Counterfeit MINIs and the CCC

Tim - Storm180 Feb 14th, 2005 Link

Hey wait….Thats my car!
You mean I don’t have a MINI after all?
/shattered

GSKChicago Feb 14th, 2005 Link

That is outstanding. As a finance guy that could only hope to be a fraction as creative as marketing people, designers, etc… That is just one more piece of proof that MINI marketing rocks!

I would love to be a fly on the wall during the meetings where they are sitting around a table pitching ideas… “Hey, I have an idea; let’s come out with a counterfeit Mini site”. Someone actually had the foresight to see the humor and intrinsic marketing value and said yes.

Trevor Feb 14th, 2005 Link

I want to know what is on the dvd, but I am only $10 curious not $20 curious. I generally agree MINI marketing is seriously cool.

TJKonarski Feb 14th, 2005 Link

The phone number has a funny voicemail.

GSKChicago Feb 14th, 2005 Link

Okay… I had to do it. I ordered the DVD. If it is worth sharing what’s on it, I will get it to you Gabe to do with what you choose. I WAS $20 curious. :o)

RB Feb 14th, 2005 Link

Where the hell is the MINI advertising? I never see any, anywhere, anymore! No billboards no commercials nada.

They shoulda stuck a commercial on the Grammy’s last nite…..it coulda used all the help it could get! I tuned if off after Queen LA Ican’tsing did her bad Ella.

Gabe, thanks for sharing the above stuff.

MrV Feb 14th, 2005 Link

Advertising is for a couple of reasons. One is to re-affirm the purchase to the consumer after they have bought the product.

The another reason (more obvious) is to convince people to buy your product.

Since demand is meeting or exceeding production, MINI doesn’t have to do the latter. Whether or not they have to do the former is up for debate.

ANTSMINI Feb 14th, 2005 Link

Gotta love MINI marketing.

An “infomercial” for the site aired on the History Channel last night!!

Adam Emanoff Feb 14th, 2005 Link

LMAO - the two crotchrockets taped together is the BEST!

dgszweda Feb 14th, 2005 Link

I like their advertising, but I think it misses a lot of people. For example, unless you are a die-hard Mini fan (which benefits the least from the marketing) how would you know about this site? The robot thing, while cool to us, was confusing to many and didn’t get the point across to the average consumer.

Vanwall Feb 14th, 2005 Link

Excellent! Another example of MINI humor! Beats the morbid frozen guy all day long. This whole campaign has been tonque-in-cheek from the get go, and none of the macho B.S. preening like so many others. MINI owners have much to smile about.

           BCNU,
        Rob in Dago

Gabe Feb 14th, 2005 Link

Amen to that. The frozen guy in the Mustang is perhaps one of the sickening commercials I’ve ever seen on TV.

TJKonarski Feb 14th, 2005 Link

Has anyone noticed that one of the headlights look to be burned out in that frozen guy Mustang commercial?…

flyboy2160 Feb 14th, 2005 Link

they should include the recent pictures of the “new nose” minis in cold waether testing…LOLOLOL

Edge Feb 14th, 2005 Link

I have to disagree, as a Mustang fan too (and one who appreciates the draw of the new Mustang Convertible) I thought the “frozen convertible guy in winter” ad was hilarious… but then again I have a very strong stomach and I’m not bothered by gore at all.

Ever see the surgery programs on TV, where you get to see them separate skin, operate on bone, etc? I’m one of those people who finds it fascinating, not disgusting. :)

Different strokes for different folks I guess… but I thought the Counterfeit MINI site was great too heh.

alex Feb 14th, 2005 Link

Sorry, but what is gory about the frozen guy commercial? I think it’s stupid, but not gross… (then again, I’m a surgeon).

Edge Feb 14th, 2005 Link

Alex,

I know I used the word “gore” in general (”not bothered by gore at all)… but others used the words “morbid” and “sickening”, which is why I described things the way I did.

If you also take in the commentary - how it’s coming this spring because “it would be irresponsible to release it in the winter” (since people wouldn’t resist and therefore freeze themselves with the top down), I think it’s a very amusing point, however exaggerated.

Gabe Feb 14th, 2005 Link

Just the idea that Ford is advertising a car with a dead guy in the front seat… that’s kinda morbid to me.

