Posts Tagged ‘marketing’

New “iCars” On-Demand Car Service? Looks Like It’s From That Horrible Bauer’s Limo / Bauer’s “Intelligent” Transportation

Friday, December 28th, 2012

Well here’s something new – it’s “iCars” from that horrible Bauer company.

See?

Click to expand

That was the wind-up, now here’s the pitch:

“ iCars® service is a network of luxury cars, SUV’s and Mercedes Sprinter vans in San Francisco. This network is accessed through a sophisticated mobile application that allows riders to book and pay for on-demand, private and eco-Iuxury transportation service.

iCars® is managed by Bauer’s Intelligent Transportation, leveraging its transportation expertise and quality standards to ensure responsive, safe and superior transportation. iCars® service combines one of the best high-end transportation companies in the USA with the latest mobile technology to improve the ease and experience of on-demand transportation.
What is it? Luxury car service ordered “in the moment” for 1 to 12 passengers—in and around San Francisco, to SFO (San Francisco International Airport)

How to book? Through your smart phone—Apps available for iPhone and Android phones—reserve and pay online”

Hey Gary Bauer! Doesn’t your company(ies) kind of suck?

I think so!

I say that because your Yelp ratings are pretty low even including all those five-star shill reviews. Check it:

Bauer’s Limousine

Bauer’s Intelligent Transportation

What good does social media branding do if your service sucks?

And hey, speaking of Bauer’s social media branding and purported blogger Zennie62 / Zennie Abraham, what’s up with this?

“Note: Bauer’s Transportation is a Zennie62.com sponsor”

Is this arrangement still going on now? I don’t know.

It’s mighty interesting tho.

IMO.

Hey Gary Bauer! Isn’t a Sprinter van mostly a delivery vehicle? I think so. Do you really consider it a “luxury” vehicle?

Hey Gary Bauer! Why don’t you raise your rates so that you can improve your services so that your customers could be a little happier?

Just asking.

Bro-ham.

Know Your Faked Viral Videos, Made with GoPro Cameras or Not, In San Francisco or Not, Involving Seagulls or Not

Thursday, September 13th, 2012

This one was for Lego Indiana Jones something, recorded in Potrero Hill by the Butler or something ad agency up in Marin County:

Yeah, fake.

For these reasons and more:

And here’s a faked GoPro seagull video made in France:

And here’s the latest, a faked GoPro video made in San Francisco by a woman from France, apparemment, you know, ostensibly:

In closing, GoPro, GoPro, GoPro! Yay for GoPro! Buy one, or three, today!

How the Commenters of SFGate Ruined, Just Ruined, This Press Release/Advertorial for the McRoskey Mattress Co.

Tuesday, July 10th, 2012

Let me tell you something here – if you can get a good night’s sleep ONLY in a McRoskey Mattress, you know, the way the McRoskey Mattress Company wants you to think, then there’s something wrong with you asides from your back or your neck or whathaveyou.

There’s something wrong with yo noggin, is what I’m saying.

Anywho, comes now the longtime San Francisco-based McRoskey Mattress Co. with its new square bed what costs five figures(!).

Let’s see how the readers of the Chronicle SFGate respond to the advertorial in the electronic pages of the SFGate. Here are the first two:

“FINALLY! A mattress with the 49 square feet of space I NEED, and at a $12,000 price tag I can AFFORD!”

“Almost 12 grand for a mattress… it should improve sleep, sex, and prolong my life by 10 years for that.”

Here’s how it will look in the corner of your live-work mansion:

Click to expand

And here’s the original release, below, if you want to compare.

McRoskey, if I put one of your 7×7 box springs on the sidewalks of San Francisco, it would sit there for weeks because nobody would realize it’s worth thousands of dollars.

(Oh, because it’s not worth thousands of dollars.)

McRoskey, if you took a 1×1 bite out of the upper left corner of this mattress combo, I’d give you points for style. But you didn’t do that.

McRoskey, nobody wants your $12,000 beds.

(And oh, Gentle Reader, if you want a good night’s sleep for two, why not get a queen mattress from the Costco? $475 delivered – it comes in a surprisingly small box, one that you yourself can move around. Let it air out for a couple of days after it expands, and you’re in business. This is the modern way of sleep during our Great Recesssion.)

“McRoskey Mattress Introduces The New 7′X7′ San Francisco King

McRoskey’s newest standard size is for people who really love to stretch out

SAN FRANCISCO, May 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – McRoskey Mattress Company introduces a new standard size mattress set, the 7′X7′ San Francisco King©. This seven foot square mattress is the perfect size for people who want more freedom of movement while sleeping, love sleeping with their pets or just want more room to cuddle with the kids.

