Curry's Green Whit and Orange Union Jack !

LittleLebowski

Did anyone see the VAT advertisement for Curry's.

It a green white and orange union jack in the papers and on billboards.

I dont know how anybody thought this would be a good marketing ploy.

I for one think its offensive to the republic and at least poor taste.

phasers

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055552668

rubadub

The only thing offensive is they think people are such gullible idiots to believe that crap.

Sponge Bob

Try to exercise any consumer rights with Currys and you get a Uniion Jackboot more like

mike65

[insert faceplam here]

jimoc

I could be completely wrong here (I regularly am ) but isn't there anything in legislation about defacing flags?
I know in the states there's some statutes about displaying a damaged or defaced flag, not sure if its the same in England.

mike65

In the UK you can do as you please with the flag. In The States there have been attempts to ban flag desecration without success so far.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_desecration

johnciall

jimoc wrote: »

I could be completely wrong here (I regularly am ) but isn't there anything in legislation about defacing flags?
I know in the states there's some statutes about displaying a damaged or defaced flag, not sure if its the same in England.

Even if it was agains the law in the UK it would be an odd case since the advert was run outside of the UK legal jurisdiction

KevArno

It's not a Union Jack though... It's green, white and gold...
It's a graphic, nothing more. Part of an ad campaign aimed at the patriotic people doing all of their shopping across the border anyway.
You say it is offensive? Offensive to what? We as Irish people do not own these colours.
Anyway, If anybody was to be offended by the defacing of a flag here (as ludicrous a suggestion as it is) it should be the British.
I presume you understand the point of the ad, and understand that nothing offensive was meant, so maybe just look beyond it.

jimoc

Knew I was completely wrong

I don't personally find anything any company does anymore offensive, once you get struck by the epiphany that every company is out to dupe the masses and screw them out of anything and everything they can, nothing suprises you after that.

schween

KevArno wrote: »

It's not a Union Jack though... It's green, white and gold...

That ad campaign has been around for a while.

It is a Union Jack, in green, white and gold. I think. To me it's the UK flag being "desecrated" with other colours.

It's funny how everyones outraged by being overcharged compared to the UK.

Then a company launches an ad campaign about their UK VAT prices and some people are outraged over a graphic...yet that day hoards of cars queue to cross the border to contibute money to her majestys palace.
You can't win.

KevArno

Companies in Ireland today can't win... you're dead right.

jimoc talks about being duped. This is marketing, being done by companies that give jobs to Irish people. They are trying, in tough economic times to drive sales, which keep people in jobs. If you think you are being duped then take it up with the advertising standards folks. If not, then you are being sold to... nothing wrong with that.

People need to take more responsibility for what they buy into, and not throw everything back on the company.

Anyway thats way OT.

I still dont believe it's a Union Jack. Its a graphic. It is like trying to take ownership of the colours, or of the tri-colour layout of our flag... The graphic they use does not exist except for their advert.

Euro_Kraut

I could see how British people could be offended by this. But how is this offensive to Ireland? We don't have ownership over those 3 colours. Just ask the Ivory Coast or India.

schween

KevArno wrote: »

Companies in Ireland today can't win... you're dead right.

Not the brightest thing I've said!

kildara

Its green, white and orange.
Not gold.

KevArno

kildara wrote: »

Its green, white and orange.
Not gold.

ok...:rolleyes:

LittleLebowski

It is clearly orange but that is beside the point.

How can they expect people not to be offended with all the history behind them colours and that design.

You could argue that it is just a graphic but then you are admitting you completely missed the point of the ad.

It is clearly a Union Jack displying the Irish colours and wether we own the colours or not they are assosiated with our country and the point of the ad was to unify the irish flag with the union jack and that to me is a little offensive but more than anything it just makes me want never to shop there again because of the pure stupidity of the ad.

MOH

LittleLebowski wrote: »

It is clearly orange but that is beside the point.

How can they expect people not to be offended with all the history behind them colours and that design.

You could argue that it is just a graphic but then you are admitting you completely missed the point of the ad.

It is clearly a Union Jack displying the Irish colours and wether we own the colours or not they are assosiated with our country and the point of the ad was to unify the irish flag with the union jack and that to me is a little offensive but more than anything it just makes me want never to shop there again because of the pure stupidity of the ad.

