Moral Outrage From Resellers on Social Media After eBays "Kick A$$ Deals" Promotion Yesterday

[craig_daub]

So Incase you didn't notice, eBay had a promotion yesterday and used the phrase "kick ass deals" in the ad. Last night there was outrage over this in a reseller group on Facebook saying things like it's "unprofessional" like this was some kind of poor advertising. The post in question received over 1000 comments from people with opinions from both sides of the argument.

 

Let's take a look at a few things

Our grandparents remember a time when everyone thought the world was coming to an end when Elvis Presley came on stage swinging his hips. Now we have Miley Cyrus on stage half naked riding blow up dolls. Gary Vaynerchuk drops F bombs left and right. I'd like to see someone worth their salt try to tell him he's doing it wrong.

I mean, what makes a bad word bad anyway? To me personally, words can only be bad if they're used in a derogatory way to intentionally offend someone. The way eBay used it in their promotion was meant to offend anyone and I'm pretty sure almost all kids heard kick ass more than once if not in their house, on TV or the radio.

I'm pretty sure the vast majority of people who would take offense to what eBay said in the promotion probably aren't shopping online anyway. We live in a different age now and need to just accept that things don't stay the same. I'm actually glad they tried something different. Anything that may help drive more sales to the platform is ok by me.

What are your thoughts on this? 

Now let's all get back to business and get some "kick ass" sales!

[twnpopcards]

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@craig_daub wrote:

So Incase you didn't notice, eBay had a promotion yesterday and used the phrase "kick ass deals" in the ad. Last night there was outrage over this in a reseller group on Facebook saying things like it's "unprofessional" like this was some kind of poor advertising. The post in question received over 1000 comments from people with opinions from both sides of the argument.

 

Let's take a look at a few things

Our grandparents remember a time when everyone thought the world was coming to an end when Elvis Presley came on stage swinging his hips. Now we have Miley Cyrus on stage half naked riding blow up dolls. Gary Vaynerchuk drops F bombs left and right. I'd like to see someone worth their salt try to tell him he's doing it wrong.

I mean, what makes a bad word bad anyway? To me personally, words can only be bad if they're used in a derogatory way to intentionally offend someone. The way eBay used it in their promotion was meant to offend anyone and I'm pretty sure almost all kids heard kick ass more than once if not in their house, on TV or the radio.

I'm pretty sure the vast majority of people who would take offense to what eBay said in the promotion probably aren't shopping online anyway. We live in a different age now and need to just accept that things don't stay the same. I'm actually glad they tried something different. Anything that may help drive more sales to the platform is ok by me.

What are your thoughts on this? 

Now let's all get back to business and get some "kick ass" sales!

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Personally I think it is the worst advertising slogan that Ebay has ever come up with.  But that is my opinion and evidently that was the best they could come up with on the cheap and in the 2 weeks that Wenig cornered them into with his original Tweet.

I do not consider it professional, but who ever said EBay was a professional company?  They lie from the top all the way down to the lowly CSR and it is accepted practice, so why should this stunt surprise anybody.

[turquoisetulips]

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@pvcliff wrote:

Just a general comment. I wouldn't call it "moral outrage" so much as just pushing back against something that is just not the way to conduct one's self in business. - unquote 

And boom ! there it is !  there's just something judgemental  in the term ''moral outrage''  . So I agree  its more of a push back against others taking too much crude  leeway . Tulips 

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[turquoisetulips]

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@clu3 wrote:

I wonder if you used a$$ in a listing title, if Ebay would get you for veiled profanity? unquote ------------

LOL ,, If only we had a huckleberry  🙂   Tulips 

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[turquoisetulips]

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@donker55 wrote:
Unprofessional, but I've been seeing more and more ads that I just shake my head at. I guess I'm just old school.

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Old school is just another term for better morals  . I know a lot of parents these days  just throw up their hands  and say what can we do ? If we say no you can't watch that ,, the kids will just watch it anyway at their friends house  or late at night while were sleeping .  However the parents who are giving in and giving up   are  missing the most important point  in trying to teach kids  the proper ways . When we said no to our kids  we werent just saying no  they couldn't watch  gratutious sex and violence ,, we were also teaching them that we as people reject things that were improper . Our kids knew who we were and what we stood for  so in a sense this presented a guide  for them to pattern themselves after . They may have balked at us back then   but  time has showed us they were listening  after all . Tulips  

[turquoisetulips]

I have more outrade over some of the disgusting things being sold on ebay. Emerald --  unquote ---------------

In 1985 when the Meese commission  put out its report on the harmful effects of  pornography  the smut peddlers became frightened and began their own smear campaign  against the report . . There is truly a connection between hard core porn  and violence  against women and children  as the commissions report proved. However the porn pushers didn't want this information getting out . When you've got a multi billion dollar [ no matter how lewd ]  business  going on  then you've also got some very unsavory charactors trying to keep it going. As you can see nothing has changed since 1985 in this realm  , it only became worse . Nowadays porn is  readily available worldwide especially on the internet where kids can easily access it.  I believe one of the biggest reasons  this has happened  is because there wasn't enough push back from the public . Sure,, womens groups were formed in an effort to fight the pornography  they knew demeaned all women  but  they were laughed at , called crazy  womens libbers, prudes  and were virtually shut down for the most part . The smutt peddlers had simply too much money  for any impeding war  that might take place . Pornography at the very beginning of its infancy  was only a battle and a small one  at that . One that might have been stopped  dead in its tracks with enough effort  . However nowadays it would take a full scale war  to even make a dent  to protect women and children  from its ill effects . So you're right ,,, we do need to pick our battles   but we also need to use  better insight at the onset of ones we do choose to partake in. Tulips 

[rixstuff]

Let me ask this: Were those complaining on Facebook SO OUTRAGED that they refused to sell while hte promotion was going on? Or did they jump right in and get to listing to take advantage of the notoriety?  Im guessing the latter.

