jean Poole said on 02.02.09 at 06:57 AM • [link]
Wholly Crap! That was a whole smear misogynistic crap!
Did anyone else notice who got the “mean flowers”. Of course the single woman in the grotty cube farm. The “silent flowers” went to the the peen-earning-power-purchased-upscale-georgian-brick-two-story-dwelling-right-outta-sixteen-candles. There’s a whole world of subtext right there.
rebyj said on 02.02.09 at 07:06 AM • [link]
That “no one wants to see you naked ” comment still has me pissed off.
John C. Bunnell said on 02.02.09 at 07:08 AM • [link]
I didn’t watch the game—was otherwise occupied during most of the relevant time period—and so missed the ad.
Like the rest of the gallery, I’m boggled that Teleflora approved the ad for broadcast. However, I am also boggled that whatever ad agency was involved let the relevant account execs show the proposal for that ad to that client in the first place.
Mind, I understand the intended psychology—the intended target for mockery is the competition’s lame flowers, with the intended message being that Teleflora’s are better than that—but the execution fails on so many basic levels that the ad shouldn’t have gotten anywhere near the Teleflora offices in that form.
I foresee a rapid change of ad agencies in Teleflora’s future, and very possibly an equally quick trip to the unemployment office for the agency staffer(s) who developed and pushed through that particular ad. The failure of perception is positively appalling.
inez kelley said on 02.02.09 at 07:09 AM • [link]
This is the company who had a category for mothers day called NON-MOMS that had adopted/adoptee groups in an uproar also. Whoever handles their advertising department needs some so serious groin kicking.
Silver James said on 02.02.09 at 07:17 AM • [link]
And they spent how much money on this? I was in a different room and heard the husband, daughter, and her fiance all groan, followed by the patter of feet, a “whew,” and my daughter yelling to her dad. “It’s okay. The TV is still intact. Mom hasn’t thrown anything…Yet!”
Yeah. She knows me. Teleflora is on my Do Not Call list now, too.
Judi said on 02.02.09 at 07:18 AM • [link]
“Teleflora’s in-house unit Fire Station Agency handles. The spot was directed by John O’Hagan at production company RSA (Ridley Scott Associates).”
found here: http://www.flowersandcents.org/index.php?topic=2178.0
This seems to be like all those moms of the American Idol entrants who can’t sing - too close and invested to realize the truth.
Keira Soleore said on 02.02.09 at 07:25 AM • [link]
We like 1-800Flowers and FTD, too. Teleflora, FAIL!! I’m so ticked off.
Spider said on 02.02.09 at 07:31 AM • [link]
You can drop them an email via their website. Hit “about us,” and then “email customer service.” I’d bet they have comments turned off on their blog. I would.
I sent this This email is regarding your Superbowl ad, which aired on 2/1/09. I find it to be misogynist and offensive. I will not be patronizing your service, and I will encourage my friends and family not to patronize it either. You made a gross misstep in insulting women as the (only) target of floral gifts and alienated many potential customers in doing so.
Their dig at romance novels was the LEAST of my issues with the language in this ad.
Lorelie said on 02.02.09 at 07:43 AM • [link]
My husband’s sent me flowers twice this deployment alone. I’ll make sure he won’t be using Teleflora. The idiocy is astounding.
JoanneL said on 02.02.09 at 07:46 AM • [link]
At the party tonight the only time the entire room was quiet was after that ad played… the women were just astounded at the stupidity and the men knew better then to open their mouths.
STEELERS for the WIN!!!!!!!!!!!
Teleflora, NOT
J said on 02.02.09 at 07:52 AM • [link]
Pathetic. And hatefully disrespectful of women. Truly unbelievable that they didn’t realize the message they were sending.
I was thinking about this, though - how often does anyone buy flowers these days? I’m 40 now, and I thought it was kind of a “mom” gift to receive when I was 20. They’re OK, but I’d much rather go out to dinner than get a $70 bouquet on valentine’s day. Delivery flowers are for funerals and mother’s day, or for husbands who can’t be bothered to show up in person. (send me a plant, or bring me a bouquet from the farmer’s market - now we’re talking.)
Anyway, watching that my thought was - they are dinosaurs and they advertise like dinosaurs. They need to travel back to 1961 and find some customers. (men who have contempt for women, like Teleflora does.)
EJ McKenna said on 02.02.09 at 07:55 AM • [link]
Um,
ok, this ad didn’t make me angry. It’s just a stupid ad.
I guess what they were trying to say was ‘careful what you send out, you never know how people are going to take it’.
The irony is perfect. The ad agency should have heeded the very message they were trying to sell.
SonomaLass said on 02.02.09 at 08:08 AM • [link]
When that commercial ran, I turned to my partner and said, “SmartBitch Sarah is going to be ALL OVER this one!” Wow, just wow.
Congrats to all you Stillers fans, too!
Alex said on 02.02.09 at 08:13 AM • [link]
Here’s my comment:
Dear Teleflora,
Alex said on 02.02.09 at 08:20 AM • [link]
FUCK. One day, I shall be able to post a comment without making typos. Maybe I should do them in the morning when I’m still fresh.
RealHuman said on 02.02.09 at 08:21 AM • [link]
Am I the only one who thinks you people are taking yourselves too seriously? That commercial was hilarious! Offensive, sure, but very funny. Suck it up- why care what anyone else thinks?
Alex said on 02.02.09 at 08:29 AM • [link]
Dear Troll,
There’s a big reason to care what people think—their opinions reflect how seriously they take you and how much respect you get, and that, in a social setting, determines pretty much everything you can accomplish. I’m 22 years old, live on my own, and have a 3.69 GPA pursuing a geology degree in a college whose Earth Science department is run by slavedriving sadists whose stated intention is to break us down and rebuild us in their image—but I can’t argue a damn thing with my parents, because they still see me as their child. It’s similar—that commercial just enforces the stereotype of romance being a shitty genre, and romance readers being sad, shitty people. I don’t even read romance that much, but I’m pissed at the layers of offense stacked into that commercial.