…. anyway …. how about that sweeet MINI toaster!

Dennis French Feb 14th, 2005 Link

Speaking of MINI advertising, a couple students of mine were driving through Columbus,OH over the weekend and told me about a large 3-D billboard ad they saw for a MINI. My student described it as being way cool with the MINI being pulled back by slingshot and ready to be released. Unfortunately, they didn’t have a camera with them and also could not actually pinpoint where they saw it. Just wondering if any of you have seen such a billboard and if there might be pics.

sjwass Feb 14th, 2005 Link

Hilarious, the only thing that I have seen that is funnier is the golf driver ad in a recent magazine that looks like an ad for erection drugs. It has a man sitting on the couch looking concerned holding a golf club and his wife comforting him. The ad says millions of men suffer from trajectile deficiency. Great marketing.

Please let us know what is on the DVD!

Vanwall Feb 15th, 2005 Link

Funny, that toaster reminds me of a CarToons mag segment on a brilliant designer brought in from Europe by a Nameless U.S. Car company, and no matter how beautiful his cars look, they add all this crap to ugly ‘em up according to their marketing guys. He quits in frustration before he goes crazy, and ends up designing….the World’s Fastest….Toaster! It was very aerodynamic, tho. ;-)

Rocketboy Feb 15th, 2005 Link

dgszweda.. I’m still getting hits on my blog from people searching about the Men of Metal campaign, so it must have done something..

I wonder if the dealerships will start stocking the DVD? I’m also wondering if you actually get charged for the dvd, or they just send it to you for free….

Alex Feb 15th, 2005 Link

Oh, I guess I didn’t realize the mustang guy was supposed to be dead. I guess that IS a little morbid. I just thought he was temporarily frozen. Ah, optimism. ;)

I’m curious about the cd too… I started clicking along, thinking “no way are they really charging $20″ and was waiting for some witty box to pop up and say it was a joke, but when it seemed to really want credit card info, I backed off.

Edge Feb 15th, 2005 Link

Gabe,

Yeah… but he died VERY HAPPY! :)

Gabe Feb 15th, 2005 Link

Well, theoretically that may be true :-)

Jim Feb 15th, 2005 Link

I saw the TV ad for this last night here in Atlanta at around 9pm. It was one of the funniest ads I have ever seen!

Eric Feb 16th, 2005 Link

Just saw the TV ad today. Very, very funny! Didn’t know if it was a true MINI ad or a spoof! Now I know it’s not from MINIUSA. I just think a MINI fan or someone wanting to have MINI purchase the idea (or sure for it), like mentioned above. Then again, how brill would that be if it really was MINIUSA pretending NOT to be MINI!!! A commercial that is a fake fake commercial! Oh man! Anyway you cut this, it’s good!

Eric Feb 16th, 2005 Link

Wait a minute! So this is really from MINIUSA?! AAAAARGH!!! Either way, they are truly doing a top job! ;-)

Gabe Feb 16th, 2005 Link

Yes - this website and the commercials are from MINIUSA.

RednWhiteCooper Feb 20th, 2005 Link

lol, the funny thing is, some of these mini;s look better than my attempt to hide my dodge spirits identity under the skin of a 74 Gran Torino

http://www.cardomain.com/id/1991grantorino

Jared Calvert Feb 21st, 2005 Link

This is great. I hate how they sell cars in America they either try to scare into buying a car make it sound cheap. I like Mini there the only ones that make laugh. Even without that it’s the coolest car.

Ian Feb 21st, 2005 Link

I caught the advert and uploaded it to my weblog, if anyone wants to see it.

Gabe Feb 21st, 2005 Link

Well done Ian!

BTW - you’re a braver man than I for posting a 7mb QT vid on your powweb site :)

Mini Cooper Owner Feb 23rd, 2005 Link

Great ad. Seems to be creating a buzz.

Joe Feb 25th, 2005 Link

Did anyone actually get the address on the counterfeit mini commercial? If so please post it cause the add says if you send a self-addressed stamped envolope they will send the dvd for free. Thanks if anyone can help.

