GM pulls ads due to unfavourable reviews
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GM pulls ads due to unfavourable reviews
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2005/...ap1933465.html
The final straw was this article by Dan Neil (no lover of GM cars, to be sure).
http://www.latimes.com/classified/au...,4799428.story
Lutz's credibility and accountability have been debated here quite a bit lately, but I pretty much have to say Dan's got it right. To borrow an overused phrase, GM can't handle the truth.
General Motors Corp. said Thursday it would stop advertising in the Los Angeles Times because of concerns over "factual errors and misrepresentations" in newspaper articles.
The newspaper, owned by Tribune Co., will review coverage that prompted the complaints from the world's largest automaker, Times spokesman David Garcia said.
"We will look into any complaints GM has about inaccuracy or misrepresentation and will make any appropriate corrections," Garcia said in the newspaper.
GM officials did not specify which articles the company found offensive. Ryndee Carney, a GM spokeswoman told The New York Times: "It involves news reporting, it involves opinion."
Messages left after business hours Thursday with representatives for GM and the Times were not immediately returned.
On Wednesday, the newspaper published a column by auto critic Dan Neil, who called for the "impeachment" of two executives, and charged the company "utterly missed the boat on hybrid gas-electric technology" while speeding up production of sport utility vehicles.
Neither GM nor the newspaper, which has a daily circulation of 900,000, would say how much the automaker spends on its Times ads.
GM did not say for how long it intended to keep its ads out of the newspaper.
The newspaper, owned by Tribune Co., will review coverage that prompted the complaints from the world's largest automaker, Times spokesman David Garcia said.
"We will look into any complaints GM has about inaccuracy or misrepresentation and will make any appropriate corrections," Garcia said in the newspaper.
GM officials did not specify which articles the company found offensive. Ryndee Carney, a GM spokeswoman told The New York Times: "It involves news reporting, it involves opinion."
Messages left after business hours Thursday with representatives for GM and the Times were not immediately returned.
On Wednesday, the newspaper published a column by auto critic Dan Neil, who called for the "impeachment" of two executives, and charged the company "utterly missed the boat on hybrid gas-electric technology" while speeding up production of sport utility vehicles.
Neither GM nor the newspaper, which has a daily circulation of 900,000, would say how much the automaker spends on its Times ads.
GM did not say for how long it intended to keep its ads out of the newspaper.
http://www.latimes.com/classified/au...,4799428.story
Lutz's credibility and accountability have been debated here quite a bit lately, but I pretty much have to say Dan's got it right. To borrow an overused phrase, GM can't handle the truth.
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From: Ohio
Re: GM pulls ads due to unfavourable reviews
IMO, at least they (GM as a company) backing up with Mr. Lutz said about people publishing errors, and not continueing to pay them advertising dollar to do so, etc....
Why pay people in advertising dollars if they misrepresent your product? I am positive the LA Times is not the only one who does this, it will be interesting to see if GM pulls ads from other people as well.
I'm sure there is more to it than just the "missed the hybrid boat" comment (which is true)....
Why pay people in advertising dollars if they misrepresent your product? I am positive the LA Times is not the only one who does this, it will be interesting to see if GM pulls ads from other people as well.
I'm sure there is more to it than just the "missed the hybrid boat" comment (which is true)....
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From: Pewee Valley, KY
Re: GM pulls ads due to unfavourable reviews
I am proud for GM having the ***** to do this. The area dealers probably aren't to happy since they now have to spend their own money to advertise their cars. GM should run an ad that is an article written with proper facts and not an editorial, then at the bottom say in big bold letters, "This is how you write a decent article and not misrepresent the facts and skew them to suit your editorial!"
Also if the article, I have not read it, was really misrepresented they should sue the author and paper for liable.
Also if the article, I have not read it, was really misrepresented they should sue the author and paper for liable.
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Posts: 2,428
Re: GM pulls ads due to unfavourable reviews
i was watching a car and driver episode a while back and one of the writers/editors said something about GM's bad interiors. he made some other comments, but that was when i realized that people like that don't have opinions, they just get opinions from else where and spread them. if one person says gm is a sinking boat, then another will, and feel as if they know what they're talking about. its clear the writer in the article mentioned is the same way.
i'm glad they pulled the advertising.
i'm glad they pulled the advertising.
