Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Hardees is TRASHY

Note: when frustrated, fire off consumer emails to companies who tick you off. Go to http://www.hardees.com/ to see why (I find these alerts at http://www.onemillionmoms.com/).

Dear CKE (http://www.ckr.com/contact_investor.html?group=ir):

I am writing to let you know that my family will not be purchasing any further products from any of your companies as long as you continue to run sex-filled ads for FOOD (which, by the way, are ridiculous). Do you have kids? Do you think it is appropriate for a child to have to watch blatantly sexual commercials for a restaurant? I am not even sure how the two are related other than your company has just decided to sink to the lowest common denominator and place potential profits over good judgment. The good news is that in today's competitive marketplace, consumers with strong family values have a choice. There are millions of restaurants out there waiting for our business. Your continued disregard for your consumers' wishes (despite tens of thousands of requests) tells me that you do not need our dollars. I think that this excerpt from CNN Money pretty well sums up your leadership's view of us:

Carl's Jr.'s message to the PTC: The group needs to "get a life," said Andy Puzder, CEO of Carl's Jr., a subsidiary of CKE Restaurants (Research). "This isn't Janet Jackson -- there is no nipple in this. There is no nudity, there is no sex acts -- it's a beautiful model in a swimsuit washing a car." (How this statement was made with a straight face is beyond me. Mr. Puzder is clearly out of touch with reality, as evidenced by the rest of this excerpt).

Puzder says he has shown the ad to his three children, ages 12, 9 and 7, and they have shown no signs of being corrupted. (I am at a loss as to why on earth a grown adult man would subject his children to this trash voluntarily. For the record, if she had been naked (and let's be honest, there's not a lot left to the imagination in the actual commercial), this would be considered child endangerment and abuse).

"Maybe people are excited because it's Paris Hilton, but there are far worse things on television that these groups should be worried about," Puzder said. (One can opt out of TV shows and movies, commercials are a completely different animal and Mr. Puzder knows that).

As a result, I and countless others, will work to make sure that others like us (and rest assured, there are millions) don't give your companies one dime. I hope you will reconsider your marketing techniques in the future and consider all of your constituencies when deciding on a direction.

5 comments:

x8bmarblesue said...

Nice One! I don't have any children, but I can understand where you are coming from. I am so surprised at the commercials that are on TV nowdays! Man, my mom must be having a COW right about now!

Unknown said...

WOW...racy add. Good for you for writing a letter to them!!

Colette said...

Damn...what are they selling my kids hamburgers or SEX? I agree with you. I will send them an email too. Thanks for the heads up we definately won't be eating there either.

dizzydazey said...

The whole thing is just crazy and ridiculous. Good for you for standing up for what you know is right. I never eat there anyways, but I'll boycott them in theory. :o)

Kathy said...

Trashy for their ads and their awful food! Who in the world are they directing their advertising to? Young men? Can they really make up for the numbers of consumers they are probably driving away with this idiotic ad? I can say it is probably helping with my weight loss because I become nauseous every time I see it... and I doubt that young men are thinking of hamburgers when they view it.