View Full Version : Unfortunate Product Names
The Grand Wazoo
20-03-2012, 12:43
Well it's true, you do learn something new every day.
....and today, I learnt that the Lecson Lynette speakers were very nearly called the Lecson Lillette. Oops!
http://lecsonaudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lynette-Brochure-212x300.jpg
StanleyB
20-03-2012, 17:36
Mitsubishi Starrion
There is (or was) a cough/sore-throat sweet called 'Zubes'. The manufacturer had the by-line slogan: "Go suck a Zube".
This did no go down well in Arab countries and the name had to be changed: there "zube" is a slang colloquialism for the penis!
:lol:
Here's a good one; A Swedish real estate business sent out thousands of Christmas cards to their customers with their logo a little "cuddly'er" than usual! Somebody should've checked this with an english speaking person first:
http://www.ollars.net/locum.jpg
:stalks:
And thinking of that... Swedish company Electrolux makes among other things vacuum cleaners, when they launched their campaign in the US back in the seventies, they too forgot check with the english speaking people first:
The huge billboards shouted: "Nothing sucks like Electrolux!"
The campaign was quite swiftly aborted.. ;)
And even if it's not a company name, this german travel agent must have had a lot of new customers after this campaign:
http://www.ollars.net/mehr_genuss.jpg
"Mehr genuss" means 'more pleasure'!
:eek:
BR /Mike
She's defo twiddling with his old man! :eyebrows:
Marco.
Jac Hawk
20-03-2012, 21:10
when i lived in Holland it always made me laugh when i passed the Vroom and Dreesmann department stores, they used large black and red VD logo's, http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/Vdlogo.jpg/220px-Vdlogo.jpg
Also in the same store you could buy HAK baked beans and strangely they came in a jar not a tin, don't you just love them crazy dutch:D
The Dutch loo roll brand called Krapp.
Also the Vauxhall Nova, which means "doesn't go" in Spanish.
From the Wikipedia article for the Honda Fit model from the early 2000's:
Honda originally intended to name the car "Fitta", but shortened the name in some markets, and renamed it completely in others, upon discovering that in several Nordic languages, fitta is a popular and vulgar slang word for female genitalia.[3]
Jac Hawk
20-03-2012, 22:13
The Dutch loo roll brand called Krapp.
Also the Vauxhall Nova, which means "doesn't go" in Spanish.
close but no cigar in Spanish it would be 2 words No Va, in any case they never had the Vauxhall Nova, but the Opel Corsa, sorry to be pedantic mate:ner:
sq225917
20-03-2012, 22:16
It was the Chevrolet Nova, sold in S.America.
Jac Hawk
20-03-2012, 22:18
It was the Chevrolet Nova, sold in S.America.
That's right no wonder it didn't catch on south of the border:lol:
Commodore computers called the VIC20 the VC20 in Germany as it sounded to close to the German slang for sexual intercourse.
In Australia we have NADS to get rid of headlice.
Commodore computers called the VIC20 the VC20 in Germany as it sounded to close to the German slang for sexual intercourse.
In Australia we have NADS to get rid of headlice.
Do you still have a brand of adhesive tape called "Durex"? Here in the UK, the name Durex is associated with condoms!
Also in the UK, "nads" is a slang term for testicles.
In Italy, there used to be a brand of bubble gum, called 'BUM'. I used to buy this as a kid, particularly as some of the inside wrappers contained a 'prize' that you could claim in the shop, if it said that you were a winner...
What used to make me giggle though, was what it said on the outside wrapper, which when translated read: 'Look inside your BUM and find a big surprise!'
Marco.
The Grand Wazoo
21-03-2012, 09:56
http://www.whatay.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/dsc00044.JPG
The Grand Wazoo
21-03-2012, 09:58
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6I27LgG9bck/SitMRcqDfmI/AAAAAAAAMEI/u62lbIV4d5w/s400/a96682_peecola.jpg http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6I27LgG9bck/SitMYUENofI/AAAAAAAAMEQ/nxiWBhBnXtM/s400/a96682_shitto.jpg
Hehehe.... Btw, why has this thread been posted in Past Masters - wouldn't Abstract Chat be more appropriate? :)
Marco.
The Grand Wazoo
21-03-2012, 10:30
Yes, well I started it with a vintage speaker, but it rapidly turned into something rather different!
I'll shift it.
StanleyB
21-03-2012, 10:32
I had no idea that you can now buy shitto in tins. Very nice palm oil and shrimp based pepper from Ghana. Goes well with fried yam and a cold Corona:cool:.
Indeed, and a soupçon of Sensimilia - yeah man.... :smoking:
;)
Marco.
StanleyB
21-03-2012, 10:56
Cool runnings:D.