Joe Feb 25th, 2005 Link

If anyone has the address that is on the tv add for counterfeit mini’s please post it. Thanks

Ian Feb 25th, 2005 Link

Joe, you can watch the video from my weblog; it says you pay $19.99 - you get a free CCC sticker, not a free DVD!

You can order the DVD here.

minty Feb 26th, 2005 Link

I wonder why they are really selling the DVD. They could simply send you a postcard with a creditcard DVD attached for what, 10 cents apiece plus postage?

Compeh Feb 27th, 2005 Link

Interesting ad.

Brian Feb 27th, 2005 Link

god, these ads are AMAZING…

ian, THANK YOU for hosting the commercial.

bumming they want twenty bones for the DVD. i’m tempted, but not gonna pay that for 9 minutes… porno? maybe. minicooper dvd? nah!

;-)

the marketing guys @ minicoop need to be given a pay raise! these are absolutely the best thing running on television right now.

LouieLou Feb 27th, 2005 Link

I just saw the commercial. Checked Out the web-stie. It’s 20 Bucks for a 9 minute DVD! Does anybody have a bootleg that I can buy. lol.

JC Feb 28th, 2005 Link

Is the DVD for real? How long did it take for you to get it after you ordered it?

won Mar 1st, 2005 Link

no me gusta se llamo horhay

Gabe Mar 1st, 2005 Link

No entiendo

Melissa Mar 2nd, 2005 Link

oh geeze i love the people at Mini Cooper. i mean i would buy their car no matter what but the fact that they have good advertisements just makes it better. (you ever see car commercials that are so dumb that you refuse to buy their car?) my favorite “confiscated counterfeit” has got to be the two motorcycles duct taped together.

~melissa

ps that toaster is pretty hot tho

DidYouLoseASock Mar 10th, 2005 Link

I just saw this commercial less than 10 minuets ago and almost wet myself… I thought it was the funniest thing ever… I knew it was fake, but I thought it was faker than it really is because I am very surprised you can actually pay $20 for a 9 minuet DVD. My good friend has a mini and loves this kind of humor. I need to show him this. He will think it’s the funniest thing ever…

mstineman Apr 7th, 2005 Link

http://www.counterfeitmini.org is the address mentioned in the tv ad

Honda Driver Apr 11th, 2005 Link

Sersiously, do people think that car above is an actual Mini? I mean if a street vendor tried to convince me it’s a Mini after my 10th beer, I would still know that wasn’t a Mini. Was the commerical about the counterfeit Mini a joke or is that acutally going on?

Elusive Yeti Apr 11th, 2005 Link

Call me ballsy, or stupid, or ballsy & stupid but I broke down and bought the DVD. I checked my account right afterwards and they only took like $4.25 - the same price for the BMW short films DVD (which I highly reccomend). So rest assured. :)

Ian Apr 11th, 2005 Link

Well on March 30 they definitely took the full $19.99 from my account …

anonimous May 11th, 2005 Link

i got cheated in a mini cooper deal. it realy wasn’t a mini it was a 95′ honda accord i’ve never thought why mini coopers were made that big. i thaught maybe it was a new type of mini and then i lost all my money on it exacly 5000,000.peace, hoola back

ME Jun 7th, 2005 Link

I found out that my mini was actually two sport motorcycles duct taped together! I was shocked and appalled that someone would try to sell me that garbage!

zorgunfleck Oct 30th, 2005 Link

I think I really need this DVD. A year ago I bought what I thought was a Mini Cooper. 6 months later I took the “car” into my mechanic, and was shocked to find out that my “Mini Cooper” was not a Mini Cooper at all but A FAT KID!!! Neeless to say I was horrified, and when I went to return it and get my money back, the trailer where I bought it had myteriously gone missing. All I have left to do now is take the fat kid to the vet to be put down, buy that DVD, and make sure that this time I get a real Mini Cooper.

MotoringFile » Archive » Make Sure it’s a MINI Adventure Feb 24th, 2006 Link

[...] This will be a little old-school for our UK readers but for those of us located outside the MINI motherland it’s definitelty worth a click. This is the 30 second version of a commercial that was running in the UK to support the “Make Sure it’s a MINI Adventure” compaign we told you about last summer. Which in itself is a variation on the US Counterfeit MINI Campaign launched awhile back. And yes, it’s also video Friday here at MotoringFile. [...]