Ad Industry And NYC, And Now Philly, Wonder: What The Hell Is The Hole For?
We love the Philadelphia Center City District, really we do. They fight the good fight of getting surburban drones to come to Rittenhouse, drop as much cash as possible, and then — and this is key — get the fuck out of the city before 11pm so we can have it back. But stare and try as we might, we’re frankly just as stymied as both AdRants and Gawker when we gaze upon these “seat savers” the PCCD offered for its upcoming Center City Sips promo. First of all, the Carrie Bradshaw here needs to be turned down to a reasonable level. Secondly, it would help all concerned if the promo item in question didn’t bring to mind anything so much as a protective toilet seat cover. Thirdly, these were clearly conceived by someone who doesn’t drink; anyone who does knows that when getting your swerve on, you never really look at anything beneath chest level. Or maybe that’s just us.
AdRants: Close But No Cigar
Gawker: Hole-y Moly
PaperStreet: Center City Sips
May 6th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
whoever wrote this was the moron. the seat savers go under your drink like a normal coaster and over your drink to save your seat/drink by fitting perfectly over the neck of a beer bottle or laying flat on a highball or collins glass while accommodating a straw or over your martini glass by having the olive pick go through the hole. these things make bartenders lives easy, are better for customers and brands more visibility. With normal coasters on top of your glass, straws get all over the bar, it falls off of beer bottles and it’s not nearly as cool. TheSeatSaver.com explains the other benefits which escaped our mentally challenged blogger. oh yeah…and this product was invented by bartenders. great idea!!
May 6th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
tell us more about THESEATSAVER.COM, first time commenter!
May 6th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Anyone fact check over there at Philebrity?
I’ve seen them…they are used to put over your bottle/glass (hence the hole) when you need to go to the bathroom/get a smoke. A monkey could figure it out.
May 6th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Fun fact: Johnny999 is an employee at Levlane, whom we’re pretty sure was the PR firm responsible for the Center City Sips Seat Savers.
Can we can anyone who WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION OF THIS PRODUCT to come to its defense?
Also, the photos don’t provide any context for size. You could hardly blame anyone for thinking they were supposed to shit through, or, fuck it.
May 6th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Also, how the fudge does this thing prevent anybody from getting roofied?
Is LEVLANE PR PRO-DATE RAPE?
May 6th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
leave it on your empty bottle or glass. are you PRO STUPID?
May 6th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
But if I leave it on top, WHAT IS THE HOLE FOR?
Oh man, this is awesome. Waiting For Godot: Bad Publicist Edition.
May 6th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
I was born and bred in Philly, so I hate to come down on my hometown, but some of these comments are pretty weak. I spend a lot of time in NYC, and I’ve seen these things in a ton of bars. They are just regular coasters that ALSO go over your drink. That’s it. The hole is for the neck of a beer or straw or olive pick (so you don’t have to toss them on the bar). I do agree that the design of these aren’t the best in the world, but that really makes no difference. The next time you go grab a smoke or run off to the bathroom, place one on your drink and when you get back, your drink and seat will magically be saved. The thing is very clever. You may want to see one in action before you are so quick to judge.
May 6th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
the real tragedy here is that it encourages the nursing of drinks. for shame. which is to say: POUND IT JOYCE.
May 6th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
This is beautiful.
Marketing 101 classes need to include a lesson on proper product-hyping on teh internets. Rule #1: don’t react to negative criticism with pithy comments under the guise of being customer Joe Schmo. You’re not fooling anybody.
May 6th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
I’ve lived and drank here for most of my life. No way would I leave an unfinished beverage unattended or expect a stupid coaster to save my seat. I don’t know about anyone else, but to most people in bars, an empty seat + empty glass = available seat. I doubt anyone’s gonna mind the coaster, no matter how cute the saying is.