Tivoli IYIYI
How do you tell someone you have one of these?
http://uncrate.com/p/2006/06/tivoli-iyiyi.jpg
Sorry, Martin... I must be thick - don't get it :scratch:
Marco.
I was wondering how you pronounce 'IYIYI' :)
I was wondering how you pronounce 'IYIYI' :)
"Aye yi yi" : http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Ay%20Yi%20Yi
also
Ai-ai-ai (sometimes spelled "ai-yi-yi") - an exclamation of strong emotion in Yiddish.
Could it be pronounced something like 'wee wee'? That would be appropriate, as iPods are a load of pish! :lol:
Marco.
bobbasrah
21-03-2012, 13:35
Tivoli IYIYI
How do you tell someone you have one of these?
http://uncrate.com/p/2006/06/tivoli-iyiyi.jpg
With the broadest Geordie accent you can muster ?
Many years ago Toyota wanted to launch a new car but couldn't decide on a name. It had to begin with the letter "C" to fall in line with the Corolla, Celica, Carina, etc., so they found a new name to match beginning with "C" and they duly sent the Marketing bods out to gauge public reaction. The problem was they didn't actually ask the right questions IN CONTEXT to the subject, so when Toyota unveiled their new car with the name "Cecil", it went down like a lead balloon with the car buyers in Australia and it bombed spectacularly.
It was all very well asking people in the street "Is Cecil a nice man's name?" but they should have asked "Is the name Cecil an appropriate one for a car?". Twats :doh:
Sometimes a manufacturer will change a product name because they want a global market and the name has to be 'acceptable' to all.
Hence the kitchen cleaner having a name change from "Jif" to "Cif"; though I think the new name sounds like a shortening of "syphilis"! :doh:
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120320073407AATIN8c
Similar reason behind the change of name from "Oil of Ulay" to "Oil of Olay":
http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-4512,00.html
The Grand Wazoo
21-03-2012, 14:39
....and Marathon to Snickers
Q: What is it?
A: It's knickers
The best example of a devised name that was universally acceptable and very successful is Sony.
The best example of a devised name that was universally acceptable and very successful is Sony.
I would suggest Kodak was a better construction.
The word didn't exist in any language at the time, so there were no potentially embarassing connotations. It was a new original name for a new original product.
However Sony is quite good, as they could (and probably did) say "it's Sony make believe."
Sony was completely devised to sound good in different languages by the Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo company. Thank goodness for that, Sony sounds a lot better :lol:
Kodak is also a good name, as is Xerox (from xerography, to make a copy).
There is a Christian church in L.A. that does services in Urdu as most of it's members are Christians that came here from Pakistan.
The point of the service was that there are different kinds of pride both good and bad.
The word pride in Urdu was used repeatedly to both my brother in law and my shock and horror! As in Urdu the word pride is fu*ker! and pronounced pretty much the same way!
We kept looking at each other every time he said it,in complete disbelief.
Finally my wife got upset with us giggling like Bevis and Butt Head and explained what he was saying. It still haunts me from time to time.
This is a true story, if you don't believe me just ask some one from Pakistan the Urdu word for pride and don't be offended when they say F***er.
I have a small ego so I only have a little f***er... :lol:
Aye, but girls always prefer girth over length! ;)
Marco.
Aye, but girls always prefer girth over length! ;)
Marco.
Well, i read this and just couldn’t help myself. :D
So Marco, I have to ask, does this come from personal experience of being a bit of a girlie or from being a tubby little dick ? :lol::lol:
(I'll get my coat then.............)
Hehehehe... I don't think I can go there! Let's just say that, as a man of the world, so to speak, I just *know* these things... ;)
Marco.
This product's name is also a popular name for the male organ in Norwegian, and it might be inappropriate to ask for this at the shop:
http://www.kuk-organics.com/about-us/
Werner Berghofer
23-03-2012, 12:39
Marco,
girls always prefer girth over length!
says who? All the women I met preferred both girth and length.
Werner.
Lol... Great convo this, innit?
I meant if they had to choose one over the other. Also, some women wouldn't be able to handle both! ;)
Erm, I think we should get back on-topic now :D
Marco.
Could link this to the 'AoS branding' thread - AoS branded willy warmers anyone?
Available in L, XL, XXL, XXXL and 'Budweiser can' sizes!
Hahahahahaha... Brilliant banter, guys - I'm pishing myself here laughing!! :lolsign:
Marco.
Hahahahahaha... Brilliant banter, guys - I'm pishing myself here laughing!! :lolsign:
Marco.
