Media Bias Against VB?
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Sunfish, did you actually consider that the media is sick and tired of shameless publicity stunts and "lack of substance" as quoted by the media when serious questions about business are asked to Richard Branson and he gives some half-arsed frivolous response?
Yes Sunfish, and if you believe Branson he is the "third" airline to fly to Europe and is here to break the evil duopoly that BA/QF have created!!!
The fact that SQ, MH, CX, JL, EQ etc have been totally ignored means that he treats the Australian public like fools.
Yeah great that Virgin Atlantic is coming to Oz and I've got no qualms there, but do you see Sheik Fahed Abdul Aziz Mohammed bungy jumping into the MCG or doing something equally ridiculous to advertise that, say, Emirates is coming to a capital city near you????
The public are a bit more discerning than that, especially after they compare VA's fares to Europe.
Yes Sunfish, and if you believe Branson he is the "third" airline to fly to Europe and is here to break the evil duopoly that BA/QF have created!!!
The fact that SQ, MH, CX, JL, EQ etc have been totally ignored means that he treats the Australian public like fools.
Yeah great that Virgin Atlantic is coming to Oz and I've got no qualms there, but do you see Sheik Fahed Abdul Aziz Mohammed bungy jumping into the MCG or doing something equally ridiculous to advertise that, say, Emirates is coming to a capital city near you????
The public are a bit more discerning than that, especially after they compare VA's fares to Europe.
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but do you see Sheik Fahed Abdul Aziz Mohammed bungy jumping into the MCG or doing something equally ridiculous to advertise that, say, Emirates is coming to a capital city near you????
"Ridiculous" is your word, not mine, you don't like his stunts... I like it... He is a PR/Marketing genious
Now regarding Virgin Atlantic fares, i got a £615 return to Australia not the cheapest, but it is not the most expensive compared to other airlines. The thing here is, no one is ever pleased, someone has something to complain about and it just goes on and on and on. Give it a couple of months ( to see if the stunt paid off ) and let's see if Virgin's new route to Australia will be a success or a failure.
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Sunfish. Given your previous posts and your clear bias against Qantas, why don't you just come out and suggest that Qantas are behind the negative publicity. You are particularly transparent, and not particularly smart.
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And the gleeming article from the Australian's aviation "expert" about the Rat's new foray into China had nothing to do with traveling to Shanghi in the big sleeper seat and being plied with piss and lobster!!!! talk about cash for comment 
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TIMMEEEE the Sheik doesn't have to pull any media stunts. The Emirates are sponsor to, arguably, the most popular football club in Victoria. 
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Sunfish,
Lets look at some facts of life here.
Your marketing genius was asked some questions relating to business and gave some useless hyped response.
Fortunately some discerning members of the media saw this and wrote stories accordingly.
Its almost now as if the attitude is, 'whats that twit Branson going to do next.....sacrifice himself to the Gods?".
Branson's Virgin empire is holding its own in Australia and is hardly setting the relevant industries on fire.
Virgin Blue is making a profit (hard not to domestically in Oz) but their profits and yields are down.
Their share price is over 10% below issue price - and thats in a bull market seeing the Australian Share Price index at record highs!
When questioned about this Branson gave some luke warm response that lacked any real insight.
The VB low cost model now has some serious competition that is severly hampering VB's growth and profitability.
Virgin Mobile is very mediocre profit wise and is hardly offering anything remotely competitive.
It's hardly innovative and the other providers are cheaper and more creative when it comes to plans/billing etc.
Virgin Mobile tried to tap into the youth market but failed to realise that the other Telco's were offering great deals with extra handsets, free SMS etc for existing customers for their kids.
Virgin Records is publiclycomplaining because their competition primarily is HMV Superstores that seem to pop up very close to Virgin Stores and offer a larger range.
Virgin Credit cards have hardly anything extra to offer and you have to talk to some patronising schoolkid for customer service that loves to say, "like, I dont know, I'll talk to my supervisor but".
Bare in mind that alot of Virgin Blue groundstaff applied for the Virgin credit card and apparently were knocked back for whatever reason. There's a great advert for them!
And finally if it wasnt for Singapore Airlines buying 49% of Virgin Atlantic they would have almost certainly gone by the wayside after 9/11.
If not then SARS would have finished them off.
No amount of "marketing genius" Sunfish can fix the above mentioned problems, only good old responsible business management and competitiveness which Richard Branson cant always control.
As consumers, Australians dont seem to be concerned with the advertising hype you crave so dearly Sunfish.
We prefer reality, and if we see a good product thats cheaper and more competitive then 9 times out of 10 we'll go for it.
No amount of parachuting, bungy jumping or whatever will change that.
Branson proclaims to "bring on the competition" but after the business is sold they complain about unfare and predatory practices.
As for "cash for comments" Hugo..... do you honestly think in all reality that Virgin Atlantic or Richard Branson has never done this?
