Duh of the Week: The Best Idea...EVER.

by Ron Daly 

Giveaways. Back in the day, giveaways were the thing to have. Free toaster with a $30 deposit? Remember that? The finance industry knew its market, people that were saving for niceties could get them for free by becoming an investor or a member. I've seen some creative ones recently that are a little less needs-based, like emergency car kits, radios, t-shirts, gift certificates...the list goes on.

But recently, we've been falling down. We need to step it up a little, enter the 21st century. Who wants a crummy toaster? Who wants toast, come to think of it? It's just bread that hurts your mouth. 

Let's talk this through. What do you give away in a state with a very high average rainfall, little sunshine, and a 9.2% unemployment rate...like Washington State, for example, that would make people happy and help them forget all their troubles?

Well, if you're anything like this Harley dealer, a gun. 

Yep, Eastside Harley-Davidson is giving away a gun with the purchase of a new Harley (click here for the news story). 

I'm not the President. I don't know what this country "needs". But I DO know one thing - we need to learn from these folks and get on that same boat. "Every member that joins gets a hand grenade and a ski mask", maybe? I'll tell you right now, that's a member enrollment campaign that's gonna win some awards. 

In all seriousness, no, I can't see where giving away a handgun and a Harley is wise. Maybe Eastside felt the same way? They had a fun video to go along with their promotion, but they've taken it off of YouTube. They posited that people who took advantage of the offer would still be subject to background checks, the same procedures they'd go through if they were buying a handgun from a gun store. Still, there's no lawyer in the world who's going to say that "free gun with purchase" is a good idea. Maybe they talked themselves out of it. 

Enjoy the DotW, Eastside. Check the mail for your complimentary copy of Have Gun, Will Travel (Sorry, had to work that joke in there somewhere.)

Comments

[Elliott]

Looks like Harley is positioning itself to be the next chapter in Grand Theft Auto. Maybe their next campaign will be free "hot coffee."