According to McRoskey President Robin McRoskey Azevedo, the 7′X7′ San Francisco King was created to address these needs, providing more space and more comfort. “Because we’ve received ongoing requests for custom over-sized mattresses from customers – especially professional athletes — who want a bigger sleeping surface, we have introduced this new, larger standard size.” She adds, “Our new 7′X7′ San Francisco King is an ideal mattress for an open loft area, a spacious penthouse or a large master bedroom suite. And as a San Francisco-based manufacturer, we love the fact that the new size connects with San Francisco’s seven-by-seven square mile footprint.”

Like every McRoskey mattress set, the new San Francisco King is handcrafted to order at the McRoskey factory in San Francisco’s Central Waterfront neighborhood. The 7′X7′ San Francisco King comes complete with linens and mattress protector and is available in McRoskey’s byDesign and Classic comforts.  Box spring heights can be customized.

This new San Francisco King set retails for $11,777 in the byDesign line. Retail pricing for the set in the Classic line is  $7,777.

About McRoskey Mattress Company

Family owned and operated, the McRoskey Mattress Company has been handcrafting mattresses and box springs in San Francisco, California since 1899. McRoskey mattresses are available in standard and custom sizes. McRoskey has showrooms in San Francisco and Palo Alto. http://www.McRoskey.com or Facebook or Twitter: @McRoskey.

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.
ROBIN MCROSKEY-AZEVEDO
https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=99696

SOURCE  McRoskey Mattress Company

McRoskey Mattress Company

CONTACT: Dianne Newton-Shaw, The Placemaking Group, +1-510-835-7900, x 206, for McRoskey Mattress Company

Web Site: http://www.mcroskey.com/

Sears Seems to Think That It Does Business in San Francisco, But It Doesn’t Have Stores Here Anymore – SearsLocalAd.Com?

Monday, May 7th, 2012

I don’t know, Sears. Your latest press release here seems to indicate that you still do business in the 415 but then when people register at SearsLocalAd.com with a local address, they get a big fat “OAKLAND” where SAN FRANCISCO is supposed to be.

I cry foul.

I mean, Sears, you blew out of town a while ago, right?

The giant Sears at Geary and Masonic, back in the day:

Of course now this building is just an empty hulk, waiting for Target to move in (after the requisite amount of shaking down from rich, white, local, homeowners you, know, the NIMBYs.)

I’ll bet that the people behind the new “Sears Hyper-Local Shopping Website” can’t wrap their heads around the fact that Sears no longer has any stores here.

Oh well.

I don’t know, Sears. You have stuff that people like…

Like youthful Mother’s Day MILFs, and hand-tools, and big-ass TVs:

…but you’re just not putting it all together.

So call me up Sears – I’ll set you straight.

“New Sears Hyper-Local Shopping Website Offers San Francisco Shoppers Hundreds Of Local Deals In Real Time - Newly Launched SearsLocalAd.com Provides Localized Deals at Neighborhood Sears Store

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., May 7, 2012 — Sears has launched SearsLocalAd.com, which provides San Francisco customers with access to hundreds of additional local deals beyond the weekly Sears print circular or sears.com. The online shopping portal is dedicated to local customers, allowing them to shop smarter by previewing new local deals updated every week, and includes enhancements for Sears’ SHOP YOUR WAY REWARDS(SM) members.

“SearsLocalAd.com gives our San Francisco customers unprecedented access and power,” said Imran Jooma, senior vice president & president, online, marketing, financial services and pricing business units at Sears Holdings. “We know how savvy our customers are when it comes to finding the best deals. Giving our customers new services and conveniences like a real-time window into the selection and savings specific to their nearby store is a great example of how the future of integrated shopping is here today at Sears.”

Localization is pre-selected based on the shopper’s location and can be easily changed to another store within the experience. Shoppers can search their nearest Sears store and browse deals by department, brand or price point, quickly filtering to find offers of interest. SearsLocalAd.com helps shoppers ensure products are available before they go to the store. The site features not only hundreds of additional deals, but shows in real time how many items are currently in stock at the chosen location.

San Francisco residents can enjoy new tools such as ratings, reviews and product comparisons to shop with confidence–and for added convenience, customers can create lists that they can print for in-store shopping, send to their mobile devices, and share with family and friends via email, shopyourway, Facebook or Twitter.

Even greater savings advantages are available to members of Sears’ SHOP YOUR WAY REWARDS. Members get additional savings on SearsLocalAd.com offers, and bonus members can earn bonus points. Plus, SHOP YOUR WAY REWARDS members can preview upcoming sales before the print circular is released and receive personalized deals from their local store by email based on recent searches and site activity.

