Most Cryptic, Pointless FC mail

I don't think any thread has been started about this, and I'm not sure whether it's strictly for U.S. customers, but it's really strange. Here's the message:

Hello Gorgeous!

Have we got something for you, [name]! It's brand new. It's coming soon. And it's extraordinarily unordinary.

What is IT, you ask?

Well, actually we can't say. But we did want you, our trusted Flying Club member, to know that it's coming and that it's a great new way to enjoy even more of everything you love Virgin Atlantic Airways for.

What more can we say? Not much really. But we do hope that when it's here you'll feel it and love the way it makes you feel!

Now, I really don't get the point of this email, and have no idea what it's about. The only thing I can think of is a Virgin Atlantic credit card for the U.S. or something. In any case, I guess we'll find out June 12th.

[mcmbenjamin]

you'll feel it and love the way it makes you feel!

Replacing the IFBT with other 'massage' treatments that end on a happy note?

Who knows? VS marketing at its best...but WHAT are they marketing?

Hmmmm - I know Virgin like to do some wacky marketing but I must admit things like this really irritate me. It does not make me want to know more, it just makes me want to delete the next Virgin email!!! [V] Maybe I am just boring but I don't like to think too long and hard about advertising - otherwise I just get bored and move on [:#]

it's getting more and more difficult to make an advertising campaign stand out these days but for whatever the reason this one has been noticed and is being discussed - the Virgin marketing dept would probably mark this one up as a success.

[preiffer]

I'm not sure that can be considered as the sole benchmark for success of a marketing campaign, Jacki.

Otherwise, William Ratner was an absolute genius... [:w]

True but Ratner was an extreme case and a total d***head to boot - it looks as if Virgin feel less is more and are hoping the curiosity factor will work for them.

[RichardMannion]

I thought it was Gerald Ratner?

[preiffer]

Originally posted by RichardMannion
I thought it was Gerald Ratner?

You're right. Was thinking of William Shatner (not sure why) when I typed it. Or whatever. Either way, the guy was a tit (but very much 'talked about' at the time... [:w])

Someone on anet made a good guess of massaging seats - I wonder when G-VSUN comes out of its refit - anyone wanna place bets on June 12th [:?]

Thats actually brillient marketing, nice fresh approach to keep people interested and keep looking at the website, whilst at the same time very cheap because they really can come up with anything they want, or even not have anything planned but want our unreserved attention.

Maybe there is no big new idea, and they are just going to pick one from the threads it generated ?

Originally posted by McMaddog
Someone on anet made a good guess of massaging seats - I wonder when G-VSUN comes out of its refit - anyone wanna place bets on June 12th [:?]

If it is and they're anything like those onboard Emirates A345 and newer 777's I'd rather they didn't bother. I'd much rather have a comfortable seat and bed than a gimmick like a massage seat. However hard you look at it, a massage in a massage seat is absolutely nothing like the real thing for all manner of reasons.

H

[Scrooge]

Firstly I hate having an email sent to me that starts 'Hello Gorgeous'
Just makes me want to say go f yourself.

Originally posted by aks120
Hmmmm - I know Virgin like to do some wacky marketing but I must admit things like this really irritate me.

Yep

Originally posted by easygoingeezer
Thats actually brillient marketing, nice fresh approach to keep people interested and keep looking at the website, whilst at the same time very cheap because they really can come up with anything they want, or even not have anything planned but want our unreserved attention.

You really think so, here's the way I am looking at it...it is being discussed on here and A'Net...we will all come up with different things it could be..which is great, it gets some conversation going which is not a bad thing...then June 12th comes around and they email us to let us know that they are switching say the brand of gin they use. The only thing that I would be interested in is a US brand credit card or being allowed to earn FC miles on VX flights.

You're all talking about it. The campaign wins.

The only thing that p*ssed me off about it was their emphasis on IT instead of IS. One does not emphasise the former when asking a question...

GJ

[honey lamb]

As far as I can see only US based Flying Club members have got this email. Has anyone else received it?

[Neil]

Nope, nothing received here.

I know what you are saying goanmad, but companies are always going to spend money on marketing and trying to attract new customers, it is the only way they will survive and hopefully prosper. Without marketing campaigns attracting new customers, who will spend money, then there isn't the money available to get the best staff, enhance the product etc etc. It's a vicious circle but dislike it as you may there will always be money spent on advertising.

Neil

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by goanmad
Typical VS big fanfare for what is going to happen, but,as usual they do not give a shit for Customers who have spent good money and had poor service.
Wake up and look after your current customers VS, otherwise they will start to move onto other carriers and tell there mates etc.etc..
You can spend as much money on gimmicky advertising as you want, but if the post flight customer service and poor on board service keeps rearing its head punters will not use VS and the profit's will plummet.
Point I am trying to make is don't waste money, improve what you have got and when that is perfect then move onto another gimmick?

goanmad, apart from the fact I don't like your choice of language, can I just point out a couple of things. For starters, we don't know what it is that is going to happen and as the only communication that has happened is an email to FC members I'd hardly call that a big fanfare or spending money on gimmicky advertising. We're the ones who have made it into a big fanfare by discussing it, which I think is a clever marketing ploy. I should also point out that by sending it to FC members they are already targeting their current customers.

Yep, I do agree Neil.
It's me being a miserable old sod who is mightly miffed at VS and their appalling customer services!
And then I see stupid emails from VS and it PI55ES me off big style.
Just wished they got everything right first time! Then we would'nt have to worry about customer services?

Did something disappear??? Neil addresses goanmad and there's no goanmad post...

GJ

Sounds to me like a classic piece of viral marketing which I'm afraid is all the rage... on both sides of the pond and its cheaper than snail mail....

its whole purpose is to hook you but not tell you... and its done its trick very well i.e. its getting the discussion going here on the forum.

Let's just hope it is something big... if not, then it can seriously backfire. It's used a lot in the UK by retailers to hook online shoppers or get more footfall on both there website and/or store...

It could be as simple as US custom is down so they are trying to drive some $$$ spending... or to tempt frequent flyers that used to fly often that haven't flown as much.

Just remember that loyalty schemes no matter what are there for a reason... to see what your 'habits' are, how you earn the points, and if there are sudden changes well expect the 'Hello Gorgeous'

Baloobear

[Scrooge]

Neil was eating the Hull mushroom soup GJ...all should be clear from that...or not so clear after that [:I]

Anyways...sit back, be ready to be under whelmed......trust me on this one ok....if you don't this post will come back to haunt you.

Originally posted by easygoingeezer
Thats actually brillient marketing, nice fresh approach to keep people interested and keep looking at the website, whilst at the same time very cheap because they really can come up with anything they want, or even not have anything planned but want our unreserved attention.

Of course anyone looking at their website compared to the ones of BA and similar airlines would probably be turned away, if they can even access it! [:D]

If it's been sent out to US customers it could be that they are going to introduce IFBTs in the US clubhouses. This was hinted at when they withdrew the IFBTs from onboard.

Originally posted by virginboy747
If it's been sent out to US customers it could be that they are going to introduce IFBTs in the US clubhouses. This was hinted at when they withdrew the IFBTs from onboard.

Well, reading again the OP first post and this line in particular.

What more can we say? Not much really. But we do hope that when it's here you'll feel it and love the way it makes you feel!

It could be interpreted that Beauty Therapists could be introduced in the US Clubhouses.

[mitchja]

As GJ mentioned earlier, this is been discussed on most, if not all aviation forums on the net, therefore, from VS's point of view, it's working.

Adding BT's to US Clubhouses would be a good idea as something I'd use, although I cant see it working in shared lounges though [:?]

Regards