No!!
Surely not!!!!
Dont be so damned naive Hugo.
Whiskery - you are absolutely correct.
The Sheikh would actually pay someone else to jump for him!!
Sad though that the most popular footy club in Oz couldnt get an Australian sponsor.
Maybe their price was too high??
Perhaps Richard Branson would like to buy in?????
Lets look at some facts of life here.
Your marketing genius was asked some questions relating to business and gave some useless hyped response.
Fortunately some discerning members of the media saw this and wrote stories accordingly.
Its almost now as if the attitude is, 'whats that twit Branson going to do next.....sacrifice himself to the Gods?".
Branson's Virgin empire is holding its own in Australia and is hardly setting the relevant industries on fire.
Virgin Blue is making a profit (hard not to domestically in Oz) but their profits and yields are down.
Their share price is over 10% below issue price - and thats in a bull market seeing the Australian Share Price index at record highs!
When questioned about this Branson gave some luke warm response that lacked any real insight.
The VB low cost model now has some serious competition that is severly hampering VB's growth and profitability.
Virgin Mobile is very mediocre profit wise and is hardly offering anything remotely competitive.
It's hardly innovative and the other providers are cheaper and more creative when it comes to plans/billing etc.
Virgin Mobile tried to tap into the youth market but failed to realise that the other Telco's were offering great deals with extra handsets, free SMS etc for existing customers for their kids.
Virgin Records is publiclycomplaining because their competition primarily is HMV Superstores that seem to pop up very close to Virgin Stores and offer a larger range.
Virgin Credit cards have hardly anything extra to offer and you have to talk to some patronising schoolkid for customer service that loves to say, "like, I dont know, I'll talk to my supervisor but".
Bare in mind that alot of Virgin Blue groundstaff applied for the Virgin credit card and apparently were knocked back for whatever reason. There's a great advert for them!
And finally if it wasnt for Singapore Airlines buying 49% of Virgin Atlantic they would have almost certainly gone by the wayside after 9/11.
If not then SARS would have finished them off.
No amount of "marketing genius" Sunfish can fix the above mentioned problems, only good old responsible business management and competitiveness which Richard Branson cant always control.
As consumers, Australians dont seem to be concerned with the advertising hype you crave so dearly Sunfish.
We prefer reality, and if we see a good product thats cheaper and more competitive then 9 times out of 10 we'll go for it.
No amount of parachuting, bungy jumping or whatever will change that.
Branson proclaims to "bring on the competition" but after the business is sold they complain about unfare and predatory practices.
As for "cash for comments" Hugo..... do you honestly think in all reality that Virgin Atlantic or Richard Branson has never done this?
No!!
Surely not!!!!
Dont be so damned naive Hugo.
Whiskery - you are absolutely correct.
The Sheikh would actually pay someone else to jump for him!!
Sad though that the most popular footy club in Oz couldnt get an Australian sponsor.
Maybe their price was too high??
Perhaps Richard Branson would like to buy in?????
Last edited by TIMMEEEE; 10th Dec 2004 at 22:47.
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Sunfish, 10/10 for opening another debate topic. I guess you must be hitting your head against the wall with some responses so far. These VIRGIN HATERS are not capable of common sense discussion or debate. It's all mind numbing rubbish from the same old guard using the same old neanderthal rhetoric. If some of you guys had the capacity to contribute something/anything of worth, I would really love to see it. Do you go to bed at night wondering what it would be like to be happy? I guess happy in your organisation is an oxymoron, but you could at least give it a go hey? Please don't disperse your pent up hatred, invective and vacuous garbage in our direction. You are not achieving anything!
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Virgin Records is having a hard time because their competition primarily is HMV Superstores that seem to pop up very close to Virgin Stores and offer a larger range.
so every cd you see marked EMI, Ministry of sound, Underground records, eleven, a music company, are all owned by Virgin records. and all get into stores, via me!
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Sperm Bank.
It sounds like you do not like the truth when its presented in both a structured and legible manner.
Personally I am not a "Virgin Hater" but I do dislike it when the front man (Richard Branson) tries to sucker the average Australian into believing that he's here to break what has been described as "collusion" between Qantas and British Airways.
What a load of crap Sperm Bank and you know it.
Tell that to the several other airlines that fly to the UK and each one being reasonably competitive.
Perhaps you Sperm Bank would like to contribute something of substance rather than accuse others of not contributing "common sense".
You sound like some disgruntled university arts student that cries the word "fascist" when someone says something they dislike or disagree with.
Yes Sperm Bank, I am very happy with my employer here in beautiful downtown Moonee Ponds.......eh possums!!
It sounds like you do not like the truth when its presented in both a structured and legible manner.
Personally I am not a "Virgin Hater" but I do dislike it when the front man (Richard Branson) tries to sucker the average Australian into believing that he's here to break what has been described as "collusion" between Qantas and British Airways.