For more information on the service and to view the latest deals, visit the new local ad experience today at www.searslocalad.com.

About Sears Holdings Corporation

Sears Holdings Corporation is one of the nation’s largest broadline retailers with over 4,000 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada. Sears Holdings is the leading home appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, consumer electronics and automotive repair and maintenance. Sears Holdings is the 2011 ENERGY STAR® Retail Partner of the Year. Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard, and a broad apparel offering, including such well-known labels as Lands’ End, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer, as well as the Apostrophe and Covington brands. It also has the Country Living collection, which is offered by Sears and Kmart. We are the nation’s largest provider of home services, with more than 11 million service calls made annually. Sears Holdings Corporation operates through its subsidiaries, including Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corporation. For more information, visit Sears Holdings’ website at www.searsholdings.com. |Twitter: @searsholdings||Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SHCCareers

So Far, the SFPD and George Gascon Have Handled the Chris Bucchere Case Perfectly. But Does Divis Have Stop Signs?

Friday, April 27th, 2012

Boy, the Internet is full of criticism these days over how the SFPD and the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office have been handling the cyclist Chris Bucchere vs. pedestrian Sutchi Hui case.

And yet, what have they done wrong so far? Nothing that I can see.

Wisely, they aren’t trying to prove things that are tough to prove to the very high standard required, so stuff like who used Chris Bucchere’s online accounts to post his post-accident thoughts and what color what traffic light was when – that stuff, isn’t going to matter all that much if a criminal trial comes.

So that’s fine.

But there’s this:

““We have a witness that puts him blowing stop signs and lights on Divisadero Street,” the captain added.”

But the part of Divisadero that’s in the area doesn’t actually have stop signs.*

Check it out on the YouTube. The beginning part of this video, The Strava “Castro Street Bomb” (aka Castro Street Descent) shows the southern terminus of Divisadero.

As you can see, there aren’t any stop signs there.

But maybe the captain was talking about Castro Street?

If that’s the case, the question then becomes what would motivate a cyclist to behave in the ways alleged.

But we’ll find out soon enough…

*And the other part of Divisadero up in Pacific Heights far to the north? Wow, that’s probably the last place in the world where you’d want to be blowing stop signs on a bike.

Did Cyclist Chris Bucchere Discuss Prizes for “Winning” Strava Segments Just Four Days Before His Castro Collision?

Friday, April 13th, 2012

Well, you make the call:

Of course you can conclude, at this early date, exactly this:

“Strava is not responsible for Chris’ actions…”

(That one comes from one of Chris Bucchere’s cycling buddies, BTW.)

Or, of course, you can conclude that Strava is totally responsible for the recent collision in the Castro.

Or you can be like me and remain unsure of the connection between the death of pedestrian Sutchi Hui and Strava.

Your choice.

Hey, let’s see what cyclists are saying about Strava and the recent pedestrian death in the Castro:

“as a STRAVA user, my first thought when I saw that he was using STRAVA was that he was trying to post the best time on a segment (STRAVA’s social aspect includes public leaderboards, which is actually kind of fun). looks like that stretch of Castro is, indeed, a marked segment, which is absolutely fucking stupid and likely encouraged in some small way his reckless behavior.”

And there’s this:

“I actually think the social media angle — especially the Strava stuff — the the most interesting part of this story. I’m not sure I’m ready to fully demonize Chris Bucchere quite yet — presumably he’s a human being and, thus, a crooked timber like the rest of us. But as someone interested in social media including the effects of the “gamification” movement on our culture, I find Strava’s role fascinating. And a great example of “gamification” being applied to something haphazardly and without thinking through the negative consequences… (Yes, I fucking hate the word “gamification,” but that’s all I can think of.) STRAVA’s probably going to have some liability here.”

And then there’s this:

“Strava removes segments flagged as dangerous for exactly this reason. But a lot of riders (myself included) complained that it wasn’t effective, because people with axes to grind were flagging all segments in certain places, rendering the site effectively useless. I don’t know what their policy is on dangerous segments now.”

And here’s some more, from Alan of Scarlet Fire,  on gamification and Strava in general:

Strava ‘s biggest strength lies within the ingenious “segments” feature.
Upload a gpx track of your completed ride, and Strava analyses the data with all the usual stats you’d expect, plus a breakdown of specific segments of the ride, eg hill climbs.

Here’s the clever bit -
It knows who else has completed those segments, and ranks everybody according to time. The fastest gets a KOM, King of the mountain achievement. (Yes, girls, you get QOM’s).
Most people wouldn’t bother to go to the trouble of timing themselves on individual climbs within their ride. Way too much hassle! Strava does it automatically, and awards you an achievement when you beat your personal best (PB).

