Bloke Behind ‘I Bought A Jeep’ Parody Turns Down Big Bucks, Instead Hopes To Protect Consumers
Remember the guy who made an elaborate rap and music video that condemned Jeep as a lemon and overall crappy vehicle?
Well now Teg Sethi is back.
But this time, he’s been offered $61,000 to end the disagreement with the car company, and has turned it down, saying he wants to raise awareness for consumer protection instead. In case you missed it, here’s his key message:
FIAT Chrysler Automobiles wanted to settle a long-running dispute over claims Sethi’s car is faulty, despite not admitting to all the claims Sethi made about his 2013 Grand Cherokee.
FCA Australia released a statement on the issue, saying, “While it is not FCA’s normal practice to discuss details on individual customer cases, given the publicity and public interest on this particular one, we will make an exception.
“FCA has gone to the utmost lengths to resolve Mr. Sethi’s issues. Despite there being no major issues with his vehicle FCA made a generous offer of goodwill to Mr. Sethi.
“As a result Mr. Sethi was presented with a standard legal contract which includes a non-disparagement clause. Mr. Sethi chose to decline our offer.
“FCA believes this is not an unreasonable request to make and is not asking anything of Mr. Sethi that FCA would not abide by ourselves.
“Mr. Sethi is now in possession of his vehicle as well as an independent inspection report on his vehicle.”
News Limited reports Sethi said while he needed the money, he felt he had an obligation to use the incident to help other car owners.
“Every bone in my body wants to take that money,” he said. “It would help my family so much. But I can’t do it.”
Sethi has said he plans to continue to use his case, and his amusing impressions of wannabe rappers everywhere, to call for stronger laws that protect the consumer, adding that he’d been encouraged by a new report from QLD parliament’s legal affairs and community safety committee that is pushing to ramp up protections built into Australian Consumer Law.
A recent Australian Competition and Consumer Commission investigation into FCA has seen lawyer and former Ford in-house counsel Peter George appointed to sort through two years’ worth of unresolved complaints. In his first comments on his progress, George yesterday said “it might be that the process can be sped up”.
That will be welcome news to some owners, who say they have basically been told to expect their disputes handled in the year 2017. Under the deal FCA cut with the ACCC, it is meant to have improved its ongoing handling of complaints.
Please login with linkedin to comment
Advertising Standards Bureau APMA glamour magazine matt tapper Staff ChurnLatest News
History Has Arrived: It’s The Cairns Crocodiles Inaugural Shortlist
Pen the acceptance speech and ready your best thongs and muumuu, because the Cairns Crocodiles shortlist has arrived.
Delicious & American Express Partner To Launch Month Out 2024 In Syndey
delicious. and American Express have come together for the fifth consecutive year for American Express delicious. Month Out 2024, returning May 1–31. The month-long event returns to Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane, with dining offers, exclusive experiences and one-off events designed to encourage everyone to get out and enjoy the rich dining culture of their […]
Aussie Ad Market Continues Decline In March
Marketers across most categories are spending less on advertising this year than they did a year ago, which places Australia at odds with spend patterns in the US and Canada, according to Guideline SMI figures. Cinema and out of home are the only media channels that did not contract in March as ad spend continues […]
VMA Focuses On Skills And Training For Members
The Visual Media Association (VMA) concluded its eight-week P.o.P (Power of Print) webinar series this week with a talk from David Barron, executive manager of Stakeholder Relations, Manufacturing Industry Skills Alliance (MISA) on the work MISA does to support skills and training in our industry. The webinar highlighted industry’s needs for improving apprenticeship completion rates, […]
Nearly 90% Of Consumers Want Transparency About AI Images, Finds Getty Images Report
Getty Images yesterday held a Webinar to announce the release of its “Building Trust in the Age of AI” report. The study aims to empower marketers and communications professionals by providing data-driven insights into the integration of AI-generated content within marketing and communications strategies. Supported by the company’s cutting-edge visual and creative intelligence platform, VisualGPS, […]
The National Breast Cancer Foundation Partners With VML To Boost Funds
Today the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) and VML announce their partnership in Australia. Together they will create a future-focussed, connected marketing and customer experience strategy that will propel the not-for-profit’s ability to raise funds and continue to invest in world-class research towards their vision of Zero Deaths from breast cancer. The team will develop […]
Perry ‘Pez’ Lazaris Named New National Hit Network Announcer
The Hit Network has announced Perry ‘Pez’ Lazaris will be taking over the Hit Network’s regional Afternoon shift from Monday, 6 May. Pez knows a thing or two about radio with a career spanning over 15 years, working in Townsville, Adelaide, Western Australia and most recently, Newcastle. Now, Pez will take over the national regional […]
Before Adland: Garry Dawson’s Journey From Teacher To Marketer
Many know Garry Dawson as the prolific marketing manager behind the Hopeful Monsters team, but the story many don’t know is how a chance encounter at a local cafe just three years ago changed the trajectory of his entire life. Having worked as a teacher for six years at this point, Dawson was preparing a […]
Scott Cam Urges Tradies To Prioritise Sun Protection
New research from SafetyCulture has shed some light on the number of Aussies working outside without proper sun protection. The survey of more than 1,000 Aussie outdoor workers, which included the likes of tradies, landscapers, and road workers, revealed that almost all (93 per cent) are concerned about the long-term effects of working in the sun. […]
PubMatic Study: Advertising On Retail Media Is 50% More Effective Than Social Media
