Gibson contest backfires

[Dave W]

Possibly Gibson's dumbest PR move ever: in honor of Les Paul's 100th birthday (Tuesday June 9th), Gibson has announced a contest where entrants can "win" (their words) a 2015 Les Paul guitar, and not only that, you have a one-in-ten chance of winning.

The catch? In order to enter, you have to buy a new 2015 Les Paul on June 9th  (any model with the Les Paul 100 signature on the headstock, the one almost everyone seems to hate. And you have to submit an essay which they will judge). So you can't "win" a guitar, you just have a one-in-ten chance of getting reimbursed. Pretty steep entry fee! Sounds like one of those lottery scams.

Reaction on Gibson's Facebook page has been brutal. A lot of the really blunt replies have been removed but it's still bad. I almost feel sorry for their spokesman who keeps insisting that it really is winning.

Anybody want to buy me a qualifying guitar on Tuesday?  2015 sales have tanked and they must be hoping for big sales, so we don't want to disappoint them do we? Sure, you could go for a Junior, but why not a $3500 Standard? If I "win" I promise to pay you back. If I don't, you'll be SOL.

[ilan]

Sounds almost like a scam.

[uwe]

What a scheiße idea. Shoot everyone in the promotion department - now. 

[westen44]

I just read through many of the comments.  I didn't even see ONE positive comment. 

[TBird1958]

See, having a Thunderbird playing Drag Queen as an endorsing artist doesn't seem even remotely a bad idea in comparison   

[uwe]

Any make of bass is anointed by your DNA, Mark!

[TBird1958]

Any make of bass is anointed by your DNA, Mark!

I do try and wipe the instruments down that I send to you - that whole germs crossing international borders thingy..........   

[Dave W]

What a scheiße idea. Shoot everyone in the promotion department - now. 

Do you doubt even for a minute that Henry was personally involved? I don't.

A meeting with Henry probably goes like this.

[Dave W]

Forgot to mention, the rules (.pdf) state that the "winners" will receive an IRS Form 1099-Misc. So your "winnings" will be taxed as ordinary income. Some prize!

The rules also give details of how the 300 words-or-less "narrative" the entrant must write will be judged: 33% originality, 33% humor, and 34% how Les Paul would have replied to such a question (of  why you like the guitar). Seriously.

[westen44]

I don't want to compare this too much to Peavey because I realize Gibson and Peavey are two totally different things.  But several months ago there was a show "Undercover Boss" which showed how out of touch Peavey was with reality.  I think Gibson may need to do its own reality check.  Some of these ideas are getting downright bizarre.  It really doesn't hurt to actually see what the general public is thinking and feeling.  Of course, Peavey's problem was how radically out of touch it was with its workers.  A really ugly scenario, IMO. 

[Highlander]

Did you know that me and Les Paul had exactly...



Well knock me down with a large slab of mahogany and ebony... I never knew what we shared... anyone care to surprise me with a treat in the morning...!?!

[fur85]

I agree that bad corporate culture contributed to this. Somebody had to know this was a bad idea but kept their mouth shut. Pieces of this promotion make sense. Ask people to write an essay why it's a great guitar, check. Have lots of winners, check. Celebrate Les Paul's 100th birthday, check. Make thousands of your potential customers angry and make 9 out of 10 of your actual customers who buy a Les Paul feel like losers, oops. This could wind up in a marketing text book someday.

[Dave W]

I agree that bad corporate culture contributed to this. Somebody had to know this was a bad idea but kept their mouth shut. Pieces of this promotion make sense. Ask people to write an essay why it's a great guitar, check. Have lots of winners, check. Celebrate Les Paul's 100th birthday, check. Make thousands of your potential customers angry and make 9 out of 10 of your actual customers who buy a Les Paul feel like losers, oops. This could wind up in a marketing text book someday.

This, and their whole 2015 guitar marketing effort could wind up as a case study: the 29% price increase, the mandatory G Force tuners, the goofy headstock signature (being mocked as "leo paul 100") instead of the usual Les Paul Model, the zero fret nut, and the wider neck. I expect all will either be walked back or completely gone next model year, if not before.

...
Well knock me down with a large slab of mahogany and ebony... I never knew what we shared... anyone care to surprise me with a treat in the morning...!?!

You're turning 100 tomorrow? You don't look a day over 90!

[Pilgrim]

This, and their whole 2015 guitar marketing effort could wind up as a case study: the 29% price increase, the mandatory G Force tuners, the goofy headstock signature (being mocked as "leo paul 100") instead of the usual Les Paul Model, the zero fret nut, and the wider neck. I expect all will either be walked back or completely gone next model year, if not before.

Which, if they were Fenders, would make them highly collectible in 20 years.  Does it work the same for Gibsons?

[drbassman]

I have never seen a company so hell bent on self destruction.  What a bunch of morons.