Strava app screenshot (Samsung Galaxy S2)

If a section of your route doesn’t already appear as a segment, no problem – simply define it as a new segment and see how you rank. The premium version of the service also allows you to break the table down by age range and weight ranges.

Recently, whilst out on a ride, I was aware that a friend had been the first to log a new segment for a particular climb (there aren’t that many Strava users in North Wales yet!) and had the KOM award. Instead of going at my usual pace, the gaming instinct kicked in, and I found myself visiting a very high heart rate zone, and putting in a lot of effort. Later, when I uploaded my GPS data to Strava it was hugely satisfying to realise that I had beaten his time by almost 2 minutes and claimed the KOM. He also got an email from Strava saying I’d beaten his time. Nice.

Silly and childish? Very, I know.
Did it feel good? Hell, yes..
Did I get a better workout? Definitely.
Will I work harder on future climbs because this technology will let me know automatically whenever I set a new PB on specific climbs? Very likely.”

 

Video of What It Looks Like to Ride Strava.Com’s “Castro Street Bomb” – Was Chris Bucchere Racing Down Castro Street?

Monday, April 9th, 2012

Here’s the latest regarding the Castro District’s international news:

Expect Strava to get subpoenaed if this tragic story of reckless cycling and a pedestrian death goes to court.”

And here’s the Strava.Com segment what used to be called the Castro Street Bomb (and then the Castro Street Descent). It’s not too exciting. Rather sedate, actually. But I’m sure if you’re hauling butt to become the latest Strava.Com “KOM” (King of the Mountain) and you may or may not be “Idaho Rolling” through red lights, then it could be very exciting / addicting:

Strava still has lots of downhill “bomb” segments listed about town of course. How about the Hyde Street Bomb or the 20th Street Bomb?

What if I started a Market Street Drag Race website for car drivers? They could make a segment like “Second Street to Sixth Street Drag” or something and people could keep track of their times using the GPS. Would you say that I was encouraging recklessness? Or not?

And here’s part of the Strava Kills” topic at the MTBR.Com forums:

Unfortunately, there is no simple way for the biking community to pass on the message of “we are really sorry for your loss, please don’t judge all bikers. this particular individual is an a-hole, please stick it to him in every way possible”.

Sad thing is, even as this story makes it’s way around the cycling community, there are people that pull the same **** — running reds/stop signs/etc. from SF down to SCruz — that won’t connect this situation with possibilities around their own actions.”

And I’d link you to what they’re saying at the SF Fixed.Com boards but I don’t know how to do that. (It’s a bit contentious over there these days, I understand.)

And this just in:

…nothing is worse than red lights.

CVC 21456: Did Pedestrian Sutchi Hui Have the Right-of-Way When He Walked Onto Castro Street? Possibly Not

Friday, April 6th, 2012

Let’s review:

“The light turned red as I was cruising through the middle of the intersection and then, almost instantly, the southern crosswalk on Market and Castro filled up with people coming from both directions.

So it looks as if cyclist Chris Bucchere didn’t run a red light.

Now, what about the law?

“21456.  Whenever a pedestrian control signal showing the words “WALK” or “WAIT” or “DON’T WALK” or other approved symbol is in place, the signal shall indicate as follows:

(a) “WALK” or approved “Walking Person” symbol. A pedestrian facing the signal may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal, but shall yield the right-of-way to vehicles lawfully within the intersection at the time that signal is first shown….”

What this is saying is that pedestrians in California need to let traffic clear an intersection before walking when the WALK turns on for them.

(Most pedestrians in San Francisco don’t seem to know this….)

Did STRAVA.Com Help Kill Pedestrian Sutchi Hui? Timing Yourself on the “Castro Street Descent” (AKA Castro Street Bomb)

Friday, April 6th, 2012

I don’t know, did Chris Bucchere’s speed going down Castro Street last week have anything to do with STRAVA?

You know, the way it had something to do with a death in Berkeley back in 2009?

You Make The Call:

Do you see the “Castro Street Descent” there? Up until March 29, 2012, that said Castro Street Bomb. Like when you go “bombing” down the street.

Check it:

I don’t know, Strava.

Care to say anything about this?

Michael Horvath 
Co-Founder & CEO
Jordan Kobert 
VP Business Development
Mark Shaw 
VP Engineering
Rachael Parsons 
VP Marketing
Greg Gretsch 
Board Member
Jamie McJunkin 
Board Member
Mark Gainey 
Board Member
Ariel Poler 
Board Member