Genius? Or creepy?

[MorningGlow]

Mr. MG got a letter today. It was in a small envelope (letter, not legal, size), addressed to him by name, first-class postage, with no return address. Inside was a folded up piece of newspaper (one whole page) and a stickie note that said, "(Mr. MG), Check this out!" and was just signed "-J". He unfolded it to find a full-page story/ad about a car dealership in the town up the road. On the back was the financial page (mutual funds, IIRC).

He looked at it and looked at it, checked the stickie note, wondered if it was from his friend Joe, and if so, why Joe would send it.

Then we realized it was a fake. A very, VERY complex fake. Handwritten envelope, handwritten post-it (not just auto-produced printing that looks like handwriting). The "story" about the car dealership was an ad on a fake newspaper page. This page was allegedly ripped out of the newspaper's D section, which was labeled "automotive", but our paper's real D section is sports at the front and business at the back. Plus there was no identifying newspaper name on either side of the page (and used the wrong font).

So now I'm trying to figure out if it's genius or creepy--that they went to such labor- and cost-intensive lengths to draw a person in. Also makes me wonder how many people are going to fall for it. The former advertising employee in me respects it for its genius, while the consumer in me finds it downright creepy and hopes that the car dealership has just blown an obscene amount of money that they will not get back from suckers who choose to purchase cars because of this pitch.

What say you, Lounge? Genius? Or creepy? :shrug:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Genius and creepy are not mutually exclusive.

[MilesColtrane]

2. Evidenced by the existence of Crispin Glover....

[petronius]

3. The first two replies exactly mirrored my first two thoughts...

:rofl:

[dimbear]

4. J is an enormously popular first initial...........

this guy is good at being bad.

[blizz]

5. creepy!

[Brickbat]

6. We've gotten those before. They go way back.

[MorningGlow]

8. Really? I had no idea.

This is the first one I've ever seen (and, like I said, I spent several years in advertising). Fascinating. And icky. And expensive! o_O

[siligut]

7. Advertising and manipulation

They know no bounds. I think this sort of BS will just turn most people right off, assuming we are that stupid is insulting.

[MorningGlow]

9. Sure turned us off!

Mr. MG immediately said, "Boycott 'em!" Even before we figured out who sent it. :rofl:

[stuntcat]

10. creepy

they just want some'a you! frickin creeps

[alphafemale]

11. I've gotten those at least twice.

One was for some kind of diet regime crap. I'm sure that stunt got many "J's " to be in serious trouble with no idea why.

"OH! So you think i need to lose weight?"

"What?"

"Don't say to me "What?" You know damn well what!!!"


Another was something to do with some chain mail involving the virgin Mary. To top it off the paper in that was scented like roses. People who claim they see a visions of said figure also often claim the scent of roses is present.

That was weird. And no clue as to how I came to be on that mailing list. Since it was a chain mail and I had no idea who it was from that one went straight to the mail cops.

[Xithras]

12. FYI, they're not hand written.

There are now machines that can print materials using real pens to simulate handwriting, and marketing companies that specialize in this sort of thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RFhqnLkihw&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_0g3iL7WZc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVYSVI8msIU&NR=1