You do realise that it implies "Irishisation" of the Union Jack, rather than the other way around?

Still, any reason not to shop in Curry's is good.

KevArno

No I got the ad. I got it's intention. And you are correct, they associate both flags within the one graphic. Where is the Irish flag in it? Its not there. Where is the Union Jack? Its not their either. but it is definitely associating them, and what is the problem there?? We as countries have huge associations regardless anyway, and not only in a negative regressive way.
I still cannot see where the offense comes from? Do you think it threatens your Irishness? Do you think it mocks people that fought for this country?

I can't see how this combination of shapes and colours can offend anyone. I think you are being over critical of the company. Take it for what it is, a piece of marketing, whether it be good or bad it up to you, I personally think it's good, and talking about it in forums like this just shows it should work.

MunsterCycling

Or Any other DSG joke shops > PC World, Dixons (if any of them left) and best (I say that with no little hint of sarcasm) PixMania

LittleLebowski

KevArno wrote: »

No I got the ad. I got it's intention. And you are correct, they associate both flags within the one graphic. Where is the Irish flag in it? Its not there. Where is the Union Jack? Its not their either. but it is definitely associating them, and what is the problem there?? We as countries have huge associations regardless anyway, and not only in a negative regressive way.
I still cannot see where the offense comes from? Do you think it threatens your Irishness? Do you think it mocks people that fought for this country?

I can't see how this combination of shapes and colours can offend anyone. I think you are being over critical of the company. Take it for what it is, a piece of marketing, whether it be good or bad it up to you, I personally think it's good, and talking about it in forums like this just shows it should work.

There is no Irish flag but there is clearly a union Jack. Just because it is different colours to the original does not mean it is not there.

The offence comes from generations of opression.

You may be right I prob am be over critical but it is a feeling of discust I got when I first saw it in the paper.

It is not just a combination of shapes and colours when it combines a design that symbolises the united kingdom with the colours of the irish flag. It becomes more than that.

I sence there are many patriotic people out there who would agree. They have defaced the irish flag in the worst way by combining it with this ''graphic''.

KevArno

Ok, I get your point of view, and I'm not being argumentative here for the fun of it.
But I cant see why it offends you... What does it have to do with the years of oppression argument? Things move on.

It also isnt a Union Jack until it is Blue, Red and White. Thats just fact. The shapes take no meaning unless they are coloured correctly, and in the right proportion, if we're going to be strict about it.

And as it has been said, if you believe it is the defacement of a flag, then it is definitely the Union Jack that has been defaced. So again, why are you offended?

ch750536

Bet they wont do one with the french colours on it.

Elmo

What annoys me more about this ad is the fact that Curry's cannot charge the lower rate of UK VAT, that is a blatant lie and false advertising.

Also the Union Jack in Green, White and Orange is offencive, in the same way as if the British saw their flag as a Tricolour (Damn French VAT rate )

seagull

LittleLebowski wrote: »

It is clearly a Union Jack displying the Irish colours

No. It's a union FLAG. It's only a union JACK if it's flown from a ship.

Elmo

seagull wrote: »

No. It's a union FLAG. It's only a union JACK if it's flown from a ship.

:rolleyes: There is a ship in the background if you look very closely

dudara

Not a Consumer Issue - moved to After Hours

dudara

chopperbyrne

If anyone is seriously offended by this then they should just never go out, read any newspapers or magazines, use the internet, listen to the radio or watch television as they're bound to find something that'll offend them.

partyatmygaff

Elmo wrote: »

What annoys me more about this ad is the fact that Curry's cannot charge the lower rate of UK VAT, that is a blatant lie and false advertising.

Also the Union Jack in Green, White and Orange is offencive, in the same way as if the British saw their flag as a Tricolour (Damn French VAT rate )

The Ireland prices are supposedly 121.5% and the british is 115%.
All they do is take off 6.5% off their cost price and vat. I.e. €121.50 camera will now be €115 euro camera.

I definitley don't feel offended by that ad, the only flag being desecrated is the british flag.

Gummy Panda

PICS OR GTFO

mike65

dudara wrote: »

Not a Consumer Issue - moved to After Hours

dudara

you gotta stop doing this

Mint Sauce

my biggest problem with this ad is not the flag, its the east coast / dublin centric theme, encouaging people to avoid the M1 and shop in their local currys, what about people who live around the west / northwest, their local currys might be arcross the boarder and they live no way near the M1

Whosbetter?

