Jeep, TV commercials

[Creative Fab]

Subject: [UnitedDelegates] New Jeep Ad Draft Response

I recently sent an email asking people to watch for and provide details on 2

Jeep TV ads, one with the Rubicon splashing thru a stream and the 2nd with
the Liberty splashing in a muddy stream.

Below is an unsolicited email from the Colorado BLM. Please feel free to use

any or all parts (as Jack has mentioned) to write your own letter to the
DaimlerChrysler Corporation.
I am continuing to track these ads for more info as to who, exactly, is
sponsoring them.
If you have any specific information, please forward to me.

Gene W. King
gwking33@msn.com
UFWDA Delegate
CoA4WDCI Land Use Chairman
Member, BLM Front Range RAC
2004 United Four Wheel Drive Associations
Jeeper of the Year
1999 Mile-Hi Jeep Club Jeeper of the Year
1999 United Four Wheel Drive Associations
Environmental Jeeper of the Year


----- Original Message -----
From: <Jack_Placchi@blm.gov>
To: <coa4wdci-owner@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2006 10:20 AM
Subject: Re: New Jeep Ad Draft Response


Gene, here is a draft letter I wrote for the State Directors signature.
Feel free to modify or plagiarize for your own use. .......Jack

Chief Executive Officer
DaimlerChrysler Corporation
1000 Chrysler Drive
Auburn Hills, MI 48326-2766

The BLM Colorado would like to express our concern about a recent Jeep
Rubicon ad observed on television. The ad in question shows a trail of
clothes hanging on bushes that lead to a clear running stream. The next
seen is a Jeep Rubicon driving the length of this clear running stream
right down the center line with a few turns and cuts to stir up the water
and make a few splashes. This ad encourages people to drive in a manor that
is environmentally destructive and inappropriate on public lands. Many
people who view this ad will assume this is an appropriate use and will use
their vehicle as encouraged in your ad.

BLM Colorado manages vast areas of undeveloped land open to motorized
vehicles (over 8 million acres). We believe that motorized recreation is a
legitimate use of public lands and would like to manage them with a minimum
of restrictions.

In Colorado, we are fortunate to have the many resources our state offers
for motorized vehicle use. Trails are abundant and enthusiasm for
motorized recreation is mile-high. We all benefit from the opportunity to
drive in Colorado. But it is just that: an opportunity. While many
motorized recreationists respect the land they recreate on, it only takes
one person, deviating from roads or trails, to limit that opportunity for
others and creates a negative image for motorized recreationists.

That&#39;s why the Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition initiated a campaign
with the BLM, Colorado State Parks and USDA Forest Service to form "Stay
the Trail" - a coalition of responsible users interested in preserving the
opportunity to ride. Their mission is to reinforce and highlight
responsible motorized recreation, and to modify and mitigate irresponsible
use in an effort to minimize resource damage on public lands. We are
establishing a statewide culture of responsible OHV use that will continue
beyond the life of the project, effectively creating a stewardship ethic
among all Colorado OHV recreationists.

We have built a successful federal, state and local partnership and would
be honored to have you join us as we implement this campaign. Please feel
free to contact Jack Placchi at this office with any comments or questions.

I thank you for your consideration.

Jack Placchi
BLM, Colorado State Office
Travel Management and Trails Coordinator
2850 Youngfield
Lakewood, CO 80215
(303) 239-3832

_______________________________________________
UnitedDelegates mailing list
UnitedDelegates@six.pairlist.net

[WhiteRhino]

This is something that has pissed me off for some time. Every major manufacturer advertises their four wheel drive vehicles by shooting up sprays of water, mud, sand and snow.

Then the users get yelled at for taking their vehicles off road and doing the same thing. :Ironman:

[Jarhead]

The reality is that an Ad Agency puts the advertisement together; impresses the big boys of the organization with their Ad and none of them have a clue what it is to own and enjoy the vehicle they advertise. If they had even an inkling of understanding we wouldn’t have the trouble we do (are) trying to establish a Four-Wheel Drive Awareness Schedule along with the many attributes offered by Blue Ribbon Coalition, Tread Lightly, United Four Wheel Drive Associations and the like.

[Ridgerunner]

I agree&#33; this kind of advertising seems so counter productive to the sport.some how the manufactures need to get on board with all the responsible wheeling orgs. and incorporate our message of responsible wheeling into their advertising,It would only sell more rigs in the long run.