Fuck you.
GrowlyCub said on 02.02.09 at 08:29 AM • [link]
I only watched bits and pieces after the half-time show and was taken aback at how boring all the commercials were. I’m glad I missed this one. The cats would have been upset, if they’d heard that.
It’s truly amazing that here we are in the 21st century and this makes it to national TV and one of the most watched programs of the year. Truly amazing!
Words fail me. No I do not have another96 words to say.
Gwynnyd said on 02.02.09 at 08:40 AM • [link]
Between the Teleflora clusterfuck, the Pepsi “Pepsuber,” which proved that people who drink Pepsi are self-centered and stupid enough to blow themselves up rather than act with any modicum of common sense and I am so never, ever drinking Pepsi ever again, and the GoDaddy “Enhancement” mind-boggler that cut away just as the enhanced bimbo yanked off her clothing - was this year worse than usual? Or am I just bitchier these days and less willing to put up with this kind of bullshit?
Maggie Moony said on 02.02.09 at 09:15 AM • [link]
Wow, that was just so MEAN on so many different levels.
wook said on 02.02.09 at 09:17 AM • [link]
Sent them a strongly worded message about their idiocy and crassness. (if I term it anything else, I will certainly lose my temper)
The fact is - sure, most men buy the flowers but, dude, there’s normally a female on the receiving end. You think women want someone to send them something from that company? Valentine’s day is coming up and I’m certainly informing the significant other that if anything from that company shows up, I will Not Be Pleased.
My mum is definitely getting her flowers from proflowers. My sisters? the same. My SIL? Same. Anything but this company.
Me, my fat ass, my multitude of dogs (not cats, am allergic) and my romance novels are not impressed.
peace58? yeah right. not over this.
Tessa Dare said on 02.02.09 at 09:51 AM • [link]
I wrote them, too. I was completely aghast when I heard that ad - it brought me back into the living room from the kitchen. It was so shockingly nasty, and a roomful of kids were watching. Give me a wardrobe malfunction any day. I’d far rather my kids get a good long look at Janet Jackson’s breast than have them hear “You’re a train wreck/No one wants to see you naked” in that snide, demeaning tone.
I mean, I get what the ad people were going for: DON’T choose flowers that insult the recipient. But the impression the ad leaves is, “This crude, misogynistic rant has been brought to you by Teleflora.” Gee, thanks. But where’s my frickin’ vase?
SonomaLass said on 02.02.09 at 09:53 AM • [link]
I liked the Bob Dylan Pepsi commercial best. I also liked the Coke commercial with the bugs, and the Cheetos commercial where pigeons were a weapon against the rude cell phone user, as well as most of the movie trailers. And I admit I did laugh at the MacGuyver spoof for Pepsi, because I was so hot for MacGuyver in my youth, and there was Richard Dean Anderson himself in a baaaad mullet wig. Looked like he belonged on an old-skool snarkable cover, maybe for a romance about a lumberjack….
I’m going to vote this year, I think; it will make me feel better.
ETA: The hulu.com vote for your favorite Super Bowl ad is sponsored by Teleflora. Ew.
Bev Stephans said on 02.02.09 at 09:56 AM • [link]
Fortunately, I’ve never bought from Teleflora and now I never will. I tried leaving a message on their blog, but it wouldn’t post!
Gosh, I’m so surprised!
I’ve used 1-800-Flowers for about 8 years and have never had a
problem. At least I’ve never seen a shitty commercial from them.
I guess I’ll take my fat ass to bed and read 3 or 4 romance novels.
My security word is might69. I might if I had a good partner.
SonomaLass said on 02.02.09 at 11:20 AM • [link]
On a positive note, this ad didn’t make the Sports Illustrated top 20. That perhaps suggests missing the target market.
Cat Marsters said on 02.02.09 at 12:50 PM • [link]
Am I the only one who thought they were being clever, or at least trying to, by having the ‘bad flowers’ employ worn-out cliches as insults? Romance novels and cats: yes, she’s a spinster. The boxed flowers are so unimaginative (yes, I’m anthropomorphising computerised flowers) that they can’t even find anything original to say. The bad flowers said something bad. Wasn’t that the idea?
Lorelie said on 02.02.09 at 02:27 PM • [link]
Or for husbands who aren’t *able* to show up in person, due to work constraints and so forth. And I have the blackest thumb ever born (my record for killing a live plant is two days) so a plant is a very bad idea. *g*
AgTigress said on 02.02.09 at 02:56 PM • [link]
It’s outrageous! I could hardly believe it.
I’m sure that those who devised the advertisment did think they were being clever/funny/ironic, but it simply doesn’t work. It comes over as unbelievably crude, vulgar, bigoted, offensive and just plain nasty.
Doesn’t the USA have an equivalent of our Advertising Standards Authority?
http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/about/short_guide/
A large volume of public complaints to the ASA about an advert always creates a lot of media coverage in the UK and can be a huge embarrassment to the offending company. Mind you, I think this company is going to be pretty embarrassed anyway, not least by losing a vast amount of business.
Barb Ferrer said on 02.02.09 at 03:14 PM • [link]
I was reading an article this morning on sfgate.com on the Super Bowl ads and while they didn’t mention the Teleflora ad specifically, this one paragraph did jump out at me:
So while the PC police are going to be hypervigilant about gay and racial slights (and rightly so) it would appear, yet again, that the last acceptable group left to attack happens to be women, especially, the subset of the single woman. Because while yes, I’m smart enough to have gotten the irony, they missed the boat, big time.
And yeah, the Danica Patrick/Go Daddy commercials bugged me too, but whatever. She’s a grown up. If that’s what she thinks it takes to play with the big boys, then right on.
Nixy Valentine said on 02.02.09 at 03:37 PM • [link]
What morons. Instead of the asshole flowers being associated with some fictional competitor, they will forever in my mind now be linked with Teleflora.
And WTF is wrong with flowers in a box? I have lots of vases, and no room for any more, especially the cheap assed ones that come with flowers.
This is like complaining that your pants didn’t come with a belt.