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From: No where
Re: GM pulls ads due to unfavourable reviews
Well, I agree with Mr Dan on all his points including the one that states GM did miss the boat on hybrids. With $3 a gallon coming sooner than later, trucks and SUV's are not the answer.
Last edited by NikiVee; Apr 8, 2005 at 09:05 AM.
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From: Dollars, Taxes
Re: GM pulls ads due to unfavourable reviews
Originally Posted by NikiVee
Well, I agree with Mr Dan on all his points including the one that states GM did miss the boat on hybrids. With $3 a gallon coming sooner than later, trucks and SUV's are not the answer.
I believe it was Lutz who said that GM should have developed hybrids and written them off as an advertising expense a la Toyota.
Remember boys and girls, every single hybrid sold "loses" money so to speak. That is, they cost far more than what they're sold for.
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,579
From: The Land of Pleasant Living
Re: GM pulls ads due to unfavourable reviews
Originally Posted by 91_z28_4me
I am proud for GM having the ***** to do this. The area dealers probably aren't to happy since they now have to spend their own money to advertise their cars. GM should run an ad that is an article written with proper facts and not an editorial, then at the bottom say in big bold letters, "This is how you write a decent article and not misrepresent the facts and skew them to suit your editorial!"
Also if the article, I have not read it, was really misrepresented they should sue the author and paper for liable.
Also if the article, I have not read it, was really misrepresented they should sue the author and paper for liable.
It's only good for wiping ppl!
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Joined: Nov 2000
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Re: GM pulls ads due to unfavourable reviews
Originally Posted by Chuck!
Good God, he writes for the LA Times? The article may be on solid footing but that is a poorly written article.
CRITICISM
For distinguished criticism, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
Awarded to Dan Neil of the Los Angeles Times for his one-of-a-kind reviews of automobiles, blending technical expertise with offbeat humor and astute cultural observations.
For distinguished criticism, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
Awarded to Dan Neil of the Los Angeles Times for his one-of-a-kind reviews of automobiles, blending technical expertise with offbeat humor and astute cultural observations.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 757
Re: GM pulls ads due to unfavourable reviews
I hate the way he writes. It's so abrasive that you get the feeling that he's approaching the car with the intent of bashing it - which he is. He did the same to the Mercury Montego. I find his writing style very overdone and very purile. To put it in his terms "Bah."
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From: Springfield,OH. U.S.A.
Re: GM pulls ads due to unfavourable reviews
The company's multiplicity of divisions and models is turning into a circular firing squad. How can four nearly identical minivans — one each for Pontiac, Buick, Chevrolet and Saturn — be anything but a waste of resources? Ditto the Four Horsemen of Suburbia, the Buick Rainier, Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy and Saab 9-7X. How does the Pontiac Montana minivan square with Pontiac as the "Excitement" division? Why, exactly, is GMC on this Earth?
As part of a product reorganization, GM announced last month that it would speed up development of new SUVs and trucks in the pipeline and slow-walk development of rear-wheel-drive Zeta car projects. So, let's see: At a time when SUV sales are cliff-diving, GM proposes to speed up big SUV development and 86 the mid-size, rear-drive future products?
I don't think the Pontiac exteriors have evolved that much over the years, and the colors are a bit drab...doesn't EXCITEMENT pertain to colors too???
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From: The Golden State
Re: GM pulls ads due to unfavourable reviews
Lots of good points there, but I think he needs to brush up a bit.
Gary Cowger is North American President, and the point man for getting sales figures up. Bob Lutz is on products, and his products are just coming up, starting with the Solstice.
I'm really hoping Rick Wagoner gets GM together, but his focus on promoting OnStar, Stabltrack (sp), and no apparent effort whatsoever to brush up their car model line up with low and no cost moves is giving me a pretty uneasy feeling about his prospects to succeed and therefore him remaining head of GM.
I honestly and sincerly hope I'm just feeling uneasy over nothing.
Gary Cowger is North American President, and the point man for getting sales figures up. Bob Lutz is on products, and his products are just coming up, starting with the Solstice.
I'm really hoping Rick Wagoner gets GM together, but his focus on promoting OnStar, Stabltrack (sp), and no apparent effort whatsoever to brush up their car model line up with low and no cost moves is giving me a pretty uneasy feeling about his prospects to succeed and therefore him remaining head of GM.
I honestly and sincerly hope I'm just feeling uneasy over nothing.