[phittie1100]

I saw the same ad - and others like it before. They are advertising and promoting an "image" for a brand. That "image" is what gives offroad enthusiasts a bad name.

Perhaps we can include in our letters to DCX a reccommendation that they make amends with a generous contribution to BRC or UFWDA&#33;

[T-way]

I actually saw the Rubicon commercial for the first time last night, and I was SHOCKED&#33;

Let me explain why.......no one has touched on this yet, and many may not be aware of it....but think about this issue for a moment. When was the last time you saw Jeep advertise their vehicles in this manner? Historically, it has been the other manufacturers (most notably Toyota) that show their vehicles running through streams and tearing up hills pre-runner style.

You may not know this, but in the past Jeep has actually WON several awards from environmental and land use groups because of their RESPONSIBLE advertising of 4x4 vehicles&#33;&#33;&#33;

Remember? Jeep ads in the past NEVER showed the vehicles romping off road&#33;&#33; They only showed the vehicles ALREADY in a place where it was implied that the competitors vehicles couldn&#39;t go&#33;&#33; (Remember the shots of the Jeeps on top of the mountainous bluffs......the gut looking up into the towering pine tree at his keys that were dangling in the tree 30 feet up, with his Wrangler on the cliff above? When questioned about what he was looking at, he said "I dropped my keys").

These were the RESPONSIBLE ads that Jeep used to run, for many years. But now, it seems as if they have changed ad agencies and have jumped over to the "dark side".

Hopefully, the error of their ways will be pointed out to them, and they will return to more responsible advertising practices&#33;&#33;&#33;

[Trail_Fanatic]

Perhaps we should thank the group who began the campaign and ask if we can add our voices to their effort.
Any volunteers to contact them? - Besides the "usual" folks?
My plate is &#39;temporarily&#39; full.

It would be nice to see this type of response sent to ALL of the manufacturers who advertise this way.

American pick-up truck ads come to mind first for me.
It seems like the Chevy is ALWAYS tearing through the mud. . .
although it is usually a construction site or farm scene, at least.


Unrelated P.S. My spelling is LOUSY, Where&#39;s the Spell-Check on this thing?
(PM me rather than waste space here)

[timbercruiser]

DOn&#39;t we have some J**P employees on this forum (Graybeard? Yooper?) Maybe these inside guys can use their pull (do you have any?) to influence or inform the ad people.

[GreyBeard]

Both of us are members of the parent company, in the information technology area. We have nothing directly to do with the vehicle programs or marketing.

That being said, I will exercise my contacts next week and see if I can get someone to realize the problem with this marketing direction.

[Zookeeper]

I&#39;m going to touch base with a couple of good media contacts I have to see if they can&#39;t put a half-nelson on the company to make them see the error of their ways while I get them to promote GLFWDA and responsible wheeling.

[timbercruiser]

Thanks, guys&#33;&#33;

[Zookeeper]

I contacted an acquaintance of mine who writes the commuting column for The Detroit News. I laid out our concerns about the new commercials and suggested he get his readers involved and ask his contacts at Jeep about why they&#39;ve gone to "the dark side" of splashy advertising.

His reply: "Sounds like a good idea for a column. I appreciate the idea and will get on in the very near future."

Maybe we&#39;ll start getting some traction, so to speak. Once we hear the official response from D-C, we should consider a letter-writing campaign to stop such commercials.

[Creative Fab]

I am going to start writing my letter and will post it. Where do we send them once written?

[Zookeeper]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ironman &#064; Jun 20 2006, 09&#58;46 AM) 15055</div>

I am going to start writing my letter and will post it. Where do we send them once written?
[/b]

Here&#39;s a corporate address. It&#39;s a start:

DaimlerChrysler Corporation
Auburn Hills, MI 48326-2766
USA

I&#39;d also send it to the Jeep-specific customer center at:

DaimlerChrysler Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 21-8004
Auburn Hills, MI 48321-8004

[motrctyman]

Can somebody post a link? I should probably watch it before I complain about it. :rolleyes:

[Jarhead]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(motrctyman &#064; Jun 22 2006, 12&#58;16 PM) 15115</div>

Can somebody post a link? I should probably watch it before I complain about it. :rolleyes:
[/b]
Ditto&#33;

I am not much of a television watcher, so I could only protest in very general terms.