West Briton & that advert!
Several of our customers complained to me about an advertisement in the West Briton Wednesday 2nd May placed by Rod/Rob of Our Car Boots (formerly Duchy Car Boots) whilst advertising a new Car Boot Sale somewhere in Gwineer Cuthbert, Cornwall. See also; this man is a LIAR 23/11/2011
Customers said the advert was a swipe aimed at Louise and myself and that The West Briton should apologise that the advert was allowed to be placed and printed and that an apology should be received from the Editor. We did not take too much notice as we do not advertise in the West Briton nor do we buy their papers however we were given copies of the advert by customers furious that in their opinion was offensive towards Car Boots Cornwall.
The lineage advert ended with “not in connection with car boot operators FAGAN @ OLIVER TWIST” So either Lou or I am Oliver Twist but it must be me who is designated as FAGAN! Who the **** is Fagan anyway?
Ignorance is bliss with this advert FAGAN is spelt FAGIN and he was a fictitious character in the Dickens novels about Oliver Twist-both men! Fagin was a dubious character and receiver of ‘stolen goods’ I do hope it is not being suggested that either Louise or myself are in any way linked to this unsavoury character!
When we had received about 12 complaints in all I decided to write to the West Briton on behalf of the people, who were offended by the advert on our behalf.
Hi Clare,
Over the weekend Louise myself and staff received several more complaints at TRURO, MABE, FALMOUTH, CIRCUS FIELDS, Royal CORNWALL at WADEBRIDGE and NEWQUAY mostly about the WEST BRITON allowing such an advertisement to be placed in a local newspaper taking a deliberate jibe at our business posted directly on line without supervision. My customers saw this as slur to our organisation and the wording is quite obviously targeted towards CBC
The advertiser was seen handing out leaflets at ROSEUDGEON bragging about the proposed advert!
I need an absolute assurance that this will not reoccur and an apology to our customers will close the matter.
Regards,
Geoff
Good Afternoon Geoff,
Thanks for your email.
Since my last email I have requested that all content regardless whether it is self-served place using the online booking facilities or placed with the Sales Teams be vetted. Any suspicious content is to be referred either to me or my colleague Heather Keating.
With regard to the apology you have requested, this is something which is at our Editor’s discretion and is not something I could approve. Mr Best is currently on leave, but I will speak to him on his return.
Regards
Clare
Hello Clare,

Were you able to speak with the Editor for an apology which I am surprised you are not authorised to offer.

Regards,

Geoff
Dear Geoff
I have now spoken to the editor and, while he said he was sorry to hear that you felt upset by this advertisement , he agreed that your business was not identified and there are plenty of other car boot sale organisers in the area to whom it could relate.
I have spoken to the person who placed the advertisement and told them that they should concentrate on advertising their own events in future and that unless they do so we will withdraw the facility from them.
I hope this draws a line under the matter.
Yours sincerely
Clare

The bottom line on this story is that the Editor of The West Briton should have apologised to our customers who were offended by the obvious jibe at Louise I and Car Boots Cornwall it seems hardly credible that they altered their entire procedures of self-serving advertisements as a result of the advertiser who clearly bent the rules and yet the Editor cannot say sorry for the offence caused.

Geoff
Being in love means never having to say you are sorry……..Love Story 1970