Eddie Bauer Rememberance Day Sale - enraging bad taste or so-what?

[McG]

Normally I would write this off as very distasteful but not worth the any of my attention/time for comment.  However, I've notice a lot of buzz on this.  It seems the company has had years of success with their Veterans Day sales in the US (a day for celebrating the living heroes) and assumed that could be duplicated on in Canada around Remembrance Day (a more somber day for remembering those maimed or killed).

... I suppose my question is, while the use of Remembrance Day as a means to flog merchandise is in horribly bad taste, is this really surprising (or even new) from the consumerist retail industry?  Maybe we need to contract Disney to protect the Remembrance Day image along side that of the Mountie.

 

[RubberTree]

I think it's new to Canada...but not surprising coming from an American based company. As far as I'm concerned its just an indicator of how different America and Canada's views are on the meaning of November 11th. Distasteful? Yes, but I think it was simply poorly thought out on Eddie Bauer's behalf. I would like to think if they knew and understood our Remembrance Day mentality they wouldn't have initiated the sale.

 

[xena]

I don't like it.

But then, take into consideration the fact that I don't like most holiday sales, and the idea of stores being open on Holidays and Sundays in general.  I'm just a curmudgeon, I guess...

 

[gun runner]

You can expect this all the time..commercialism over tradition. The fact is that the First World War is history, with but a handfull of veterans left, is something that people do not care about much anymore. The Second World War, Korean conflict, and the First Gulf war are all facing the same fate. The rememberance of actions of our brave lost, and those who survived are just an excuse to skip class now at school, instead of attending the assemblies. It is amazing how a single generation can change things. Business is no different...anything to make a buck, as long as it is done after 12 noon! For shame. My :2c:. Ubique

 

[LineJumper]

Maybe we need to contract Disney to protect the Remembrance Day image along side that of the Mountie.

As long as it keeps those 'white poppy' people away from me.  :threat:

 

[Bruce Monkhouse]

Bad taste.

 

[Swingline1984]

Bad taste.

I agree.  What were they thinking (other than profit margin)?  Nevermind, answered my own question.

 

[Cdnleaf]

Disappointing / unfortunately not surprising. Wonder if they'll have a Ladies Wear Sale on December 6th? (École Polytechniqe)

 

[Thompson_JM]

...Wonder if they'll have a Ladies Wear Sale on December 6th?...

Zing......

Very bad taste, and until I hear some sort of apology for it, I'll be taking my business elsewhere...

You know, you would think a little bit of market research could have gone a loooooong way here....

 

[ModlrMike]

Shades of when GM sold the Chevy Nova in South America. A failure to fully understand the country you're doing business in.


* Nova = No Va = doesn't go

 

[Journeyman]

Shades of when GM sold the Chevy Nova in South America. A failure to fully understand the country you're doing business in.

Nova = No Va = doesn't go

Much like the UN's Mitsubishi Pajero trucks on one tour. Apparently to the Argentine Bn, Pajero means......well, testicles  ;D

 

[Danjanou]

Very poor taste and already sent them a nasty gram email which I'm sure was auto deleted.  :

 

[TimBit]

But then, don't forget. Rememberance Day is one of the highest-grossing sales day in the NCR... ah, all those public servants honouring the memory of veterans by spending that somber day spending away... Hey, it's good for the economy!

:

 

[Danjanou]

It appears Eddie Bauer isn't the only one

http://www.majumdar.org/shopping/sears-canada-remembrance-day-sale-lest-we-forget-our-bottom-line/

Sears has also lost my business from now on.

 

[vonGarvin]

I would file this under "so what?"  Just as some groups were (and still are) against Sunday shopping, the consumers voted with their collective wallets.  If Eddie Bauer, Sears or Kwik-E-Mart wish to be open for business on (insert holiday name here), then so be it. 

 

[Neill McKay]

If Eddie Bauer, Sears or Kwik-E-Mart wish to be open for business on (insert holiday name here), then so be it.

And to hell with their employees?

 

[Journeyman]

And to hell with their employees?

Two separate issues. Remembrance Day isn't a holiday, so the employees are no more entitled to a day off than on Hallowe'en or Kick-a-Ginger Day.

The original topic was not that Eddie Bauer was open on November 11th, but that they chose to link it to a tacky sales promotion.

 

[Strike]

It appears Eddie Bauer isn't the only one

http://www.majumdar.org/shopping/sears-canada-remembrance-day-sale-lest-we-forget-our-bottom-line/

Sears has also lost my business from now on.

The Sears one is from 2008.  They probably got enough backlash that they decided not to follow that trend again.

 

[vonGarvin]

Two separate issues. Remembrance Day isn't a holiday, so the employees are no more entitled to a day off than on Hallowe'en or Kick-a-Ginger Day.

Wait a minute: Kick-a-Ginger day isn't a stat holiday?  ;D

The original topic was not that Eddie Bauer was open on November 11th, but that they chose to link it to a tacky sales promotion.

I actually forgot that Remembrance Day isn't a nationally recognised statutory holiday.  Here in NB it's recognised as such.  Anyway, I think that most sales promotions are tacky by definition.    I mean, I'd still shop at Leon's in spite of their "ho-ho-hold the taxes" ads that mock Christmas (IMHO). 

 

[George Wallace]

  I mean, I'd still shop at Leon's in spite of their "ho-ho-hold the taxes" ads that mock Christmas (IMHO).

And I just thought it was insulting to those with a speech impediment.