Comments on: dear fred…

By: Chris DiBona

Chris DiBona — Sat, 19 Mar 2005 04:10:39 +0000

Two things, hugh:
Post the measurements of the fellow, maybe someone who reads you needs a nice suit at a discount and might be in London soon.
Also, you should know better…a man who would offer to do such a thing is not one you should deal with. Stand firm on rpicing, regardless of coverage, then you can’t be screwed like this.

By: Katherine Stone

Katherine Stone — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 10:05:18 +0000

Loved it. Loved the comments. Loved learning a new word (“asshat”).
As someone who is not a journalist but has a journalism degree, let me say that Fred is extremely unethical. Considering the fact that if he did that to Tom he probably does that to other people, he probably shouldn’t have his job. Real editorial shouldn’t come via bribes. Something is either newsworthy or it isn’t.

By: Barry Dorrans

Barry Dorrans — Thu, 17 Mar 2005 23:59:58 +0000

Seems that a lazy Guardian journalist subscribes to Hugh’s RSS feed .…
http://media.guardian.co.uk/diary/
A national newspaper editor approaches tailor for a new suit, gets measured up and suggests if tailor wants to give him another suit free, he’ll make sure he’s interviewed in the paper. Then newspaper editor reneges on the whole deal, leaving tailor with lots of expensive cloth. He thought his moment had come, but education in the corrupt ways of the media is an expensive thing, as his friend helpfully points out on a blog. The blogger is not naming names, but Monkey believes he resides in the Canary Wharf vicinity. Anyone willing to confirm this, email monkey@mediaguardian.co.uk
And a link to Hugh

By: mindmelt

mindmelt — Wed, 16 Mar 2005 13:34:42 +0000

[round of applause]
brilliant post…
what an arsehole..
why do I have evil revenge tactics going around in my head? I shouldn’t be thinking these things…
of course let me know if you want to know them

By: Vinny

Vinny — Wed, 16 Mar 2005 08:06:25 +0000

well done hugh. let’s hope this festers into something truly embarrassing for “FRED”. I like the idea of saving the suit as evidence. cinderella’s glass slipper in reverse.

By: Nathan Schock

Nathan Schock — Wed, 16 Mar 2005 06:02:29 +0000

On behalf of very PR person out there…thank you!

By: ceo_bwm

ceo_bwm — Wed, 16 Mar 2005 04:44:52 +0000

remind me sometime to go off on my prepackaged rant about the blessed, not one minute too soon passing of the ancient custom of handing out demos. another highly expensive, highly ineffective practice that has been rendered completely unnecessary by mp3 technology, musician blogging, and the complete elimination via internet of the parasitical middle-man. by the way, it also sort of eliminates the need for the guest list spot, the free swag, etc. etc. etc. etc.

By: Scott Chaffin

Scott Chaffin — Wed, 16 Mar 2005 03:17:01 +0000

Having a weekend artisan-ish business, I can say with confidence that giving away your product for a bit of publicity is a mug’s game. It’s in the bird-cage or recycle bin the next day, and you’re still paying the bills for what you gave away. Never mind the opportunity cost of the escapade, which is probably far greater than the cost of the finished product, anyway. How many solid customers could have been pleased as punch with the time and attention wasted on the mediot?
Of course, your friend has learned this lesson the hard way, and it certainly cost him far more than it could have ever cost me. The really good news is that it’s a lesson you only have to learn once.

By: Isaac B2

Isaac B2 — Wed, 16 Mar 2005 02:46:24 +0000

Glad you’ve found a way to succeed without the hindering “help” of this hapless hoodlum.

By: john

john — Wed, 16 Mar 2005 02:09:57 +0000

If you have proof of this then you should absolutely go public because the raison d’etre was to gain newspaper coverage. The need may not be so great now but his competitors would give you that in droves and you could emphasise the points you made in this post rather than appear vindictive.

By: tabasco

tabasco — Wed, 16 Mar 2005 01:22:21 +0000

man — i thought this was hypothetical

By: Brendan Thorne

Brendan Thorne — Wed, 16 Mar 2005 00:56:20 +0000

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=orbitz_blows Best. Maddox. Ever.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Wed, 16 Mar 2005 00:40:08 +0000

You guys need to think of something good to do with the suit. I am sure there is something good that could come from the work already completed. I hope it doesn’t get deconstructed.

By: Peter Meddick

Peter Meddick — Wed, 16 Mar 2005 00:39:10 +0000

Heh. Brendan, you may be right. Perhaps there isn’t any malice towards Fred in Hugh’s post. And perhaps by publishing Fred’s name Hugh wouldn’t hurt his reputation or livelihood. Now, I don’t mean to speak for Hugh or Tom, but I would imagine neither gent would want to find out through costly litigation. Tom learned a tough lesson — that Fred is untrustworthy. Does that mean that Tom shouldn’t extend this kind of trust to other clients? Hopefully not. Apologies for the diversion from the topic.

By: Brendan Thorne

Brendan Thorne — Wed, 16 Mar 2005 00:02:57 +0000

Perhaps I’m young and naive, but how would it be slander if this man screwed Tom out of however much time and money, and then Hugh (Tom’s business partner) called him on it in a public forum?