What a load of crap Sperm Bank and you know it.
Tell that to the several other airlines that fly to the UK and each one being reasonably competitive.
Perhaps you Sperm Bank would like to contribute something of substance rather than accuse others of not contributing "common sense".
You sound like some disgruntled university arts student that cries the word "fascist" when someone says something they dislike or disagree with.
Yes Sperm Bank, I am very happy with my employer here in beautiful downtown Moonee Ponds.......eh possums!!
Since this thread is as much about SRB as VB and the media can I recommend a read of the Branson unauthorised biography by Tom Bower. A very interesting read even if you filter out some of the writers' disdain for SRBs practises. It gives some insight in to the man and his methods.
Last edited by Icarus2001; 11th Dec 2004 at 02:16.
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Spermy, why is is that you describe anyone who has the tumerity to critisise Virgin or it's esteemed founder, as using "neanderthal rhetoric". You seem to believe that we as a collective are "not happy", full of "vacuous garbage" and "pent up hatred".
Your comments are bizarre. All because we disagree publicly with the stunts of your leader, and because we question his honesty.
I think your logic is somewhat inverse.
Your comments are bizarre. All because we disagree publicly with the stunts of your leader, and because we question his honesty.
I think your logic is somewhat inverse.
icarus, I couldn't agree more 
I have just finished reading the book, and it seems as though bransons latest stunt at the Virgin Atlantic launch is as per his normal SOPS. i.e something along the lines of
* throw huge stunt to get media attention
* moan to the assembled media about how he is the 'victim' of a larger, established corporation who are out get him
* sell himself as being the defender of the everday man in the street
* make outrageous claims with regards to the company's future performance
* play the clown when asked any insightful questions, or any that attempt to portray him in a less than flattering light
* threaten to sue anyone who dares to challenge his claims
All par for the Branson course it seems. For any doubters out there, perhaps a perusal of his previous claims for the future performance of Vigin Cola, Virgin Records, Virgin Bride, Victory clothing etc would make for interesting reading - i say go for it...
I have just finished reading the book, and it seems as though bransons latest stunt at the Virgin Atlantic launch is as per his normal SOPS. i.e something along the lines of* throw huge stunt to get media attention
* moan to the assembled media about how he is the 'victim' of a larger, established corporation who are out get him
* sell himself as being the defender of the everday man in the street
* make outrageous claims with regards to the company's future performance
* play the clown when asked any insightful questions, or any that attempt to portray him in a less than flattering light
* threaten to sue anyone who dares to challenge his claims
All par for the Branson course it seems. For any doubters out there, perhaps a perusal of his previous claims for the future performance of Vigin Cola, Virgin Records, Virgin Bride, Victory clothing etc would make for interesting reading - i say go for it...
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Ultralights ... I'm sure that you will find that Branson has nothing to do with Virgin Records. In his first biography he states that it was sold to cover some other expense... Sony, I believe, bought it.
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
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Don't suppose it has occurred to anyone else that one of the reasons that Mr Branson has been so successful in his various ventures is that he recognises the old saying;
"any publicity is good publicity"
Must admit that he seems to have the ability of keeping himself and his interests in the public eye, and seemingly without too much effort!
Only realised this myself halfway through the second bottle of red* for the evening!!
(Mrs Pinky is away!!)
You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.
* A Stonehaven 'Stepping Stone' 2002 Coonawarra Cab Sav.
A PRR of 8/10
"any publicity is good publicity"
Must admit that he seems to have the ability of keeping himself and his interests in the public eye, and seemingly without too much effort!
Only realised this myself halfway through the second bottle of red* for the evening!!
(Mrs Pinky is away!!)You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.
* A Stonehaven 'Stepping Stone' 2002 Coonawarra Cab Sav.
A PRR of 8/10
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Buster
Just did a system search, and can actually do Upper Class on a Companion fare for $5610.00 PP plus taxes.
Senior Upper Class $5291.00 + and Premium economy $4360.00+.
Never trust a web booking engine - any of them.
They are like the sheep in the Kiwi farmer and ventriliquist joke - they tell lies.
Generally excellent value.
Best regards
EWL
Just did a system search, and can actually do Upper Class on a Companion fare for $5610.00 PP plus taxes.
Senior Upper Class $5291.00 + and Premium economy $4360.00+.
Never trust a web booking engine - any of them.
They are like the sheep in the Kiwi farmer and ventriliquist joke - they tell lies.
Generally excellent value.
Best regards
EWL
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What's your beef with Qantas, Sunfish? Did they knock you back for a management role???
Where do you come up with all this? Still, it got a few bites.
Pinky..... never use the PC after a bottle. It will be screwed when you crawl out of bed in the morning and you won't remember why!
Where do you come up with all this? Still, it got a few bites.
Pinky..... never use the PC after a bottle. It will be screwed when you crawl out of bed in the morning and you won't remember why!