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Sweden Ditches Stamps For Texts

10 Mar

If you’re looking to send a letter or small package in the country of Sweden, pretty soon all you’ll need is a cell phone with a working text plan. That’s right, customers will text a number to pay for their mail. In return, they’ll get a code to write on the mail to show that it has been paid for.

The system will likely go into effect this summer. Denmark will start a similar plan in April. Postage rates will stay the same and a spokesman for the Swedish postal system said they are not worried about forgeries.

Problem I see: what if I don’t have a cell phone? It seems to me that the most likely segment of the population to lack a cell phone would be the elderly, who are also probably the most frequent users of the postage system.

Swedish stamps

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Wall Street Journal Gets Story Completely Wrong

10 Mar

Last week, the Wall Street Journal wrote an in-depth feature piece about Manganaro’s, a deli and restaurant in New York City that would finally close after decades of fighting between brothers and endless litigation. The story detailed the fighting between two brothers that drove a wedge into business and resulted in lots of litigation in courtrooms. Entitled “Eatery Closes After Decades-Long Family Spat,” the story seemed really touching.

One problem. The restaurant is not closing. Restaurant owner Seline Dell’Orto told The New York Observer that the family put the 5-story building they own on the market, but had no intention of closing the restaurant. After the admission, the Journal put out a pretty lame statement:

“While not the best [headline] we’ve ever written, it’s meant to convey the process of closing rather than the moment of closure”

Yeah, whatever. Your reporter screwed up. In the original story, the reporter claimed that many customers complained that the owners were not friendly to customers. Ms. Dell’Orto (one of the owners) replied:

“It’s in the genes! Italians all have the jealousy and gloating and ‘I’m gonna fuck you’ gene.”

Hmmm…. the customer is always right?

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Advertising News From Asia

8 Mar

If you’re not familiar, it seems like advertising in Asia employs some unusual tricks. Here’s two bits of news that seem to confirm that.

1) Next Media Animation: Whenever a major scandal strikes, these Taiwanese animators are first on the scene. They create animated versions of the scandals, often with exaggerated and hilarious results. They’ve covered a wide variety of scandals, ranging from the Tiger Woods sex debacle to Steven Slater’s much-publicized exit from an airplane. Now, they’re coming to America. Spike TV just announced a five-year deal with the company to create animations for them. First on the docket: Charlie Sheen.

2) Chinese Breast Enhancer: These guys in China went for a guaranteed marketing success— sexy women. As far as I can tell, this product will take fat from your stomach and instead enhance your boobs. Wow, it’s guaranteed to be a huge success. Too bad you can’t understand any of the ad.

The Elderly Should Not Talk About Pop Culture

8 Mar

Alan Simpson

Former Senator Alan Simpson (R-Wyoming) is a co-chair on President Obama’s debt commission. Last fall, that committee issued a series of tough recommendations, some of which involved cutting Social Security and Medicare programs. Well, he’s been defending his recommendations. Today on Fox News he discussed the cuts. While urging the elderly to help make the future for their children and grandchildren, he somehow launched onto this rant…

“If they care at all about their children or grandchildren, and sometimes I doubt that — I think, you know, grandchildren now don’t write a thank-you for the Christmas presents, they’re walking on their pants with the cap on backwards listening to the enema man and Snoopy Snoopy Poop Dogg, and they don’t like them”

In a non-related note, John McCain may not be as tech savvy as you might think. During an appearance on “This Week” the Arizona Senator said that iPads and iPods are “built in the United States of America.” As most people know, they are actually built in China. His office later said that the senator recognized the devices were designed in the USA, but made elsewhere.

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No More Daily Deal Sites

5 Mar

This simply must stop. It takes but a simple knowledge of rudimentary economics to understand the concept of “market saturation.” Basically, it means the amount of a product or service that has been distributed throughout the market. In the case of daily deals sites— you probably think of Groupon and Living Social first— I believe that the market is too saturated. Or it’s getting there quickly. Two more well-known companies recently unveiled plans for their versions of daily deals.

1) The New York Times: Calling their new service TimesLimited, the site will work more like Gilt Group than Groupon. Rather than needing a critical mass before the deal becomes final, the Times will offer a select number of deals for a limited amount of time. Once they’re gone, they’re gone. Deals will come from select Times advertisers. The company will aim for slightly more “upscale” deals and will not be tied to the upcoming paywall (coming “shortly”).

2) Bing: You may remember that Google launched its own deal platform shortly after Groupon rejected a bid from the search giant. Well, Bing decided to get in on that action as well. With Bing Deals, they hope to integrate information on your location with all of the daily deals going on nearby. You can purchase the deals from your computer or from a mobile device.

Changing Hands

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