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Negative images of older women

(53 Posts)
JessM Thu 11-Oct-12 17:24:57

A local plumber has put an ad in the local paper that has taken my breath away.
Picture of a serious looking woman, with glasses and grey hair, with neutral expression on her face.
Caption: Cranky Old Boiler - if the state of your heating is making you unhappy call us for a quote...
His email is [email protected] if any of you want to explain the error of his ways.

whenim64 Thu 11-Oct-12 18:23:02

Just tried to oblige Jess but got a failure notice for that email address. Perhaps he's left the country? grin

JessM Thu 11-Oct-12 18:26:57

well the font is so small - he obviously is not courting our demographic as a customer base. Ah (squinting emoticon) it is .co.uk
grin

Ariadne Thu 11-Oct-12 18:54:23

Went to the website but nothing controversial there. Pity, I'd have enjoyed telling him what was what,

whenim64 Thu 11-Oct-12 18:56:55

Well that one has sent ok. I'll post his reply if I get one grin

petallus Thu 11-Oct-12 19:06:32

The cheeky b*gg*r!

Ana Thu 11-Oct-12 19:07:56

I wonder how old he is...? hmm

Elegran Thu 11-Oct-12 19:19:02

Anyone got a picture of a grumpy old man to offer him to replace it? With a suitable alternative to "old boiler" ? I'm sure we can come up with something ....

whenim64 Thu 11-Oct-12 19:23:59

Got a reply Jess

Hello Mrs M.......
Firstly may I apologise , we did not mean to be offensive in away and I am sorry if we have upset you,
We are only trying to get our family business noticed , we a small bossiness that is working hard to build a good reputation in the Milton Keynes area and the last thing we want to do is upset anyone.
The adverts were meant to be a bit of a joke and there are various different ones that we are running.

If there is anything I can do to change your mind about using my company please let me know ,
Again I am very sorry for upsetting you.

Robin Riley

James Ray
| Pure Plumbing and Heating | www.pureph.co.uk |

whenim64 Thu 11-Oct-12 19:26:19

.....and a second reply! This one is offering a discount!

Hi Carol

On behalf of Pure Plumbing I sincerely apologise that you have taken offense, I myself am a middle age woman and work in the office. The company has run a series of joking adverts to lighten the mood, trying to take something that is stressful for people, with regard to their plumbing and heating, and make it light hearted.

Regrettably you have received an advert that you do not like and I will make sure your comments are passed onto the company who designed the adverts.

Apologies again for any upset, however can assure you our plumbers are lovely guys. If you change your mind and ask to speak to me, I will make sure you get a discount.

Kind regards

Helen
Pure plumbing and Heating

whenim64 Thu 11-Oct-12 19:31:37

I thanked them for their reply and suggested perhaps an advert sending themselves up instead of women. They sound fairly harmless smile

Ana Thu 11-Oct-12 19:44:32

Wouldn't that be just as sexist? confused

petallus Thu 11-Oct-12 19:44:39

I think they responded well to the complaint. I'd use them.

whenim64 Thu 11-Oct-12 19:45:25

Oh dear, Helen has apologised again! I won't paste this one, it's more of the same blush

whenim64 Thu 11-Oct-12 19:46:31

I agree Petallus they sound genuine.

Grannyknot Thu 11-Oct-12 19:50:10

I'd probably have laughed it off ... pic sounds like lots of women I know, and lots of them are cranky too. Isn't an old boiler a chicken?! grin

Elegran Thu 11-Oct-12 20:05:02

But not a spring chicken.

absentgrana Thu 11-Oct-12 20:11:32

Ana Why would plumbers sending themselves up be sexist?

titch02 Thu 11-Oct-12 20:19:40

new user but so agrre with your comment

whenim64 Thu 11-Oct-12 20:33:40

I think ana's post was responding to the Grumpy Old Man suggestion.

Frankel Thu 11-Oct-12 20:42:36

It was insensitive but I would probably have smiled. Nice that the plumbers came clean and apologised for any offence given. Customer Service in a big organisation might have suggested that the lady was unhappy because she owned a cranky old boiler and that 'any suggestion of an interpretation detrimental to the mature, be-spectacled or follically-challenged female community is unthinkable'.

Ana Thu 11-Oct-12 20:46:55

Yes, of course I was, when! smile Plumbers are fair game....

kittylester Thu 11-Oct-12 20:51:27

I thought it was a quite funny! blush

My husband has just had a website designed and had a real job trying to persuade the designers to put in photos of older people 'Are you sure that's the image you want to promote?' Considering he mainly visits Care Homes etc, 'Yes it blooming well is' was the answer! angry

Nelliemoser Fri 12-Oct-12 08:36:32

Have you ever seen the adverts for easy access showers, easy riser chairs etc.
They all seem to have very fit looking grey haired women in the pictures. When clearly those with such mobility issues usually have signs of our arthritic joints etc.

I can't make up my mind if it would be better to show in these adverts, those people with mobilty impairment who actually use this equipment as they are.
Otherwise the disabled and the elderly get increasingly hidden away as unacceptable to be viewed.

The late Thora Hird did some but she was a "national treasure."

Nelliemoser Fri 12-Oct-12 08:40:15

grin grin These poor people with their abject apologies didn't expect such an onslaught from Gransnetters Long may Granny power continue! .