odd little bean

yo ford, i want my $2!

apparently there is still swirl in the blogosphere over whether the 100 fiesta agents are being “paid”.  allen stern at centerworks insists that we are being paid, which according to him, somehow invalidates our objective experiences with the vehicles.  in one of his comments, allen writes, “While we can assume that they can say positive or negative stuff, they are required to talk… and talk… and talk… ”

three things, allen:

1. i would be willing to align with you that the fiesta is a payment/trade in exchange for 6 videos (one for each mission), but i think that our alignment would hold little to no traction without a discussion of incentive systems.

there is no incentive for me to be dishonest about my experience with the fiesta or hide features that i don’t like.  none.  nothing.  zero.  one lucky agent doesn’t get to keep his/her fiesta after the 6 months.  one lucky agent doesn’t get a job working in renewable energy/corporate sustainability for ford at the end of the movement.

in other words, there isn’t any sort of payment (current or future) from ford that would prevent me from giving an unbiased account of my fiestamovement experience.  a few days ago i publicly noted (on twitter, flickr, AND my blog) that the roof of my fiesta dented in when i ran across it in a fit of impulsivity.  the only feedback i got from ford was a question about whether the car needed to be repaired.  no censorship.  no steering.  no reprimand. no nothing.

i am fully aware that some people get free products from companies and in exchange for the products, the people post glowing reviews.  the more glowing reviews they post, the more likely they are to receive more free products.  i am in complete agreement that those reviews (if tweeted) should be marked with a $ so that it’s clear they are paid reviews and those reviewers are incentivized to only mention the positive things about the products.

the only thing i have an incentive to do is to tell ford where i think the opportunity areas are for the fiesta so that as they’re building the manufacturing line they have the option to incorporate my feedback.  why do i feel like i have an incentive to help shape the direction of the car?  mainly because 4 out of the 5 friends who have ridden in my fiesta are now convinced that they want to buy one.

2. no need to assume that we can say positive or negative stuff.  i am telling you straight-up that we can say whatever we want.

3. there is no requirement to “talk…and talk…and talk”.  the only requirement is that each of us post a monthly video about whatever mission we go on.   most of us, i realized at the training, just happen to be little chatterboxes.

i would ordinarily try to come up with tight ending for this post, but i got a wicked awful blister on the side of my foot and i popped it during my 11 hour meeting today.  now for whatever reason it ACHES.  i am in serious pain, despite the fact that i neosporined the hell out of the area and then covered it in 3M blister tape.  3M blister tape is the BEST BLISTER PREVENTING PRODUCT ON THE MARKET.  it’s jaw droppingly good, no other brands of tape even come close,  and no, 3M didn’t pay me to say that. $