NIke, ye gotta larf!

DeVore

Ok, some of you might have seen the mail going round about the guy who asked Nike to stitch "Sweatshop" on his trainers and they refused.

Well I decided to have a bit of fun with this today and went to the Nike site to see if you really COULD request a personalised set of runners and indeed you can!

But while I was there I noticed you could chat real-time with an operator.

Now, I'm in a weird mood today so what follows are two discussions with the operator regarding their personalisation offer... The second one is funnier then the first

DeV.

DeVore

Jeff: Hi, my name is Jeff. How may I help you?
You: hello My name is Tom Murphy
Jeff: Hi there.
You: I am a technical journalist in Ireland chasing a story
You: I'd like to get Nike's side of the story
You: Its regarding the "sweatshop" request for personalisation on your Nike
shoes
You: can you discuss this even to confirm or deny it? I'm firstly chasing
it to confirm its not an Urban Myth.
Jeff: Sorry but I will have to refer you to our PR department. You can reach
them at 1-503-671-6453.
You: ok thats fair enough
You: one last thing
Jeff: Sure.
You: Can you clarify that such a phrase would be refused if I were to
request it? Does it break your rules?
You: I dont want to put you on the spot but I'm trying to be responsible
You: and check my facts
Jeff: Have you tried building a shoe and submitting that as the personal iD?
You: well, I would submit "sweatshop" if I thought it would pass which is
my question. What about other emotive requests say... "Slavedrivers" (btw I
write for www.boards.ie)
You: does Nike have a press release regarding this story?
You: something official outlaying your side of the story?
Jeff: Once again, PR would have that information as well.
Jeff: I am sure they would be happy to talk to you.
You: ok, you dont have a PR side of the website? like a press room or the
like?
Jeff: You can always visit www.nikebiz.com
URL Received: http://www.nikebiz.com
You: ok thank you for your time, do you have any off-record comments
personally?
Jeff: No I do not.
Jeff: Thansks for visiting NIKE iD.
You: ok thanks again. this website doesnt seem to address the story.
Jeff: You are welcome.
You: am I chasing a dead story here? is this a joke email?
Jeff: Once again, I suggest you contact our PR department. This chat service
is for NIKE iD product information and order placement assistance.
You: ok thank you. Good bye
Jeff: Good bye. Take care.

DeVore

Patrick: Hi, my name is Patrick. How may I help you?
You: hi there patrick, I'm just wondering if Nike would allow me a pair of
shoes with "sweetshop" as an ID?
Patrick: Did you attempt to place an order with that iD?
You: no not yet, is there any point if someone is going to turn it down?
Patrick: I think that iD will be declined.
You: ok
You: is there a limit to the letter length?
Patrick: Depends on the specific shoe, but it ranges from 8-10.
You: ah so the communist manifesto wont fit hmmm
You: is there a ban on politcally motivated IDs?
You: what about id's like Iraqé ?
You: would that be allowed?
Patrick: You'll have to place your order to see if the iD will be accepted
or declined, it is not my business.
You: hmmm do I have to keep trying and getting refused if you already know
and could shorten the time delay for me?
Patrick: Each order is reviewed individually. There is not a psecific
formula used.
You: I mean, what one person finds offensive might not offend another, you
could get Paddy as an Id and I, as an irish person, would be very
offended...
Patrick: We don't seem to be getting anywhere. Can I help you with anything
else?
Patrick: A Personal iD may be declined for any one of the following reasons

It contains another party's trademark or other intellectual property.

It contains the name of an athlete or team we do not have the legal right to
use.

It contains profanity, inappropriate slang or may simply contain material
that we consider inappropriate to place on our products.

Nike reserves the right to cancel any personal iD.

You: ok, one last thing. Is it true that someone applied for Sweatshop and
was turned down? I dont care why/when/how, I'm just curious if it is an
urban legend or if it really happpened
Patrick: As I said, I think that iD would be declined.
You: ok, but I was looking for sweetshop (if you scroll back)
You: not sweatshop.
Patrick: Right, and both would be declined.
You: ok, thank you for your time. I'll stop bugging you now, oh you arent
by any chance 12 and teleworking from Cambodia are you?

**Disconnected**

TwoShedsJackson

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by DeVore:
Patrick: Right, and both would be declined.
You: ok, thank you for your time. I'll stop bugging you now, oh you arent
by any chance 12 and teleworking from Cambodia are you?

**Disconnected**</font>

ROFL

Lenny

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by DeVore:
You: ah so the communist manifesto wont fit hmmm[/B]</font>

lol you communist wh0re

neuro-praxis

I like it, DeVore. Good work there.

Anyone hear the rumours about Nike sponsoring the student union in Maynooth? Thankfully a smart student there is loudly objecting.

Hobbes

Here is a link to the original story...

http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0107/jockbeat.shtml

Also according to Snopes the story is true.
http://www.snopes2.com/business/consumer/nike.htm


[This message has been edited by Hobbes (edited 21-02-2001).]

DeVore

Og God, *snort* Oh God *snort*
Oh God I cant breath.....

http://allyourbase.50megs.com/allyourbase.htm

LOOOOOOL.

Oh some days I just love the internet.

DeVore.

Mills

LOL, great stuff

C B

Hobbes thats just shoddy research

One of your links cites the other as its main source which entirely defeats the purpose of quoting 2 sources.

Shiminay

What drugs were you taking last night Tom - you're in a wired mood

Nicely done!

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All the best,

Dav
@B^)

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Prepare yourself - The Beefy King stirs from his slumber...</font>

the fnj

HEHE

N1

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Clan Acid

LegacyUser

Hehehe very good!I think u need a break that regi fella is workin u to the ground! Givin u all these "wierd moods"

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www.nethousegames.com

Baz_

hehe very funny indeed

Stephen

Keep up the good work!

Anyone see the mark thomas comedy product on channel4 a few weeks ago? They got a teacher and her class of primary school kids to interview an adidas rep. Naturally they bombarded him with awkward questions about sweatshops and the likes, along with research to back it all up... you should have seen him squirm

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- Munch

SheroN

I wonder how many times the poor operators have seen the same stunt

Panda

LMAO!

Thats the way DeVore!

Stick It To The Man!!!