Pepsi Blue in a new bottle?

September 12, 2005 7:48 AM

Is this sort of thing just Pepsi Blue in a new bottle? Recently there was an AskMe post about men's shaving products that I know was a case of lazyweb market research (because the poster admitted as much on a certain orange-and-blue-themed site before he posted it), and I didn't say anything then, but I wonder if a) this is more of the same and b) whether the community at large cares if AskMe gets used this way.
posted by briank to etiquette/policy at 7:48 AM (12 comments total)

a) Don't think this is market research and b) don't care if Ask MeFi gets used in this way.
posted by fixedgear at 8:03 AM on September 12, 2005

Well okay then. Thanks!
posted by briank at 8:06 AM on September 12, 2005

who the hell would evar consider us a desirable demographic?
posted by matteo at 8:09 AM on September 12, 2005

It does seem a bit odd and kind of pointless. The asker doesn't even hint at any real motive for the question. "Hey, let's talk about some brands!" Ummm.... why? What problem are you solving?
posted by normy at 8:10 AM on September 12, 2005

The guy is a speechwriter [according to his profile] I can think of all sorts of reasons this branding exercise might be useful. The question seemed specific enough [along the lines of "What are some good mini golf courses in Topeka" people don't need to know if you are going there, recommending one, filling out a survey etc] that it wasn't a chatfilter post which is when the "why do you need to know?" angles become more important. People use AskMe to do their homework, find a date, answer nagging questions, and sometimes for almost no reason at all, this use seems fine to me.
posted by jessamyn at 8:25 AM on September 12, 2005

This post seemed fine to me, but I do seem to remember thinking that a post last week was a bit strange and that I would not like AskMe to be used to sell stuff in the "Hey, have you guys heard of this cool new ____?" mode.
posted by OmieWise at 8:29 AM on September 12, 2005

I loved the question. I'm a Filson man myself ("might as well have the best"), and have often wondered what other, similar products exist. If you're not a Filson man, and have no interest in top quality products, then the question probably sounds lame to you. It's not. It's a good one, and I've been following it, hoping more people would answer.
posted by jdroth at 8:30 AM on September 12, 2005

Well okay then. Thanks!

You are welcome! Have a nice day!
posted by fixedgear at 8:49 AM on September 12, 2005

I'd like to use this forum to mention that Filson's products are out of my price range. Thank you.
posted by Item at 8:57 AM on September 12, 2005

I've never heard of Filson's before, but I read the question as "are there other prominent lifestyle brands that have been around for 100+ years?"
posted by mathowie at 9:40 AM on September 12, 2005

I think Mefites are a very high-quality demographic
posted by delmoi at 10:45 AM on September 12, 2005

Remember that Ian Fleming's Bond novels were filled with what would now be called 'product placement' (or Pepsi Blue): Bond wore a Rolex Oyster Perpetual, liked Gordon's in his martinis, and drove 'one of the last of the 4 1/2-litre Bentleys with the supercharger by Amherst Villiers.'

I won't presume the questioner's motives, but he seems to be looking for the kind of brands that are echt versions of the J. Peterman catalogue. Research for a novel set at the start of the 20th century, perhaps?
posted by holgate at 11:03 AM on September 12, 2005