J said on 02.02.09 at 04:11 PM • [link]
Lorelie - you’re right. That was insensitive of me. Of course our loved ones can’t always be there in person.
But what I was meaning to say in my clumsy way :-) is that I don’t think delivered flowers is really a growth industry. It seems to me like a campaign (if they continue it) that has the potential to backfire on their whole industry because it left me with such a bad impression. (flowers are for losers was the takeaway I got.)
Like someone else here commented, the whole thing about boxes and vases is just weird. I wouldn’t know the difference, or care. I’d just be happy someone bought me something! They seem to have imagined a target audience of people who are really paying attention to the details of floral delivery, and I’m imagining an audience of people who maybe think about it once or twice a year.
(Also, since we’re comparing notes, when I need to order flowers I always call a local florist. You can talk to the person picking out the flowers for your arrangement, plus you save $5 or $10.)
Shae said on 02.02.09 at 04:33 PM • [link]
Ugh, that was a horrible ad.
And I have to talk about this somewhere. This morning I got an email from Ideal Image (the place I get laser hair removal from) and the email pretty much said that laser hair removal gift certificates were a good idea for Valentine’s Day. Umm, no. Why in the world would anyone think that laser hair removal is an appropriate gift??? Any gift that says “you should change this about yourself” is not something you give another person!
Michele said on 02.02.09 at 04:34 PM • [link]
They seem to have imagined a target audience of people who are really paying attention to the details of floral delivery, and I’m imagining an audience of people who maybe think about it once or twice a year.
I think the vast majority of people who send flowers don’t even think about a box or a vase at all or really care either way. To me the ad was not only offensive, but very stupid and cheap.
katiebabs said on 02.02.09 at 04:37 PM • [link]
What if the woman receiving the flowers was drop dead gorgeous or a famous model? Would it be funny then? They made the woman pathetic and sad.
The commercial also has an “Office Space” movie feel to it.
SB Sarah said on 02.02.09 at 04:59 PM • [link]
What bothers me now that I’ve had some sleep (not much - had to watch all the post-game victory party because dude, STEELERS WON WOO HOO) is how stupid and cruel the entire subtext is.
“You are not loved. You are ugly, stupid, and should be humiliated.”
That’s what poses as a good method through which to sell flowers?
David Ogilvy, who was more than a little bizarre and also holy shit brilliant, was the founder of Ogilvy advertising. There’s a bio of him, The King of Madison Avenue (and if you’re writing an over the top character, you might want to check this book out for the very top of over-the-top) and in it, Kenneth Roman talks about Ogilvy’s legacy on American advertising. From page 226:
“The consumer is not a moron, she is your wife. Never write an advertisement you would not want your own family to read. You would not tell lies to your wife. Don’t tell them to mine.”
Spinning that out to this ad, I’m still trying to figure out who they thought the audience was - and why insulting a character whom all of us know (the single working woman) would be a good way to sell their business.
I’m working on a coupon code for ProFlowers for the Bitchery. Stay tuned.
Yes, there’s room to point to us and say we’re taking things too seriously, but I’m prepared
theo said on 02.02.09 at 05:11 PM • [link]
You know, I don’t know that I read this specifically here, but in our home, we do send flowers, planters with flowers in them, what have you, for lots of different occasions. And you know who does the ordering? ME! Not the DH. So why would anyone in their right mind (though obviously this bunch isn’t) make a commercial which is so very insulting to the ones who chose which florist they’ll use?
The only thing my DH ever orders for me is Vermont Teddy Bears. Everything else is me.
*sigh*
dumb…just really dumb…
ev said on 02.02.09 at 05:25 PM • [link]
I think that qualifies as the Black Hand award!!
If you go to GoDaddy.com, you get the complete commercial, and it’s not what you thing the ending is either. I actually enjoyed it.
The first ad that ProFlowers had was just as bad- a woman in the hospital who recieved flowers from the office. That one wasn’t funny either.
I really like the coke (or was it pepsi) commercial where the bottle was highjacked by the bees and bugs from the guy on the picnic. Thought it was very nicely done. And the Bob Dylan/Will.I.Am (what a stupid name, btw) one, and of course the Budweiser Ads. Wonder what will happen now with the company no longer American owned? They are closing the hospitality suites at the parks. What next? The ads??
GO STEELERS!!! FUCKING A!!
Kelly C. said on 02.02.09 at 06:03 PM • [link]
I guess if Teleflora were the first and/or only ones to trash romance novels/readers, I’d have my knickers in a knot. However, seeing as that is so not the case .......... c’est le vie.
Plus I order all flowers at local florists, so no need/want to boycott some place I have no need/want to deal with.
Maybe if I had seen the actual commercial (no computer is going to help me with that, one at work has no speakers - one at home too slow) I MIGHT be able to muster up some rage…then again, I doubt it.
Theresa Meyers said on 02.02.09 at 06:04 PM • [link]
Just an FYI for the bitchery…
As a former florist, a lot of small floral shops use teleflora as a service if you are sending flowers to someone outside their local delivery area.
Make sure if you do this (for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, birthdays, whatever) that you tell them NOT TO USE Teleflora as a service.
That will actually hit Teleflora where it hurts.
Jasmine said on 02.02.09 at 06:08 PM • [link]
I ordered ALL my wedding flowers from an online Flowers-in-a-box company, and they were GORGEOUS! I’ve never had so many compliments and “where did you get those”!
These were bulk flowers so you have to let them stand in water for 3 days to rehydrate and look pretty but wow! Ordered the Calla Lilies from The Grower’s Box and the roses from Blooms by the Box.
Karen said on 02.02.09 at 06:10 PM • [link]
Time.com gave the Teleflora ad a C+, stating it probably missed its mark with at least one or the other, men or women. I say both.
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1874549_1874552_1876182,00.html
GrowlyCub said on 02.02.09 at 06:10 PM • [link]
Point of interest, the Time Super Bowl Ad commentator gave the Teleflora ad a C+, but the Danica ad an F. The guy giving the grades, is a ... guy.
