Or, The Great Corporate Con Job
We are all suckers. Corporations have pulled the wool over our eyes. We don’t even realize we’re their patsies. It’s time to wake up, Sheeple! Rise up and cast aside your branded activewear!
I know exactly what you’re thinking. “Has he lost his mind?” “Did he finally succumb to the QAnon conspiracy loons?” “Did I leave the oven on?” Well no, I have not lost my mind or succumbed to loony nutbars. And I don’t know if you left the oven on, but just go check before you continue reading, just to be safe. And I’ll explain what I’m talking about.
This is a pet peeve I should probably add to my list of Old Person Pet Peeves, though I’ve had this bee in my bonnet for many years before I became an old person. Simply put, I despise advertising someone’s products without being compensated for it. What do I mean by that? Lemme put it this way; do you own any clothing that displays the brand’s name across the front, either text or easily identifiable logos? If you do, you’re advertising their products without being compensated for your efforts. Not only that, but you’ve paid that company for the “privilege” of wearing their product. And hey, I’m not the only one who has an issue with this. I even found this obscure forum discussing my exact pet peeve! Although reading down through the thread may give you an irresistible urge to poke your eyes with a salad fork…
Why Are You Advertising Someone’s Products For Free?
You drive around in your fancy SUV. I get that it has its logo and name on the vehicle. That doesn’t seem to bother me. But your vehicle probably has a sticker with the name and logo of the dealership you purchased it from, and maybe a license plate holder with same. So now you’re driving around telling everyone you pass where you got your new toy. “Another Happy Honda Owner from Dick’s Used Imports!”
When I buy a car from a dealership, I’m not interested in having that dealer’s logo plastered all over the vehicle for everyone to see. If I have to have their catchy slogan on my license plate holder, then throw in the damned undercoating for free!
A company has to pay a fee to advertise on a billboard, or a bus shelter, or in a newspaper. But they get all that free advertising by selling us the products they make, and let us run around and advertise for them. It’s not right, I tell you!
At the very least, if a fashion designer wants to sell a shirt or jacket with their name and logo all over it, then provide a discount. Simple enough, right? Better for them than paying the consumer a royalty every time they wear the clothing. If I’m going to buy a Tommy Hilfiger shirt, with Tommy’s name all over it, then Tommy Hilfiger should be prepared to provide me with a substantial discount for displaying his name all over town.
Fashion by Frazzledad
I know I’m ranting. Sometimes it’s what I do. Instead of beating my head against a wall, expecting the rest of the world to bend to my whims, maybe I should learn to live with the world’s weird ways. Maybe I should just get my own merch…
Of course with pet peeves there are those hypocrites who get paid to do a job but walk around in company logo shirts parading around the workplace and the town offering free
advertising for their bosses and company . Dammed n’er do wells !
Ugh! Can you imagine the gall?!
Have you got something against George?! I bet you haven’t even met him.
Yes I do! Both George and Frank. I’m okay with wearing Calvin’s name, as long as it’s just the waistband of my boxers!