I couldn't give one whit about this thead. :pac:

Duggy747

Jesus, I don't see how we should give a shìt about it. I'd imagine the Brits maybe, but it's only used to portray their "British VAT" offers.

Seesh, there's better, more real things to be offended about than this advert. Get over it!

Borneo Fnctn

Life's too short to force yourself to be pissed off over things like this.

kowloon

I find their prices more offensive than anything they do with a flag.

enniscorthy

as you may or most likely may not be aware the flag that utilises the design of what makes up the union flag but instead sports the irish colours has been used as a symbol of identity for the irish in britain for decades and is not anything new

if it wasnt for the irish in britain it would still be a heap of rubble:P:P

rainbowdrop

Saw that ad a few months ago, and found it VERY offensive:mad:

So much so, that when I went shopping for a digital camera a few days later, I wouldn't buy it in Curry's, I bought it elsewhere even though the same camera would have cost me a bit less in Curry's.

F*** them, I have my principles!!

Liam Byrne

Euro_Kraut wrote: »

We don't have ownership over those 3 colours.

Well, considering that most people refer to it incorrectly as "green, white and gold" instead of the correct "green, white and orange" - and all that that's meant to represent - I don't think there would even be an agreement on what colours we "owned".

4zn76tysfajdxp

mike65 wrote: »

In the UK you can do as you please with the flag. In The States there have been attempts to ban flag desecration without success so far.

I'm an Amendment to be. Yes, an Amendment to be...

rainbowdrop

enniscorthy wrote: »

as you may or most likely may not be aware the flag that utilises the design of what makes up the union flag but instead sports the irish colours has been used as a symbol of identity for the irish in britain for decades and is not anything new

if it wasnt for the irish in britain it would still be a heap of rubble:P:P

Where in England did you see it? I grew up there (lived there aged 4 - 19), and I never ever saw it before, or even heard of it. Can't imagine it going down too well in the local Irish Centre.

Agree with ya on the 'Irish built Britain' thing though;)

LordSutch

I can see why some British people might be offended at the sight of a defaced Union flag (Green White & Orange), but I cant for the life of me see why anybody down here should take offence at a 'defaced' British Union flag!

The advert makes perfect sense, UK VAT Rate of 15% on all Curry's products in the Republic which usually carry 21% VAT :eek:

RMD

LittleLebowski wrote: »

Did anyone see the VAT advertisement for Curry's.

It a green white and orange union jack in the papers and on billboards.

I dont know how anybody thought this would be a good marketing ploy.

I for one think its offensive to the republic and at least poor taste.

Brits left a while a go buddy, get over it.

El Weirdo

OP is a disgrace to the good Lebowski name tbh.

Dudess

LittleLebowski wrote: »

It a green white and orange union jack in the papers and on billboards.

I dont know how anybody thought this would be a good marketing ploy.

I for one think its offensive to the republic and at least poor taste.

Indeed it is. I burst into tears as I took my oath of allegiance to the tricolour this morning.

chopperbyrne

Dudess wrote: »

Indeed it is. I burst into tears as I took my oath of allegiance to the tricolour this morning.

You should really change your username to Little Miss Sarcy!

jenny2hat

Didn't find it offensive, but thought it was a shite ad. Wouldn't make me head to Currys for Christmas presents.

smoggy11

seagull wrote: »

No. It's a union FLAG. It's only a union JACK if it's flown from a ship.

Someone has been watching QI!

Fratton Fred

I asked the people of britain if they are offended by the "Desecration" of the British Flag by Irish marketing persons and had the following responses.

12% said "Is Ireland not part of Britain"
22% said "Bastards, first Jedward, now this"
26% said "Allahu Akbar"
40% said "Meh"

Blisterman

I think the bigger problem is that they don't have a clue about what they're selling.

I went in and asked which cameras they had, that were good at taking photos in low light conditions. (To buy online later. They're rip off merchants)

And the guy tried to sell me one, saying that it had a "very bright lens".
Even after I asked him, how a clear lens could be bright he insisted that most lenses were "light grey, not white".

Blisterman

Why did they change their name from Dixons anyway? i don't know why, but the name "Dixon's" sounds like a place you could trust buying electronics from, which "Currys" doesnt. Maybe it's the hard vowels.