Suze said on 02.02.09 at 06:11 PM • [link]
Yep. The plainish cubicle slave gets flowers at work (we assume from her boyfriend), but he didn’t send a cheap, crappy vase, which makes him a loser. Cubicle slave, you are ugly, boring, and stupid, and your boyfriend is lame. This message brought to you at great expense from Teleflora.
Golly, who could possibly be offended by that?
Women, you should evaluate and judge every little gift you get from your fella, just to make sure it measures up, because a thoughtful gesture is meaningless unless it’s expensive (assuming that flowers in mere boxes are inexpensive, sheesh). Men, go big or go home. Women will only like you if you spend lots of money on them, you stupid and cheap losers.
Are there any potential customers they DIDN’T insult?
karmelrio said on 02.02.09 at 06:11 PM • [link]
Wow, wasn’t that a steaming pile of misogynistic suck.
Katie Dickson said on 02.02.09 at 06:14 PM • [link]
I’m not sure the whole meaning of the ad was grasped here.
The flowers in the box where the jerks being dickheads, the ones making fun of the poor women, her novels, her cats. The point was that the flowers were jerks, saying and doing things that jerks say and do. The FLOWERS, not the ad. The ad was implying that their comepetitor’s product was of bad quality, which I think came across loud and clear.
The actress was clearly a lovely looking woman, so the tone of the ad wasn’t so much mocking as sharply funny. The message: send quality.
I didn’t think the ad was great in terms of clearly presenting their own product, but it was pretty funny. Especially the nerd at the end who tries to make everything better: “I’d like to see you naked…”
You could, in fact, read the ad as saying that people (or flora) who make fun of women who read romance novels are big asshats.
Katie Dickson said on 02.02.09 at 06:22 PM • [link]
And to follow up: BUY LOCAL, people, especially in this economy. Yes, if you are sending far away, local florists will undoubtedly use a larger company to ship—but still, go to them first so they get the bigger percentage of the cash.
And to sum up: The ad was not trying to imply that the woman was pathetic, or that the guy sending her flowers was pathetic. It was trying to imply that the FLOWERS the guy sent were pathetic, and didn’t properly (or at all) convey the message he was trying to send to his lovely lady friend. No one but a bit of dying plant matter was implying the woman was ugly, read stupid books, or was worthless. Someone was actually trying to send her flowers to be nice, and because they chose a bad product, it failed.
And quite obviously the commercial failed if it took me that many words to explain it!
Karen said on 02.02.09 at 06:29 PM • [link]
I think most on here are aware of the message they were “trying” to get across. I won’t speak for others, but I at least found the way they chose to do it rude.
How about (since the flowers already have human-line properties and can talk), the flowers gasp for air because they can’t “breathe” in the box and come out wilted and gross-looking? Wouldn’t that have conveyed the same kind of message without using cliche’ed insults that a lot of their clientele would maybe find offensive?
Alisha Rai said on 02.02.09 at 06:34 PM • [link]
Ahem. I’m a florist by day. The TF rep came by our store the day before to tell us to watch for the ad. I said, “What’s it going to be about?” and he replied, “Boxes of flowers.”
:(
My advice to everyone? CALL YOUR LOCAL FLORIST. When you go through TF, FTD, 1800flowers, justflowers…they’re just order handlers, they take a cut of your money before they send it to a local florist for you. So you if you spend fifty dollars, they might only send $45 to the florist. Then, they take another percentage cut out of that $45 so the florist knows they aren’t getting all of that money. In the end, for the florist, wire orders are more of a marketing op than a money making thing. I make them nice because we stick our card on them and hope the recipient will call us at some later date directly. But a lot of florists will look at the wire order for $45 and a phoned in order for $45…which one do you think they’ll take more time with and fill to true value? Especially on a crazy day like Valentines? It’s not fair, but there you go.
Plus, please, let’s give the mom and pops some help here :). We’re DYING.
Theresa Meyers said on 02.02.09 at 06:57 PM • [link]
Having worked at a large ad/public relations agency, I get what the ad was “trying” to say. But one thing I learned is that the whole “this is why the other guys are asshats and we’re better” apporoach in advertising backfires about 50% of the time. Often the audience remembers and connects the asshat behavior with your company’s name because you aren’t pointing out the competitior’s name. Not good.
So overall, this ad fails miserably to achieve its objective—which would be for people to call Teleflora for their flowers.
I agree completely with Alisha (because I worked at my m-i-l florist shop before she became my m-i-l), order from your local florist rather than an online or 1-800 service. They’ll do a better job and they need the support!
Jody W. said on 02.02.09 at 07:17 PM • [link]
The Superbowl ads in general either bored or bothered me this year. The Superbowl is sports, yes, but it’s also a family event, with lots of kids milling around the TV when its on, and some of those commercials were just…no. Yes, we could screen the entire Superbowl and its commercials before allowing our children to watch, but jeez! Who wants to watch that crap 2x? *laugh*
I guess it’s just what’s accepted now. Commercials are often violent and disturbing these days, especially ones for other tv programs or movies. They freak my kids out when we watch anything live and can’t fast forward through the ads. Like, I dunno, the Superbowl.
karmelrio said on 02.02.09 at 07:40 PM • [link]
Karen said:
And I think the ad is going to backfire, big-time. How many millions of Superbowl-watching women do you think watched this commercial yesterday, then said to their SO, “Don’t you EVER buy flowers from this company. EVER.”
John C. Bunnell said on 02.02.09 at 08:00 PM • [link]
Theresa reinforces my original thoughts—the intended message is a valid advertising tactic, but the execution in this case fails on entirely too many levels. Good comparison advertising is specific, focuses on the positive, and spends most of its time on your product. The Teleflora ad is vague, focuses on the negative, and doesn’t even mention Teleflora until far too late in the commercial.
