Here is my letter that I just sent at Snapple.com. I saw the billboard over the weekend in Alexandria, on one of the busiest highways in the DC area. UG!
As an alumnae sister of Delta Zeta Sorority, I was appalled to see a billboard in my community with a "Greek" Snapple bottle paddling a "pledge" Snapple bottle. Have your advertising representatives been living in the stone ages? Do they not know that not only is that not funny or witty, but paddling is downright DUMB and illegal in the Greek community. It's called hazing, and it just isn't done anymore. Please don't let your ignorance of the Greek community spill over into your "advertising" campaigns. It just makes you look ill-informed and has turned the Greek community against you. As a Greek alumna, perhaps I would drink a Snapple while loading up my car with school supplies for our donation drive, or drink a Snapple while making food at the Ronald McDonald House, or maybe even while walking in the Race for the Cure of Breast Cancer. I might have even grabbed a Snapple at our recent Bowling gathering, or passed them out as a refreshing drink at our Founders Day Ceremony that we celebrate each year with the Delta Zeta college chapter at Gallaudet University. But after seeing your billboard, I am disgusted with your poor taste and poor attempts at humor. I am not interested in supporting a company that portrays one of the best and loyal communities out there as a bunch of paddling idiots. I am boycotting Snapple products (including my favorite Strawberry Kiwi) until you see fit to redeem yourself and remove these unsightly ads. It's a shame that you didn't foresee how loyal and honorable the Greek community is before you put out these ads, because I am sure you will find out how loyal we can be about boycotting your products now.
Start your engines ladies!!
Tracy
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