From: galway@chtm.eece.unm.edu (Denis McKeon)
Subject: Re: carrying moolah on long trips
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 92 19:42:00 GMT
Organization: Connemara - Computing for People
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X-Mailer: Mail User's Shell (7.0.1 12/13/89)
Status: OR

In article <1992Aug30.163526.646@serval.net.wsu.edu> bill@wsuaix.csc.wsu.edu (William E. Johns;S23015) writes:
>In article <zzdn2gn@lynx.unm.edu> galway@chtm.eece.unm.edu (Denis McKeon) writes:
>> ... some might recall Amex' anti-biker ad
>>campaign a few years ago & their unrepentant attitude at the time.
>
>I am not aware of this anti-biker campaign.  What happened, could someone
>enlighten me please?

To clarify - the ad campaign caused a brief flurry of protest in the
riding community at the time.  It was not directed *against* bikers, but
it did play on the US image of bikers, portraying US bikers as
anonymous, lawless, and dangerous.  (any resemblance to Usenet,
rec.moto, or the DoD is purely coincidental :-) )


Here's a copy of the letter I sent to Amex:


    July 2, 1987

    Edwin Cooperman, President
    Consumer Card Group Division
    American Express
    Box 770
    New York, NY 10274

    Dear Mr Cooperman:

    I understand that American Express recently produced
    and aired an ad showing a purse-snatching committed by
    motorcyclists, with the tag-line "You don't even have to
    leave the country. It can happen right here in the U.S."

    While I am aware that this method of theft is common in
    Mediterranean and South-East Asian cities, I feel that
    American Express is aggravating and unfairly capitalizing on
    public misconceptions about American motorcyclists. As a
    fifteen-year rider and voting, tax-paying professional, I
    can tell you that American motorcyclists have enough image
    problems without your help, thank you!

    The next time you fund an ad campaign, please consider
    something constructive. You could show ways of avoiding
    theft completely (purse on the building side, under arm; no
    rings or neck chains; no shiny watches in sight) and use a
    tag line like: "Even when you know a refund is available in
    2400 (or whatever) locations, we would rather that you
    enjoyed every minute of your vacation, with the peace-of-
    mind that American Express Traveller's Checks bring."

    I have used American Express checks for years, with no
    complaints and plenty of peace of mind. Now, I hope to hear
    some sort of positive response from your office - or I might
    be carrying Barclay's on my next trip - whether to Europe by
    plane, or in the US by motorcycle - and be happy to tell all
    my riding buddies why.

    /s/ Denis McKeon

    Member,
    American Motorcyclist Association
    BMW Motorcycle Owners of America
    Land of Enchantment BMW Club


For the record, Amex' PR department did not offer any apology or
respond directly to my complaint, other than to acknowledge receipt
with a 'thanks-for-your-interest' generic letter.  I now do business
with more considerate vendors of traveller's checks and other financial
services.

Only recently (in '91) did I hear of a ride-by pillion purse-snatch in
the US - probably not the first, certainly not the last.  

Re the difference in exchnage rates between currency and Tchecks - most
exchange bureaus in Northern Europe post separate rates for US dollars
and US traveller's cheques.

--
Denis  McKeon                            Good.   Fast.   Cheap.
galway@chtm.eece.unm.edu                       Pick two.
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles