I see nothing wrong with it.

Hm, considering the "Pimp My Ride" series on MTV, I don't see the point of this post.

You know who likes funny stories... David Putty.

They really overused the term pimp here, the incentive is tacky, but I don't think they've really done anything wrong.

Yuck. Sexism and racist stereotypes . . . yep, must be marketing!

<kramer>I'm not a pimp!!</kramer>

Unprofessional? Heck yes. Offensive? Not so much.

At least not to women... maybe to pimps

If you understand what the word "pimp" really means, the whole thing is offensive. If not, you probably think that referring to women as bitches is OK as well. And the picture of the black guy on the ad is just great as well.

The definition of the word is changing, not saying that makes this ok though.

It's kind of like the whole "gay" = "stupid" thing... it bugs me, but it's happening.

I feel like using "a cup full of Gin & Juice" in any company's promotional flyer, whether internal or not, is COMPLETELY UNPROFESSIONAL!

The rest of the flyer seems okay to me, but I can't believe a company flyer would list an alcoholic drink! lol!

This might be a stupid marketing thing....but really not that offensive..

*groan*.... i've heard the term pimp used in the computer hardware circles for YEARS colloquially. This doesn't faze or bother me at all - it may bother some of the more mainstream of TD's customers, but I find it funny that AFTER "pimp my ride", THIS would get people upset. Yes, rape is bad. Beating women is bad. But really. I can't even imagine a hardware geek referring to himself non-ironically as a pimp.

I think pimps are funny. At least the over the top movies pimps. Real pimps not so much. Grow a sense of humor.

@toddiot: was going to say the same thing.

I think, in keeping with the whole pimp theme, it should be a "spliff point system".

Meh. Its tacky, but its not terrible. I have been enjoying some reading on marketing (for a second masters), and this is really bad marketing... but give them a break,

Slow news day? Time to have a drink and a laugh, guys.

Flat foot floogie with a floy, floy,

@toddiot: If you say 'gay' to mean 'stupid', then you're stupid.

@arch05: that's gay

Tackalicious.

at least it's not all BLINGED!! out. I hate that word. bling. I see no mention of it in there whatsoever. I'm happy.

and pimp was offensive what...15 years ago? it's so played out nowadays no one cares.

It's sad to see that "pimps" have been so mainstreamed that people don't think it's offensive. The comments here are bizarre.

Pimps enslave women and sell them for sex. LOL so FUNNY! You people know a lot about X-Box and prime rates, but otherwise not so much.

"Real Pimp" = Not funny
"Movie Pimp" = Funny as hell.

It's the movie pimp. The "over the top pimp" character has been fleshing out movies and advertisements for years now. I appreciate the difference, so I don't find the advertisement offensive either.

Your mileage may vary.

Yo, yo, yo, save lots of bling.

Remember, this isn't even real marketing. We're not supposed to see this. This is promotional/incentive material for employees. Most of it's usually kind of stupid, given that this is a message for everyone, including the knuckle draggers.

@cookmefud: Sorry, I was writing my response while you were writing yours :P

Ugh. Like technology marketing isn't already geared at guys enough. When does the "Bitches" laptop come out? You know, hot pink with lots of rhinestones all over it and crippled locked down software.

@dwayne_dibbly: This.

@lovenoelg: well, I'd rather pimps enslaved x-boxes and sold them for sex or better prime rates, but hey, take what you can get I guess.

@cookmefud: At least xboxs don't spread RROD. Always wear a condom!

what is the point of this to make something stupid a OMG how could they do that, kids can get pimp costumes at halloween and costume shops so why the big "OMG this is terrible news?"

Not to defend their decision, but this truly means "Pimp" has become mainstream.

Also consider that their retail reps would probably respond to this (visuals, language) better than a "dry vanilla" sales initiative.

Anyone who thinks pimps aren't funny needs to watch Dolemite!

What is also not funny is blurring an old SNL sketch (Hans and Frans are here to pump...you up) with over-the-top-movie-pimp humor in your "wacky old person" internal motivational schemes.

This has Michael Gary Scott written all over it.

We have thousands of words in the english language which could mean one thing or another depending on the context of the statement it was written in.

Over the past few years the word "Pimp" has taken on another meaning thanks to shows like "Pimp my Ride", and that meaning is to "improve apon". When someone on MTV pimps your ride they aren't taking your car out to the back lot to rape it, beat it up then force it to have sex for money. No they are taking it out back to improve on it's looks and functionality. It'll get a new paint job, a sound system etc.

The context of the ad makes it clear that they intend to improve your order.

If you'd like to complain that the word "Pimp" should not have an alternate meaning then I'd suggest lobbying MTV and other networks that carry the "Pimp my XXXX" shows and complain.

But for now it's a pop culture refrence, and honestly hasn't crossed any lines as far as I'm concerned.

@shadow735: Kids getting pimp costumes for Halloween isn't anything new:
[retrocrush.buzznet.com]

I find this promotion hilariously stupid. Not offensive.

@jerros:

Oh ok, so the photograph in the ad is one of their sales reps?

It's a sad, sad day when you can't even count on Consumerist blog post comments to have an overdose of Internet Sanctimony.

Good to see the leads I have sent in from time to time take a backseat to hard hitting articles like this...

//sour grapes

Please don't tell me The Consumerist is joining the don't offend anyone politically correct bandwagon.

I also think this ad is really tasteless.

See, I don't understand is Consumerist considers this so offensive. Not only does "pimp" have an unfortunately colloquial use nowadays, but editors of Consumerist, in their "Meet your Editors" PSA, used a photographer who covers events that arguably exploit women, like "Rated X" parties and the "Cum on My Tatoo 3" launch party. Or are pimps automatically abusive and porn stars automatically empowered?

In case you don't recall what I'm talking about, here's the link:

[consumerist.com]

Perhaps I'm just making too much out of this. Or perhaps I'm not alone.

You've got to be F'ing kidding me. Of course it's tasteless, but really...getting pissed off about the whole pimp thing? You must not have seen this show called "pimp my ride" or even poked your head out from under a rock for the last ten years.
If you're going to go all over-sensitive about something stupid like then then I'll let you cry in your room alone about the outside world. I withdraw my support. Whine to someone else.

Worthless yes, offensive no.

Unless I get some free purple drank to go with my Sony Dizzesktop.. now that's pimpin, yall.

I wonder if anyone would get so offended over someone using pirates or vikings in marketing?

Should be boycott Hagar the Horrible now?

@smitty1123: I know that, that was my whole point

@JERROS
I agree

*NOEL
You lose at life.

@rdm24:

That's only because you think pimps are criminals. If you see them as folk heroes, then it's all good, dawg.