PubMatic has released a new study examining the influence of digital media on shopper behaviour at the top and bottom of the funnel. The research found that retail websites are approximately 50 per cent more effective at driving a response from shoppers than social media. Commissioned by Inside Retail and conducted by PubMatic, 500 Australian […]
From MOWING to life GROWING: Jim Penman launches ‘Life Coaching’ services
Jim Penman, founder of the Jim’s Group, has officially launched Jim’s Life Coaching and intends to help millions of Australians live their best life. “Life coaching is a powerful and effective way to achieve success in business and personal life. It helps people to set their own goals, and then work out how to get there. It has […]
Budweiser Brazil Turns Songs That Name Drop The Iconic Brand Into Spotify Ads
Budweiser has created a new way of advertising on Spotify to ensure that ads don’t ruin the vibe of your favourite playlists. UninterruptAds: a pioneering initiative, converts songs that mention the brand’s name into targeted ads within the platform in Brazil. When the Brazilian team identified that their name is present in more than 500 tracks […]
Effie Worldwide Strengthens Board With 6 New Members
Effie Worldwide, has announced six new members to their Worldwide Board of Directors, alongside three new co-chairs of the Future Council; a powerful injection of fresh talent as the organization evolves across all its programs to expand its mission to champion marketing effectiveness. The Effie Board contributes to the non-profit’s mission to champion effectiveness through […]
Special Enlist A Penguin Named Nigel In Latest Energy Campaign For Contact
After introducing “Flatties” a couple of weeks ago, Contact and Special have now enlisted the help of rule-stickler penguin Nigel to motivate all Kiwis to reduce their energy consumption during peak hours. Contact is investing heavily in creating more renewable energy sources to lead the way in decarbonising New Zealand, but to make an even […]
Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth & George Miller Ignite Sydney For Epic Mad Max Launch
The global promotional tour for Universal’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, the much-anticipated return to the iconic dystopian world Academy Award-winning mastermind George Miller created 45 years ago, kicked off in epic fashion in Sydney yesterday. Anya Taylor-Joy returned to Australia, joining Chris Hemsworth, George Miller and producer Doug Mitchell at a fiery media call […]
IAS Launches First-To-Market Integration With Roblox To Provide 3D Immersive Measurement
Integral Ad Science, a global media measurement and optimization platform, today announced a market integration with Roblox, a global immersive platform for connection and communication. Available for advertising campaigns on Roblox later this year, IAS’s Viewability and Invalid Traffic (IVT) Measurement products will provide advertisers increased transparency into the quality of their Immersive Ads within […]
Fast And Furious: Top Gear Australia Launch Thrilled Motorheads, Car Entusiasts And Guests
B&T is still no closer to knowing who the new Stig is, except that she is a woman and a ridiculously fast.
TV Ratings (02/05/2024): Seven’s The 1% Club Wins The Night
The 1% club did not live up to its name when it comes to TV ratings last night.
TRA Welcomes Raft Of New Hires; Bolstering Expertise Across Markets
Insights and research agency TRA announces slew of new hires. Still no news on the return of marble wash denim, however.
CX Lavender Hires Boston Consulting Group’s Kim Verbrugghe as Chief Strategy Officer
CX Lavender announces new strategy hire and channels 'acoustic folk act at local RSL' for the publicity pic.
Opinion: Community standards, will they be the death of us?
This columnist is talking community standards. Sadly not those people who put dogs in trolleys in supermarkets.
Tegel gets heads bobbing with new free-range chicken platform
Sure, there's a lot of moral considerations when buying a chook. Yet, not as baffling as buying eggs or canned tuna.
Study: 66% of Aussie men believe masculinity is under attack
Two-thirds of Aussie blokes say masculinity's under attack. That said, sales of Solo lemon drink appear robust.
‘Equal Writes’: Canyon reveals new campaign and refreshed brand for women and non-binary writers
As this brand redesign again proves, nothing beats black on white. Well, white on black in this instance.
Icon Agency bolsters consumer and integrated offer with major hires
Icon Agency unveils new recruits. As press photo confirms office moustache competition now a lay-down misère.
Clemenger launches agricultural graduate program
Has Farmer Wants A Wife triggered an interest in dagging & hay balers? This grads program may resonate.
Levi’s Appoint UM As Global Media Agency For $217m Account
Levi's are the jeans for rockstars, models & the cool kids. Although that's not stopped dads from ruining their image.
QMS Nabs Sean Rigby From oOh!media
Things set to get spicy at the next Outdoor Media Association dinner and dance as a rival gets poached.
Bumble Reveals New Brand Identity To Usher In New Era Of Dating
It's ironic that all the dating apps market themselves as having no weirdos, freaks or mummy's boys like their rivals.
Stay In The House From Up! Airbnb Introduces Icons
Airbnb is now letting people stay in "iconic" places that sadly doesn't include the house from Silence Of The Lambs.
Changing The Conversation: The Role Of Media In Ending Violence Against Women
Governments are finally waking up to the DV crisis. Here, B&T chats with Jasmin Bedir on the role media can play.
“If You Want To Listen To Something Else, Go For It”: Fifi Box On Blocking Out The Noise & Focussing On What Works
No one is at the coal face of Melbourne radio like Fifi Box. Here, she chats with B&T without coughing up a lung.
Spotlight On Sponsors: Ferrari Signs Landmark New Title Sponsor
B&T continuing our series on sports sponsorships. And, yet again, there's little good news for the ten pin bowlers.
Choose A Path Less Trodden This Cannes In Cairns
Not since Wonka opened the factory has there been such a hot ticket in town. Here's how to make the most of Cairns.
Cannes In Cairns MC Keeva Stratton Shares Her Top Session Picks
Quip boss calls out her highlights of the Cannes agenda. We're assuming B&T staff b-boy demonstration was an oversight.
Here Are The Agencies That Made AFR’s Best Places To Work List And What The Industry Can Learn From Them
Did your office not make the list? Make sure your boss shouts at least two schooners at office drinks come Friday.