[lewisburggold]

We dont see the reason for outrage.  Times have changed were not living in the 50s anymore were one little curse word should shake up the hole system.  Its time for fresh ideas anyway.  Best regards

[honestabe411]

If people really have an issue with this, the internet is not for them. Perhaps these people who are offended need a little dose of reality..it’s not 1920’s..get over it!

[emerald40]

a

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@rixstuff wrote:

Let me ask this: Were those complaining on Facebook SO OUTRAGED that they refused to sell while hte promotion was going on? Or did they jump right in and get to listing to take advantage of the notoriety?  Im guessing the latter.

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I also wonder if the sale had been a big success, would we have heard nothing more about it.

[retrose1]

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@honestabe411 wrote:

If people really have an issue with this, the internet is not for them. Perhaps these people who are offended need a little dose of reality..it’s not 1920’s..get over it!

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I don't have that much of an issue with the word being used in an ad campaign - I do have a huge issue with EBAY using the word when they are constantly censoring me and my listings with PC nannying.

I can not list a Confederate flag or Nazi anything and every piece of vintage black Americana I've listed in the past 5 years has been pulled.  Some words that have never been considered derogatory slang or profanity are bleeped.

So when ebay gets off it's high horse in a desperate attempt to lure buyers to generate needed sales, it's do what I say and not what I do.  That double standard is what I have an issue with.

[turquoisetulips]

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@rixstuff wrote:

Let me ask this: Were those complaining on Facebook SO OUTRAGED that they refused to sell while hte promotion was going on? Or did they jump right in and get to listing to take advantage of the notoriety?  Im guessing the latter. unquote ----------------

The ''moral outrage''  phrase was actually given to the people expressing their opinion  the' kick ass '' slogan was not  professional   . As far as I can tell nobody who voiced  their  dislike of the new slogan  said they were outraged  by it . They simply didn't think it was proper . There's a big difference between  believing something is improper and outrage . However  to answer your question - All I can say is ,,, I don't know . I haven't heard of any seller refusing to list their items because of the new slogan . Tulips 

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[trustedbasset]

It's not so much the curse word it's the free shipping always!
What is wrong with this company? How can they be so blatant.

[*madison]

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@everything-from-trinkets-to-treasures wrote:

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@turquoisetulips wrote:

 We live in a different age now and need to just accept that things don't stay the same. I'm actually glad they tried something different. Anything that may help drive more sales to the platform is ok by me. craig -daub  unquote 

Okay  but the debate is over whether or not the new  '' slogan '' WILL  help drive sales or drive some people away . I think everyone has noticed the changes  in our society   but I doubt if everyone is in agreement with  all of them . Change isn't always a good thing. I've seen some awfully offensive TV ads  just as an example  . The advertisers will take the most crude and offensive  segments of a tv show   and use them to advertise the show to an unsuspecting  audience including children  during commericial time  . So in a sense  the '' turn the channel if you don't like it ''  solution isn't really a solution at all.  You just got forced into watching the worst part of a show  you'd have zero interest in watching  in the first place .  Like I said  change isnt always a good thing . Regarding e bay  ,, its better to stay with mature professionalism  during advertising by  keeping in mind  they are trying to appeal to a very wide range of  buyers ,, not just certain segments . Tulips 

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It really doesn't matter if it will or not...it is done. Nothing to debate. And no one is forced to do anything. It seems there is some misconception of what being forced to do something is, unless the word was being used for dramatic effect. And an ebay ad isn't all that dramatic.
Ebay will do whatever they want. No need to spend any more time on it.
If you want to do some of your own advertising, you can do so too.

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I haven't seen you for a few years.

I see you haven't changed though, still spouting the same stuff..

[*madison]

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@rixstuff wrote:

The Brits use the term "F*** all" pretty freely.  

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The Brits use terms better than that one. 

However, none will be used in a UK ebay ad.

I'm not offended at all, but I do think the kick ass ebay ad is innapropriate and unprofessional.

I doubt ebay UK would ever use that term or something similar..

[gracieallen01]

This is really interesting.  Most of the 'moral outrage' here, that I've seen, is from those who would probably be good candidates for working on the FOX 'Unbiased News' network.  Many that seem to be the most outraged, seem to be so, because they find it outrageous that anyone would complain.  (Hey, whatever  works to make a sale, even 'Always Free Shipping'!)

Is there really a problem with someone voicing an opinion that 'Kick-Ass Deals', to them, is not appropriate?  Agreed, some voice their opinions more subtly than others, but still .... .  Or that, perhaps, more thought could be put into a better ad for the general public - rather than, seemingly, an entire campaign focused at a particular group - who probably doesn't know, or want to know, what a small kitchen appliance is.  Why would the ad deserve any more or less 'moral outrage' than someone throwing their pop can away in the non-recyclable bin or a person talking to themselves on the corner or a celeb riding a blowup doll in a music video?  

Hmmmmm, I wonder how many are outraged because dogs and horses don't wear pants in public?