Quizno’s did a good run of comparison spots a year or so back (“our sandwiches have more meat than Subway’s”); they named the target, picked a specific feature, and did a good job of building their own brand up. Burger King’s ads often do a good job with a more general comparison, when they emphasize that their burgers are flame-broiled whereas everybody else’s are fried. And it’s been amusing over the last couple of months watching Progresso and Campbell’s run strong comparison ad campaigns specifically targeting each other’s soups—they’re both doing a good job of homing in on specific points and building on their strengths. By contrast, the Teleflora ad is a textbook example of how to do a comparison promotion wrong.
Lissa said on 02.02.09 at 08:06 PM • [link]
Foul, foul advertisement. It doesn’t work at all, for any reason, no matter how you look at it.
The flowers are ‘yelling’ at the lady who received them. Doesn’t the fact that she is getting flowers negate all the comments that the flowers are yelling at her? Someone obviously loves her enough to send the flowers, so all of the comments make no sense.
Plus, no matter how you look at it, the commercial was just rude. Rude does not IMO sell anything.
Miri said on 02.02.09 at 08:19 PM • [link]
Very good advice about calling your local florist instead of the online service. Or better yet walk into the store! Gotcha!
The ad was mean and stupid. My husband dosent send flowers I have a whole yard full or I buy them myself. I agree with the above poster that they are kind of an oldlady gift. Flowers delivered are great for someone across the country. But you can always look up a florist in their town, and call them.
After that commercial I too had the thought, That big explosion was Sarah’s head blowing up. My husband turned to me and said (after I had my own little rant about the commercial) “So, I buy from them I’m dead, right?”
Lynn M said on 02.02.09 at 08:38 PM • [link]
Okay, I’m sorry, but I’m just not as insulted as I guess I should be. I admit it - I laughed at the ad because I found the idea of flowers - asshole flowers - spewing snark to be rather funny.
I do agree that the way they went about promoting their message - if you don’t order from us, you run the risk of sending the wrong message - was maybe a little misdirected and not well-thought out as far as broad reactions go. I was insulted by the romance readers=lame slam, but hey, they aren’t the first to pull of such lazy crap. I just never got the idea that they intended to insult women, and for me, intention does mean something when it comes to giving an asshat move like this one a pass.
But, like I said in my blog post today, I think we all are doing more of a disservice to our outrage by expressing it. We’re giving this ad weight by making it A Thing. More people will see it, more people will remember it, and that’s the uber-goal of all advertising - brand recognition. This might be a case that letting it fade darkly into the annals of past Super Bowl ads might be the best course.
StephanieL said on 02.02.09 at 08:46 PM • [link]
I get what they were trying to say…but they could have picked a better way to say it. I was watching it with my mom and we both were like wtf? Saying that getting boxed flowers implies that you are somehow unworthy of vase flowers is recidulous. Boxed or in a vase most people don’t give a shit, they are just excited that someone thought enough of them to send flowers in the first place. And the way that they said it was just rude and offensive, not funny in the least. In 30 seconds they call her ugly, a trainwreck, and then top it off with a nobody wants to see you naked. Great message all right, would love to meet the “genius” behind this load of crap.
Beth said on 02.02.09 at 08:51 PM • [link]
I don’t normally get upset about this type of thing and I’ve never consciously boycotted a company for whatever reason, but this ad hit me totally wrong.
I think the ad also failed because of a lack of recognition of the company advertising and a lack of relating to the supposed downfall of the other company. When you see the Pepsi vs. Coke or one of the many beer ads you know all the players and their “fix” of the perceived problem…better taste, less filling, etc. I didn’t know who teleflora was and I’ve never had any issues with boxed flowers, so that part of the ad didn’t catch my attention. The flowers spewing insults did and then I saw the name of the company. Until I watched it again on this site I didn’t event remember the part of the commercial where the guy came to the door with the vase of flowers. The wrong parts of the ad stuck with me and, judging by this site, I’m not the only one.
I know I’m probably not the target demographic they were going for with this ad, especially since I apparently didn’t know about the huge quality control problems people were having with boxed flowers :), but it seems like if you are going to spend millions of $$ on a superbowl ad you might want to run it by a few people outside of your industry before ok’ing it.
Anon76 said on 02.02.09 at 09:01 PM • [link]
Snort!
Maybe we should gather together and purchase a Teleflora delivery for someone high up in the company.
Card reading something like: Thanks so much for your offensive commercial. This is the last you’ll ever see of our money. Signed, The large demographic you pissed off.
tag word: thought69
Wolf said on 02.02.09 at 09:05 PM • [link]
That’s called stereotyping and is offensive.
I have cats (and rabbits and a dog and fish), I read the occassional romance type novel. And guess what? I’m married and have been, happily for nearly 15 years.
Not every cat owner /romance novel reader is a spinster.
Gwynnyd said on 02.02.09 at 09:06 PM • [link]
I was just showing some of the better commercials to a friend on Hulu, and Teleflora was one of the sponsors. Their message, running across the screen of one of the Bud horse commercials - “Make her Thorny” for Valentine’s Day.
Excuse me while I go pound my head for awhile.
Alyssa Day said on 02.02.09 at 09:26 PM • [link]
I’d just finished posting a blog asking that everybody boycott the asshats and then I popped over here. LOL. I lurve this place.
Barb Ferrer said on 02.02.09 at 09:48 PM • [link]
Well, God knows, I’m no one’s idea of a prude, but the big issue I really would have had with the Go Daddy commercials is one that I didn’t actually have to deal with this year and that’s the fact that I often watch sporting events with my kids (a boy, 12 and a girl 11). A lot of times they watch sports with the Hub and me, but this year, they were playing videogames and only coming in for the occasional update. Anyhow, they’re bright kids and I find myself having some really interesting conversations with them and I know, had they been watching with me, that commercial in particular would have sparked some interesting discussion with my son. Starting with, “No, babe, it’s not a good idea ever to even pretend to manipulate a woman for your own pleasure.”
I mean, I don’t let him play excessively violent/sexist videogames or watch movies with that sort of tone to them, but when it’s a commercial during one of the biggest sporting events of the year?
Just when we’d gotten used to the multitude of Cialis commercials.
