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Post by msonelove on Nov 17, 2012 2:40:56 GMT -5
I received an email from Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Tourism asking me to take a survey. I did because I love the whole area, love the beaches, shops, family friendly, love everything! So I'm taking the survey and it ask the normal questions how many times have you visited etc etc, then it ask you how would you rate the beaches and that area is it more like a BMW, Kia, Honda, Toyota, Chevrolet, Nissan or Ford! Then it ask is it more like a BMW (it implied that was the good end) or a Ford (implying that was the low end) then ask was it more like Wine or Beer? I sent an email to the tourism dept there info@gulfshores.com letting them know how I loved the area and how disappointed I was that they were talking about Ford as if they were lower class! I also told them that most of the vehicles on their list was NOT American made! I felt like most of their visitors were AMERICAN! Also that there were THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS of Ford/American workers that spend their money in their area, and that I would think the local businesses would not want us to spend our money on another beach or county or state! I requested that they change their survey questions as not to offend their visitors!
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Post by msonelove on Nov 17, 2012 2:44:17 GMT -5
I forgot to add it ask SEVERAL questions wanting me to rate something between ___ to Ford (low end)! I would like for anyone and everyone to respond to them letting them know that we are proud of our Fords and our dollars that we could spend elsewhere!!!
Email again is - info@gulfshores.com (this is not the survey email, but this is who sponsored the survey)
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Post by TonyV on Nov 17, 2012 6:25:53 GMT -5
Nice!
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Post by msonelove on Nov 19, 2012 18:39:18 GMT -5
I received a response to my email to the Gulf Shores/Orange beach tourism--
Mrs. Williams, thank you for completing our survey. This survey is going to help us better understand how our current guests and potential guests think about our area, so the various scaling questions are used in that exercise. I assure you we did not intend to disparage one brand, individual or product against another. The intent is more to see how our destination fits into a microcosm of brands in the consumer’s mind. The Ford question is a repeat of the same question posed in 2010 before the BP Oil Spill, so we are just trying to gauge changes in perception since that timeframe.
We very much value our American companies. My husband just bought a Ford 150 truck from the local dealer here, and my very first car out of college was a Ford Mustang that I bought from the original owner! I drove it for many years, we refurbished and re-upholstered it, and then eventually sold it to a friend. I often rue the day we did that – it was a classic 1968 Mustang.
Please accept our apologies, as we certainly did not mean to cause any offense. I am happy to hear that you love our beaches and local shoppes, and hope that you will decide to return again and again over the years. If I can ever be of assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out. In the meanwhile, best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving!
Joanie Flynn l Vice President Marketing l Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism l 251.974.4633
I have not responded yet!! I'm thinking! What's the best way to respond?/
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Post by pmooret on Nov 19, 2012 23:38:21 GMT -5
You ask her to change her survey questions as not to offend their visitors but she didn't address that request and danced all around it with compliments on Ford products. Go to her boss next. You also might want to consider informing business/tourism associations in that area. They don't like bad publicity. Sad part is my brother just bought a condo there.
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Post by msonelove on Nov 19, 2012 23:43:59 GMT -5
That's kinda what I thought, that she danced around the idea! She says the intent is to get into the consumers mind...well that's a whole county...well the whole beach area that is putting into people's head that Ford is the lower end! Just because they asked the same questions in 2010 before the BP oil spill doesn't make it right either...it was wrong then too! I would love to see her inbox just bombarded with emails from every American worker, then maybe she will know what is in the consumers mind!
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Post by msonelove on Nov 20, 2012 0:19:10 GMT -5
This is a copy of my response--I sure hope I got my point across in a good way??-- I also think I will contact the county administration, maybe even a "Letter to the Editor"! I will have to get my good writin' skills out for that one!! LOL---- HERE'S MY RESPONSE-
We do appreciate the purchase of the Ford products!
You may not have intended on pitting one product against another, but it does. You are looking for what's in the consumer's mind, well you just planted the seed that Ford's are "lesser than" any thing else you listed, which DOES pit one against the other! You have had the question on there since 2010, well that just means your tourism department has been downgrading Fords alot longer than I thought! When most people think of a survey they think of a number system, not cars, not beer, not wine! I'm sure someone behind a desk somewhere that has NO IDEA what American jobs need to mean to this country, designed this survey. I'm sure they won't have an idea until their job is out sourced to some other country that can do a survey too! I just don't see the need to use the brands period in the survey! I understand the reasoning behind the survey in order to bring in more visitors and amenities to your area, especially after the oil spill. I could not do it but I wanted so bad to come help clean up....that's how much I enjoy that area! We have even thought of some day retiring there.
From your email I don't see any idea that you would think of even passing the information along to anyone to maybe rethink your survey! But you did say you apologized and didn't mean to cause any offense but nothings gonna change, so you are still causing offense. Also you did mention for me and my American made dollars to be sure and come back and spend MORE of my dollars there, but we are still gonna down grade Ford! I appreciate your offer but I'm probably gonna pass until the survey is changed, sure hope I'm not the only family that feels this way!
Thanks!
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Post by lapukfan on Nov 24, 2012 19:47:09 GMT -5
So glad you voiced your thoughts to them!
I would have done same thing if I had received the survey
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Post by lapukfan on Nov 24, 2012 19:49:03 GMT -5
This topic needs to be put in the LAP and KTP so everybody can see where not to go on vacation
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Post by TonyV on Dec 6, 2012 11:53:23 GMT -5
Nice!
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