![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-10718-100x100.png\")
Sooo... you have to wait for the dance to finish to receive your sample?
Seems to me like the engineers need to work on the load time on this one!
2 replies
Sooo... you have to wait for the dance to finish to receive your sample?
Seems to me like the engineers need to work on the load time on this one!
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-542811-100x100.png\")
So if I got and push the button over and over that guy has to keep dancing the robot? Sweet!! Push push push push push push push.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-413086-100x100.png\")
I hoped giant humans would be sold from the vending machines. Oh well.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/css/images/default.gif\")
\"To answer your questions below, no humans do not come out of the vending machine. Only a package of HeatTech innerwear.\"
No humans will not come out of the vending machine? Is that to say that all human WILL come out of the vending machine, and the only thing that will not come out is a package of HeatTech innerwear? This is a fantastic marvel of engineering (although I wish I'd been consulted prior to being booked to come out of the vending machine), although I question its application to selling HeatTech innerwear.
Who says the economy's in the gutter?
Not when we can still pay people to do the robot and give me free sh*t!!!
Oh wait, the dancers are being paid with thermal underwear??
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-472231-100x100.png\")
OK, where do I begin?
1. How many Uniqlo stores in the US *are not* in New York? I know of one in New Jersey. There could be more by now. But not many more.
2. People who live in New York generally don't hang out in Times Square (except to go to the Times Square Olive Garden -- the best damn Olive Garden in the world!).
3. When New Yorkers are forced to visit Times Square, they get the hell in and get the hell out as fast as possible, avoiding whatever dumb-ass marketing gimmicks are going on at the moment.
4. Since Uniqlo is mostly in New York, and New Yorkers are mostly not in Times Square, Uniqlo is wasting their money advertising to tourists from Des Moines who will never encounter a Uniqlo store.
5. Therefore, and for more obvious reason, this is stupid.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-37033-100x100.png\")
@illtron:
I had no idea Uniqlo was in the US at all. Pity they have to go all gimmicky here, though. In Japan they're pretty unpretentious, and that's what I like about them. They're like the Gap minus the bullshit.
@TechnoDestructo: Same here in China. But if they did this at any of their Shanghai locations I'd still be lining up- free stuff is free stuff.
@SuparnaBabalas: That was sarcasm. Besides, everybody knows that real New Yorkers eat at the Olive Garden on 6th Ave.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-352008-100x100.png\")
@illtron: It's less marketing gimmick and more PR gimmick. Conspicuous public displays will get media attention, and that's the advertising angle. Due to the idiocy of the stunt, it can only happen in Times Square where the vapid tourists will gobble it up. New York wins, media wins, UNIQLO wins, humanity loses.
@illtron: Quoth wikipedia: \"The opening of the Manhattan store was followed in September 2007 by the closing of UNIQLO's three New Jersey locations, leaving the count of North American stores at one.\"
Can I just say though, that I've been wearing this stuff all week and it is really good. The arms are a bit loose but nothing major. It fits under my snowboard gear and generally kicks ass.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-429538-100x100.png\")
I hope to God that vending machine isn't powered by Windows. One BSOD and those models will be toast.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-110628-100x100.png\")
I think everyone involved is having a great deal of fun here, which is always great to see.
And honestly, I tithe half my money to Uniqlo anyway so it's about time I got something for free, even if the Old Navy prices and excellent quality are enough on their own most days. It's just a shame that it has to be WEIRD-ASS INNERWEAR.
@Nunya B: Don't be deterred by the fact it's innerwear. I own a few pieces of HeatTech and wear them constantly.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-443783-100x100.png\")
Am I the only one who thought the pictures she sent had very little in common with the video?
The best \"gimmick\" I ever saw in Times Square was when Charmin Bathroom tissue took over a building and made nice, clean, happy smelling bathrooms. You had to wait in line to get in while hearing the Charmin jingle over and over, and there were some desperate \"actors\" singing and dancing happy Charmin tunes. But overall? A clean bathroom in Times Square. Brilliant.
@LoriLynn: That reminds me of the genius marketing idea from BP at one of the major local summer fests. They had their typical promo tent, but behind it they parked a semi trailer they'd converted to mobile restrooms, complete with sinks and real wood doors, that were cleaned every fifteen minutes. The line was massive, the bathrooms were nice, and I got to come up with a million BP toilet jokes while waiting.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-614388-100x100.png\")
@LoriLynn:
My favorite was last year on Dec 3 when Dewers threw a \"Repeal Day\" Party in honor of the anniversary of the 21st Amendment - complete with actors in raccoon coats and period dresses.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-371007-100x100.png\")
Ben thanks
One of my 2 Team-Mates who is a friend, as well as my manager just got riffed yesterday.
I think your email exchanges with the company was the brightest point of my day!
Made me smile.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-16526-100x100.png\")
Is the female model a former chearleader, stripper, or both?
Stupid. Just stupid.
Someone has too big of a marketing budget.
Now if the Human Vending Machine actually vended Humans, I could use a few slaves.
As far as the actual publicity stunt ... after seeing the video once I wouldn't push the stupid button, and if I was forced to listen to that all day I'm afraid I'd find an axe, and smash the button so no one else could either.
I generally avoid Time Square as if a visit might lead to me catching something but I think for a free sample from Uniqlo I might venture into dark water.
Daft Punk's 'Robot Rock' was a pleasant surprise in those vids. And a GI Joe T-shirt? Double win.
I thought there were giant humans who were also vending machines. For the life of me, I could not figure out where you would put the money, and I had NO desire to know where the goods came out.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-297205-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-171069-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-605040-100x100.png\")
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-446743-100x100.png\")
I love this!