DG takes on ReMax

[WolverineDG]

Ok, I decided to take the bull by the horns & operating on my dear ol' dad's advice that you don't get the discount unless you ask for it, here goes my email to ReMax this morning:

Dear ReMax, I was watching Countdown with Keith Olbermann on MSNBC last night & the night before. On both nights, after watching horrific footage of people in New Orleans being rescued from rooftops by the Coast Guard & of people standing in line & dying for lack of food & water, I was stunned to see your ad in which the gentleman dreams he is being rescued by helicopter at sea by a ReMax agent. Because of the horrific events that have unfolded in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, I am begging you to pull the ad. It is horrifying enough to see these rescues taking place in my country in real life; I really don't need to see it trivialized in a commercial hawking the services of real estate agents. I cried when I saw the ad. It was almost too much for me to deal with. Instead of making me feel that I could count on ReMax when I need to sell my home, I was angry at your company for being so blase about the situation in New Orleans. (and yes, I realize that this ad was made way before Hurricane Katrina).

I understand you believe your agents to be the best in the field at helping home buyers & sellers get the best possible deals. However, in light of the current circumstances in New Orleans, Mississippi, & Alabama, please pull this ad & replace it, perhaps with a PSA on how people can help the rescue & rebuilding efforts, or how ReMax will get water & food to those people (seeing as how our government has completely failed us in that regard)?

Thank you for your time.

I included my phone #s just in case they decided to give me a jingle. If I hear anything I will let you know.

Should you wish to contact ReMax, their information is as follows:

Contact Us
RE/MAX International Inc.
8390 E. Crescent Parkway, Suite 500/600
Greenwood Village, CO 80111-2800
303-770-5531 Phone
303-796-3599 Fax

P.O. Box 3907
Englewood, CO 80155-3907
[e-mail]

RE/MAX International welcomes your e-mail messages. We read all e-mail that we receive. However, because of the heavy volume of e-mail we cannot guarantee a reply to each message. We do take note of all comments, complaints and suggestions and will quickly address any problems which are reported to us. Thank you.

Please feel free to use the contact list below for directing your questions to the appropriate group at RE/MAX International. Be sure to include any details that might help us better understand your request.

To quote Botany, estrogen is a powerful drug. Let's use it to do some good for others.

dg

[CC]

1. So much better than

cussing at the tv, though I have been cussing at the tv a lot lately too. The idiot is plastered all over the tv this afternoon and I have been in cussing overtime. Great letter.

BTW I have been remiss on commenting on your Crawford post but I have been reading them. They are great and I am so jealous you got to go. But happy you got to go too.

[Berry Cool]

2. Nice response, just one small thing...

it's actually a hot-air balloon that does the rescuing...which is even more absurd, really.

[WolverineDG]

3. well i kinda blanked on part of the ad

but the guy does say "ReMax saved me" or some stupid thing like that. :eyes:

dg

[Berry Cool]

4. Yeah, exactly.

The guy says "I dreamed our ReMax agent saved my life" and the woman says "AGAIN???"

Any way you slice it, it's just TACKY to run commercials right now in which people who are representing or selling some kind of commercial product or service are described as "life savers" or "rescuers." It's like advertising the gas company during a drama on the Holocaust.