by Steffi Veizen
Von Erickson
Labs has been asked several times for free merchandise, the most obnoxious
request was someone asking for a free coffin couch about a month ago. (I guess
some people are clueless about the labor and cost of materials that goes into a
piece of furniture, but that’s another rant altogether.) He has sent out complementary necklaces and
bracelets to two charity events, one was for a breast cancer fundraiser and the
other for a theater fundraiser. The theater came through on their promise to
send us a letter that we used for tax purposes.
We never heard back from the breast cancer event people, but that’s OK,
we never asked for anything in return.
In September
of last year Von Erickson Labs was contacted by a young woman named Ash
Costello. She sings in a band we’d never heard of called New Years Day, which
can best be described as squeaky clean California power pop. She inquired about
a “sponsorship”, offering Von Erickson Labs “constant advertisement for your
site and company! In interviews, in press, editorials, on my website, the bands
website, via twitter and tumblr to our hundreds of thousands of fans that are
perfectly in your demographic, as well as any physical fliers or banners we can
keep on our merch table on tour and on the road!”
This message
from her was several paragraphs long, so it was obvious that this was a form
letter sent out to others besides Von Erickson Labs. Like a resume, it
mentioned her recent press, how she was on the Warp Tour, etc, etc.
We mailed
her necklaces and bracelets for her and her band mates in October on 2011. She
wrote “I can offer 2 posts a week for 2 months on all my social networks
promoting your bracelets, making sure the sites that cover my style promote
your bracelets also and mentioning in all press as well in the next 2 months
your sites and wearing the items on stage and in any promotional shoots in the
near future. Also putting any promotional material you send on our merch table
during the run of our fall tour.” I
mailed the package out to her, via delivery confirmation, and never heard
back. We never received any links from
her.
Peter Von
Erickson is a laid back, trusting guy, I’m a hard assed cynical New Yorker. The
honor system only works when both parties actually honor the terms. I only
trust people who have proven to me that they can be trusted. I handle all
business transactions with a contract, if you don’t have it in writing, you
have no leverage. I just considered our
efforts to be a waste of time, and forgot about it.
However, Pete
contacted Ashley a couple of days ago, calling her on the bad behavior. She apologized, saying she thought she sent
him a link to the press she gave him, and invited us to her show. She sent Pete her phone number, and told him
to text when we got to the venue, and she would send someone to get us in. At
this point my bullshit detector was ringing quietly in my head. She never did
forward that link to Pete.
Pete sent a
text to the number she provided when we arrived, then decided to call. He got a
recorded message stating that the number was disconnected. We later learned
that the area code she gave (715) is for Wisconsin, she’s from Los Angeles.
I have a
pretty pessimistic view of people in general; I’ve had a lifetime of
experiences with a cousin who is a pathological liar. She lies for attention
and sympathy, to appear to have something in common with someone, and to try
and earn respect from others. Why would Ashley go out of their way to lie to
Pete, knowing she would get called on it? Wouldn’t it be easier to just ignore
him? I guess it’s not about what’s easy.
The situation
then turns from annoying to just bizarre. Pete wrote her later again regarding
the invalid phone number. She claimed that the number was indeed hers, to try
it again, and that he would get her voicemail. She apologized for the
confusion, stating that she has been praised for her professionalism in the
past. Pete gave her his phone number, she never called.
Many
designers send free clothing and accessories to celebrities, hoping to get free
press. There are those gift bags given out to celebrities at award shows. How
much does all this really help the small business owner? If it’s known and
understood that the product will be mentioned by the celebrity on some forum,
then that’s great, but I suspect there is more taking then giving back when it
comes to this kind of exchange. The big irony is that the ones doing the taking
are the ones that would have no trouble buying what they are getting for free.