Franziska said on 02.02.09 at 10:32 PM • [link]
Well I went to the teleflora website and gave them my negative opinion under feedback. I think if a few more would pop over to do so maybe they get the message and a better spot next year.
Suze said on 02.02.09 at 10:34 PM • [link]
I disagree. If you don’t tell somebody their error, they don’t know that they need to fix it. In this case, the brand is becoming associated with negative recognition.
If you don’t express your outrage, how can the people who offended you know that they offended you, and that they need to change their behaviour if they want to associate with you.
Granted, they may choose not to respond, but no good has EVER come of just eating your outrage. That kind of shit gives you bowel cancer.
If a business offends you, you need to not only boycott them, but TELL them you’re boycotting them, and tell them why.
DBN said on 02.02.09 at 10:48 PM • [link]
Disgusting on so many levels. Will make sure to change our corporate vendor from Teleflora to Proflowers.com. An easy enough change to make! (we may not be a big company, but I’d rather not even send a thousand dollars their way!)
ev said on 02.02.09 at 11:39 PM • [link]
It actually didn’t go any farther on the complete commercial- but they did get even!
I always use a local florist, even for long distance deliveries. They do such a great job and I want to keep my dollars here at home as much as I can!
Samantha said on 02.02.09 at 11:59 PM • [link]
Everything about this commercial irritates me. My cat hates it too! :)
Alisha Rai said on 02.03.09 at 12:11 AM • [link]
Hate to butt in again, but we were talking about this in the shop today…and one of the designers was saying how she was getting all mad until she realized it was a teleflora ad. Then she was just confused. She thought some jeweler or something was poking fun at giving flowers in general for Valentine’s Day :). Curse you, jewelers!
SO glad to see so many are going local. If you boycott TF, go local! Most of us are on the web. It’s as easy as clicking on proflowers (proflowers = our goliath :( ). You’ll pay the same price, oftentimes less, and there are REAL people on the other end of the phone.
Robin said on 02.03.09 at 12:35 AM • [link]
Stupid, insulting commercial. Insulting to women *and* men, IMO. Not even coherent in its message and offensive to boot. You’d think given the economy that they would have access to better copywriters. Or was everyone just too depressed to come up with something good. Maybe they got it on sale.
As for the pervasive themes of violence (and its trajectories) in this year’s ads, beyond the outdated stereotypes they seem to be working off of re. the Superbowl’s audience, I wondered if it was tapping into/mirroring/articulating/letting off some steam from the undercurrent of aggression in society over the war, the economic downturn, and the overall sense of frustration people have been feeling about how things are going.
Jackie said on 02.03.09 at 12:54 AM • [link]
I completely agree, but I find the spinster issue even more offensive. As if being single is something to be ashamed of. What is this, 1809? Women have their own worth outside of their marriage status.
Ad = EPIC FAIL on all levels
rebyj said on 02.03.09 at 01:05 AM • [link]
What about the overweight woman who ” never gets flowers” totally unworthy of love in the eyes of the brilliant advertisers.
Bah!
They offended gals who “never” get flowers. Which was a stupid move. Like a lot of women I GIVE flowers a lot more often than I recieve them . Women usually order for family or church groups, I also was the one who ordered for the jobs I worked at back in the day. Men don’t order flowers as much as you’d think. They tell their assistants or secretaries to see that it’s done.
tsk tsk Teleflora.
SonomaLass said on 02.03.09 at 02:08 AM • [link]
The ad seemed to me to be saying, “sending cheap flowers sends the wrong message,” played out by the flowers saying “bad” things instead what you’d want to say to a nice girl. It is “bad” to tell her that no one wants to see her naked (bad to imply that she’s unattractive). It is also “bad” to accuse her of reading romance novels or having a cat, because those are unattractive qualities in a woman, and sending flowers that tell her that is a bad move.
See, flowers that described me as reading romance and having a cat would be speaking the truth, not being ugly and nasty. So from now on, when I’m ordering flowers for family or friends long distance, I will be sure these asshats are not involved.
Flo said on 02.03.09 at 02:17 AM • [link]
This seems to go right along with the rest of the commercials that make people feel worthless, useless, and over blow sexuality to an unattainable point.
Par for the course for Super Bowl.
But hey… at least there was hardcore porn on some stations during the game! Quality programing right?
I spent my evening reading… *dork hat firmly on*
Willa said on 02.03.09 at 02:51 AM • [link]
I’m going to have to add my voice to those who are not really outraged by this commercial.
Since the whole point of the commercial was that sending crappy flowers will tell the recipient that the sender doesn’t think much of them, the whole thing worked. The cats and romance novels part was intended to read as an ignorant insult. As said before by others, the cats and romance novels part isn’t a legitimate insult or disparagement.
The ad was loud and kinda scary, but it wasn’t misogynistic, I don’t think. It was just poorly thought out, since this is a seconds-long ad and nobody will be pondering the convoluted message. They’ll just get mad.
These reactions seem kind of knee-jerk, to me. I dunno.
Willa said on 02.03.09 at 02:54 AM • [link]
Strike this part of what I wrote just above. If other people are “knee-jerk,” then I am definitely condescending.
amy lane said on 02.03.09 at 02:56 AM • [link]
Fuck ‘em. Proflowers is my FRIEND!!!! (And my husband’s very very best buddy, believe you me!)
Virginia Hendricks said on 02.03.09 at 04:35 AM • [link]
I caught the end of the commercial. Now I know why you were so mad on twitter. That is offensive! And I own a cat too!
Keven Lofty said on 02.03.09 at 04:35 AM • [link]
You peeps might enjoy this.
Advertising Age is the trade journal of choice for the Advertising industry. The link goes to their review of the Super Bowl commercials. The entire video is 7:30, but they cover Teleflora in the first 90 seconds.
http://adage.com/brightcove/single.php?title=9809054001
Maggie said on 02.03.09 at 04:46 AM • [link]
Yeeeeeeahhhhh…
The people who weren’t as outraged by this might think that the ignorant romance novels and cats part was on purpose and perfectly OK, but that was stereotyping and it worked.
