Apple, Bono, Give me a break!
Ok let me be the first to say that I love Apple, and I love U2. Let me also say that I am really getting on board with social justice movements from all across the spectrum. It is admirable that Bono and Apple have teamed up to sell a specially produced iPod Nano: product red.
The promotion is to help raise consciousness and money to fight the increasing pandemic of AIDS in Africa. I get it, that is all very applaudable and worthy of admiration.
Here's what I don't get.
According to this article
it costs Apple about $90 dollars to produce each iPod Nano. When you calculate the cost of this new Bono endorsed product at a retail price of $199.00 you realize that Apple and Bono are making about $100 profit.
I say that because on their website, Apple proudly advertises the fact that 10 whole dollars from the sale of each iPod Nano: product red will go to help fight AIDS in Africa. TEN WHOLE DOLLARS!!!
Give me a break.
Guess Clothing just teamed up with Invisible Children, an organization that helps the children of war-torn Uganda. Guess has opted to give 100% of the proceeds of the clothing line to Invisible Children. This, my friends, is admirable.
Shame on you Bono, and shame on you Apple.
posted by Mike @ 10:19 AM
6 comments
6 Comments:
Apple definitely falls short Some of the other comapnies are doing a little better:
Also getting a "foot" in the (RED)™ door is Converse. These Chucks combine culture and creativity in the Mudcloth sneaker (pictured rear). Traditionally used by the Bamana people of Mali, the mud-dyed cloth often marks life's major transitions, such as marriage and births. Converse found a woman in Mali who handmade all 1,000 yards of fabric for these one-of-a-kind shoes. "It changed her life," Bono says.
Gap
Gap is introducing Gap (PRODUCT) RED™—a new, limited collection of clothing and accessories for men and women designed to help eliminate AIDS in Africa. As part of Gap's global partnership with (PRODUCT) RED™, half of the profits from sales of the Gap (PRODUCT) RED™Collection will go to The Global Fund to finance programs that help women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.
Armani
Emporio Armani is a proud partner of (PRODUCT) RED™.This pioneering initiative will raise money and awareness for The Global Fund through the sales of a RED-branded capsule collection designed by Giorgio Armani. Over the next five years, 40 percent of the gross profits from (Emporio Armani) RED will go directly to eradicate AIDS in Africa.
I agree Mike. What makes me ill even more is the church and there efforts. Many mainstream, mainline churches spend more time with pushing their political agenda. Vote for this Republican or that Rebulican. And they spend more money in their weekly/monthly/yearly budget on doughnut & coffee ministry than what is spent on AIDS relief in Africa or world poverty or relief in Sudan, etc.
we as individual christians probably spend more per week/month/year on "fancy" coffee drinks, than we give to the impoverished/ill in other countries
Thanks for commenting "anonymous." you get around, i see your name all over the blogosphere.
Anyway, yes you are right in saying that for the most part, we all could use a some work in the stewardship and giving area. My point in this post was not to imply that I nor any of my friends give the way we should. The point is that we should not be so pompous as to advertize that we are giving. On apple's promotional site for this product, they mention, not once, but twice, that $10 from ever sale will goto the fund. That to me is bordering on arrogance. We should not be so pretentious as to advertize ourselves as great humanitarians and at the same time only truly be giving a very inadequate amount.
but thanks for sharing your thoughts, "anonymous." Hopefully I run into you sometime. but then again, how would i know, right?
i agree with you mike
Mike,
When the amount of money donated as part of a marketing promotion does not seem to be a reasonable percentage, it seems as if the company is just manipulating those who wish to make a difference in order to sell a few more ipods.
I don’t want to come down to hard on any company willing to give anything to help with any need, but it is hard to see Apple as being self sacrificing when they probably will sell more ipods and make a profit through this promotion.
I certainly hope Apple did not raise the price of this “special ipod” in order to make up the 10 bucks. Even if they didn’t, every marketing campaign has a cost; they know how much marketing money it takes per ipod to sell it. I wonder how the 10 bucks they “donate” on this marketing campaign compares to the amount of money they have to spend per ipod to sell them on other campaigns?
Thanks for the post Mike; I am glad that companies do give to needs like this, especially because it appears that in many cases to be no skin of their back to do so.
James
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