I hadn’t been in a grocery store in over a year because I get my groceries delivered by Fresh Direct, the most wonderful thing ever to happen to people who live in Manhattan and who don’t want to stand in line for hours in dirty, cramped, over-priced Food Emporiums staffed with incredibly rude people (don’t get me going.) Anyhow, I was looking for Sammy’s Three Dog Bakery biscuits when the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser caught my eye. I, in general, am not what you would call obsessed with cleaning. But Omigawd. Help me. Now I can’t stop cleaning. There seems to be nothing that this thing won’t clean. But WTF is it? Is it lethal to humans or pets? It gets the dirt out of the grout between the tiles in the bathroom (yes, I am that fucked up over this thing) and it took the fingerprints off the plastic light switches when nothing — absolutely nothing — would get them off. I could go on, but you get the idea. I think I have to throw these sponges (or whatever they are) out now.
Hey, Fresh Direct! Why aren’t you telling your customers about new products like this one? You’re leaving money on the table. You didn’t ask, but here’s some free advice: add a blog to your website where customers can talk about new products they like. Make the blog available only to registered customners so you can keep advertisers and PR people from taking over the comments. Hire me. I’ll get it going on. :>)
Will the Magic Eraser Kill You? And Why Fresh Direct Needs a Blog
BL Ochman | June 1, 2005 | Permanent Link | Comments (4) | TrackBack (
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Is it the job of the grocery store to tell its customers about new products, or the job of the manufacturer?
I know about the magic erasers from the television commercials, but haven’t had the need (or desire) to buy them, and if you are concerned about the toxicity, I am sure that there’s an FAQ on Mr. Clean’s Website.
I like Fresh Direct. I like how they were able to learn from WebVan’s many missteps, and grow slowly and organically. But, on the flip side, I would hate to see them put resources into a blog just to give its members a message board, instead of putting those same resources into building the brand and getting new customers.
I didn’t know you lived in New York City Jeremy. If you don’t, you won’t really understand Fresh Direct.
Like a lot of Fresh Direct customers — the majority, I bet — I’ve never seen a Magic Eraser commercial and would have paid no attention to it if I had. New Yorkers who use Fresh Direct don’t want to know what’s going on in supermarkets. We buy quality, convenience and price. So in the case of this company, they often replace the manufacturer in communication with the customer. I wouldn’t believe a commercial, but I would believe other Fresh Direct customers. That’s why I said the blog should be only for Fresh Direct customers to recommend things they like to other Fresh Direct customers.
Sorry, I forgot the myopic view of the New York elite.
Since I have been following Fresh Direct since they launched, and have enough friends and family in NY that DO order from them, I figure I had enough background to comment.
It always amazes me that people in marketing, advertising and public relations boast about not watching commercials or reading advertisements. It’s part of our industry, and while I do have a DVR, I pay as much attention to commercials than I do to the news and programs.
What you are in essence suggesting is slotting fees for an online grocer. Just like a brick grocery store has slotting fees for endcaps, maybe Fresh Direct should have slotting fees for its not-launched blog?
Always a pleasure to hear from you Jeremy.