Click on the youtube link and go to the comments. Someone said that the ad was poorly played out, and someone else replied and told her to go home to her cats and read some romance novels, which just proved the first person’s point.
So yeah, stereotypes catch on. And people are repeating quotes from the commercial like it’s so funny watching someone get trashed.
darlynne said on 02.03.09 at 04:47 AM • [link]
Advertising Age’s Bob Garfield gave Teleflora zero stars in his Super Bowl review. “In-House” refers to Teleflora’s own advertising department, as opposed to an outside agency being responsible for this dreck.
The entire article, with ratings for all the ads, is here:
http://adage.com/superbowl09/article?article_id=134248
Strategerie said on 02.03.09 at 04:56 AM • [link]
I just wrote about this at my blog, too.
Hey, Teleflora, here’s an angle you didn’t even think of: Fifteen million women in the US between 25 and 49 are “avid” NFL fans. I wonder how many of THEM also like to read romance novels, huh?
I’m betting the number’s high…
-S
romance writing, romance reading, cat owning, NFL fan non-Teleflora shopper
Meggrs said on 02.03.09 at 05:05 AM • [link]
Ultimately, it’s all about perception. Even if the ad “intended” to portray the insults as untrue and ridiculous in and of themselves, the perception is radically different.
That makes the ad a fail. Yes, people are now talking about Teleflora who may never have heard of them. But the majority reaction seems to be “Ugh. Bad idea jeans—avoid that company.”
The visual cues DID NOT help. Honestly, if they’d shown a knockout in a fancy setting getting insulted by her flowers, that’s one way to show the audience your metaphorical, conspiratory wink.
Setting it in an environment reminiscent of “The Office,” casting plain-to-drab (in TV-world, of course) people, and THEN hurling insults? Two and two appears to equal four.
Ad? Fail. Romance readers once again stereotyped and insulted to make a point about successful people? Yep. Bad Teleflora. No donut.
Keylye said on 02.03.09 at 05:10 AM • [link]
Did I understand what this commercial was actually trying to say? Yes. Does that mean I’ll be wanting flowers from Teleflora any time soon? No.
Regardless of when this was aired or what the target audience was, this commercial was so outright offensive and ill-planned that I can’t believe Teleflora chose it as their first Superbowl commercial. If you’re going to spend that much money advertising, shouldn’t the end result be worth the price?
Barb Ferrer said on 02.03.09 at 06:02 AM • [link]
Ah, but that’s on the assumption that I’d even want to go to the website to see the entirety of the commercial, which… NO. Had I been watching it with my son, I guarantee you, it would have been even lower down on my list of priorities.
If they wanted it to work in that manner, the way to do it would be with a spliced commercial—first half, a commercial for a different product, then second half of the ad with the “revenge.”
So yeah, Go Daddy also a big FAIL in the advertising, but I’m guessing I’m probably in the minority in that one. I’m good with that.
Kimberly said on 02.03.09 at 06:07 AM • [link]
Wow. That was an utterly wretched commercial.
Just out of curiosity- when did reading romance novels make someone into a social pariah?
Lorelie said on 02.03.09 at 06:59 AM • [link]
Woot! What do I win?
*Please don’t say a plant, please don’t say a plant.*
:D
jeh said on 02.03.09 at 08:52 AM • [link]
Personally I got that they were poking fun not at what the woman chooses to do in her spare time, but rather the companies that send lame, wilting, half-dead flowers in boxes. I think they were suggesting that the flowers had no class and the lady who received them deserved something better, from a better place that would hand deliver in a vase, rather than send through the mail in a box.
And, while I don’t read romance novels, I do watch a soap opera. I can say quite sincerely that I am comfortable enough with myself and my choice of entertainment that if the comment had been about soap operas instead of about romance novels, I would not have been anything like offended. I still would have found the ad pretty funny. And yes, I am a woman. Hear me roar!
GHN said on 02.03.09 at 09:15 AM • [link]
I had a few visits to Teleflora’s “blog”. Last night they had 10 comments, I had a look at them and they were _all_ negative. This morning! ZERO comments!!!!
Asshats indeed!!
Jenyfer Matthews said on 02.03.09 at 10:14 AM • [link]
It seems to me that this commercial was aimed at a male audience and the primary message was that sending flowers that arrive in a box isn’t as thoughtful and is a reflection on what you think of the recipient.
If they absolutely have to insult someone as part of their “clever” commercial, why not insult the man who bought the flowers? Along the lines of Psst, lady, you look like a nice person - I think you can do better.
I have never used Teleflora - I am quite happy with ProFlowers.
Claudia said on 02.03.09 at 01:59 PM • [link]
I’ve seen the add, we should write to them complaining don’t you think?
I know maybe the mean no insult but nevertheless it felt that way.
Claudia said on 02.03.09 at 02:03 PM • [link]
I just went to their site clicked on feedback and as sure as hell complained about the commercial
ghn said on 02.03.09 at 02:20 PM • [link]
16 comments at lunchtime here in Europe. All of them negative. Wonder how long they will last before they are deleted? Seems the only “feedback” the idiots want is fawning adoration!!!
mary lynn said on 02.03.09 at 05:38 PM • [link]
When this commercial was running my husband and I looked at each other, dumb founded and jaws dropping, saying ‘I can’t believe how awful that is! Just awful… What the hell were they thinking?!!!’... The Chicago Tribune rated this the worst commercial.
Just wrong, wrong, wrong on so many, many levels. - Teleflora? BITE ME!!!
mary Lynn said on 02.03.09 at 05:52 PM • [link]
Consolation? The laugh is on them - they screwed up big time and spent millions doing it.
Liz said on 02.03.09 at 06:28 PM • [link]
I was thinking exactly the same thing. Their message could have been conveyed in a completely misogyny-free way by showing that the flowers couldn’t breathe in the box.
I think that the commercial was insulting to all human-kind. Their message came off (at least to me) as if they believed that men thought this way, but of course most men don’t. The ending of course took the cake. That little perv who thought that it would make that poor romance novel-reading-owner of cats feel better to know that he would like to see her naked, just made me think that these idiots don’t know women at all. After being the subject of a craptastic tirade by a bunch of dead flowers, I wouldn’t want to look at another man for a few days because aforementioned tirade would be playing games with my mind for a long time.
As soon as I saw that commercial, I called my dad, who tends to send me flowers for the “big” days…18th b-day, 21st b-day, h.s. grad, and undoubtedly my upcoming college graduation…to ask him not to use Teleflora anymore, but as soon as he picked up he said “I will never use that company again.” Restored my faith in mankind…if only he could talk to those idiots.
Liz said on 02.03.09 at 07:08 PM • [link]
As for the GoDaddy.com commercials, they have always offended me. By showcasing bimbos in their commercials about website hosting, they alienate 50% of the population that may *gasp* actually want to find a place for their website. Talk about misogyny. They seem to think that only men know how to create their own websites.
Fawx said on 02.03.09 at 08:28 PM • [link]
Eat all of the dicks, Teleflora.
Every. Single. One.
SusannaG said on 02.03.09 at 09:26 PM • [link]
GoDaddy.com commercials? Fail.
Teleflora ad? Epic fail.
I say this because while both are very bad ads, I would never have been tempted to use GoDaddy in the first place. Teleflora I might have used - but not any more.
They lost a potential customer here.
Barb Ferrer said on 02.03.09 at 09:44 PM • [link]
*raises hand*
I got one of the “apology emails”
I ESPECIALLY love the “oh, but we’re just a widdle company amidst the big mean companies” and the implication that if we don’t use them, then we’re sticking it to the little guy, the “small businesses who make up the backbone of our country.”
Are they fucking KIDDING??
How stupid do they really think we are??
Marilyn said on 02.03.09 at 10:03 PM • [link]
I got the apology email too. I hope some Madison Avenue ad exec gets the boot—without a golden parachute strapped to his back.
karmelrio said on 02.03.09 at 10:24 PM • [link]
They “broke through the clutter” all right…
In my complaint letter, I suggested they 1) ask the ad agency for their money back and/ or 2) fire whomever signed off on this “humorous” ad internally, because it had done irreparable harm to their brand.
No thanks on the $15. Nothing could incent me to give them one cent of business.
Jen said on 02.03.09 at 10:54 PM • [link]
I want to share my comments to Teleflora with all of you. I tried to post it on their blog but they seem to have stopped at 10 pissed-off comments.
Please note the I’m-so-awesome tone, and please, please realize I’m not so high on myself in everyday life. Though it’s all true, I adopted a haughty tone in my email to them to prove a point. :) I just wanted my professional name out there, putting down this garbage of an ad.
You’d think a company that sells flowers would be a company sensitive to the needs, desires and intelligence of women.
Wrong. Witness your Super Bowl ad.
I am a multi-published, award-winning romance novelist.
I’ve read and written romance most of my life. Interestingly enough, I’ve also had time to commit to a long-term relationship with a great guy and graduate from Boston University. Oh, and I’m a member of Mensa. And a football fan.
I’ve been to five Romance Writers of America conferences, and have never been so proud to associate myself with these hundreds of witty, well read, well educated women. They include science, history, military and law enforcement experts. I am continually amazed and humbled to count myself in their ranks.
I read 100 novels a year, and in case you didn’t know, romance generated $1.375 BILLION in revenue in 2007. That’s a lot of women you’ve just insulted, and that’s a lot of money down the drain for you.
I’ve never opened a box and had a bunch of flowers tell me I’m ugly and stupid, but I’m willing to bet you haven’t much love mail in the last couple of days.
Way to drop the Super Bowl ball.
My cat says hello.
Best, Jen Safrey
karmelrio said on 02.03.09 at 11:23 PM • [link]
Jen, you might want to try the “Send feedback” link on their main page instead. From the “Send Feedback” link, select “Send feedback on website,” then you’ll be presented with a dialog box where “Other” is a drop-down option.
Then… “other” away!
Jen said on 02.03.09 at 11:43 PM • [link]
Well, hey, it looks like I made it onto their blog after all! So if anyone wants to comment, they’re open for business.
21 comments when I last checked. All negative.
And reluctant snaps to them for making these comments public, for the moment, anyway.
I didn’t get a coupon. :) Just as well. I’m crap at keeping flowers alive more than a day.
I feel very bad for the small local florists associated with this service. Maybe they’ll find out about this backlash and go with 1800Flowers or something instead.
I went onto You Tube and everyone was like, this commercial was awesome and funny! Hmmf. But Advertising Age trashed it - the only SB commercial to get no stars. And that’s their own industry talkin’. Calls the spot awful, mean and cruel.
http://adage.com/brightcove/single.php?title=9809054001
j
Becke/Treethyme said on 02.04.09 at 02:28 AM • [link]
Well, I need to order flowers for a friend who just had a baby. Guess who won’t be using Teleflora?
thetechdiva said on 02.04.09 at 05:14 AM • [link]
Yep, I got one of those cookie cutter apologies today as well. While I am impressed by their professional courtesy and quick reply, I am still not buying flowers from them. I just don’t buy the “we’re the little guy, we meant well” line either.
Also, I love how it’s only good until February 10th. Just in time for Valentines day? Gee, who will I insult by sending Teleflora flowers? No one? Yep!
Julianna said on 02.05.09 at 06:00 PM • [link]
I totally agree that they should have had a nice office and a hot, well-photographed actress. The poor office worker is eight shades of grey and needs to fix her hair; is it any wonder it seems like the ad is intentionally taking a shot at her?
Or, better yet, don’t film this ad at all.
Jennifer said on 02.05.09 at 07:15 PM • [link]
Did anyone else get an email this morning—an ad from proflowers.com? I find it weird that after posting some Teleflora complaints around the Web, I get this…and I’ve never gotten an email from them before, nor have I bought flowers from them, or from any online vendor, for that matter.
Really hope proflowers.com isn’t mining the Internet for Teleflora bashers.
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