These posts are becoming ridiculously 'off-thread', but you might like to know that in Belgium the term 'vegetarian' can be used as a term of opprobium. Not as you might think applied to someone who refuses to eat horse flesh, but to those who decline to indulge in oral sex. Their loss! :rolleyes:
Lol - I won't ask how you 'acquired' that knowledge, Barry!
Marco.
ursus262
23-03-2012, 17:27
Well, I never knew that... and I used to live in Belgium :lol:
Barry has some, erm, 'special' contacts! :eyebrows:
Marco.
ursus262
23-03-2012, 18:06
Well, this thread has been a revelation. And you, Marco, well, in my mind's eye, I had you down as a sort of ..... well....... staid, traditional sort of chap - a bit like a schoolmaster really, with an Italian extraction that added a sort of continental sophistication.
However, the Tizer remark has blown that all out of my head! :lol:
Well, this thread has been a revelation. And you, Marco, well, in my mind's eye, I had you down as a sort of ..... well....... staid, traditional sort of chap - a bit like a schoolmaster really, with an Italian extraction that added a sort of continental sophistication.
Lol - people who know me would laugh their ass off at that bit!! :lol:
Marco.
ursus262
23-03-2012, 18:58
:lol:
Well, never having met you, I didn't have much to go on!
twelvebears
23-03-2012, 19:10
Rolls Royce were to have a model called the Silver Mist, but decided against it due to the German market....
Jeez, they'd have been just as well naming it the 'Dew Drop'! :doh:
:D
Marco.
Barry has some, erm, 'special' contacts! :eyebrows:
Marco.
If " 'special' contacts" is a euphemism for working girls, implying I might be some kind of 'pay as you go' Lothario or roué, then I ought to imform you I have never availed myself of the services of these specific 'social workers'.
I may come across as a Man of the World; indeed I have travelled extensively, seen some sights (:eek:) and have met the above mentioned 'social workers', but basically I'm an ordinary Joe - no different from most of the membership of AoS.
I do however have a memory for useless pieces of information, of which the 'vegetarian' anecdote is but an example. :doh:
Cheers
Never had a problem with "pay as you go"myself.
It saves those horrendous monthly bills and you can always switch service providers easily. ;)
Never had a problem with "pay as you go" myself.
It saves those horrendous monthly bills and you can always switch service providers easily. ;)
:lol: Monthly bills?
As for switching 'service provider', sometimes there can be an embarassment of riches and you could be stuck for choice. I understand there can also be a complicated arrangement of tariffs. :scratch:
:lol: Monthly bills?
As for switching 'service provider', sometimes there can be an embarassment of riches and you could be stuck for choice. I understand there can also be a complicated arrangement of tariffs. :scratch:
:lol:
Ah, well I suppose a lot depends on how much you're on the phone.
One could of course go for the cheapest tariff but I reckon you get poor reception and may have to queue due to insufficient bandwidth.
I don't make many phone calls these days having largely reverted to pen and paper. ;) :D
Bluedroog
23-03-2012, 20:15
I would suggest Kodak was a better construction.
The word didn't exist in any language at the time, so there were no potentially embarassing connotations. It was a new original name for a new original product.
However Sony is quite good, as they could (and probably did) say "it's Sony make believe."
I once heard the name Kodak was derived from the founder’s fondness for the letter of K, he just made up a word that had a heavy K feature. Partial to K myself.
he just made up a word that had a heavy K feature. Partial to K myself.
That's Linn's illness. Not many of their models don't feature a 'K'.
Sara is the only one that comes to mind.
Sara is actually called Isobarik Sara or Isobarik Sara 9 AFAIK.
Linn Nexus and Axis have no 'K'.
Not sure I would call it an illness, tho'.
:rolleyes:
There's also the Lingo and the Valhalla.
Ok, but four is in a minority compared with the vast number of 'K' products they've released :)
:lol:
Ah, well I suppose a lot depends on how much you're on the phone.
One could of course go for the cheapest tariff but I reckon you get poor reception and may have to queue due to insufficient bandwidth.
I don't make many phone calls these days having largely reverted to pen and paper. ;) :D
Sorry, I hadn't realised we were talking about mobile phone service providers. :D
Ok, but four is in a minority compared with the vast number of 'K' products they've released :)
I'm sure some Linn products would be worthy of the more accurate appelation: the Linn 'Krap'. Somewhere on this forum, I commented on Linn's ignorance of classical Greek in choosing the name 'Uphorik' for their latest phono stage.
Anyway talking of unfortunate product names, I'm surprised no-one has mentioned the Swedish (?) kitchen appliance manufacturer SMEG. They manufacture refrigerators. I'm not sure I would want to consume any dairy products stored in a fridge with a name like that!
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTkjTN1NRc-YIWLUPZ5c5OtK8AYVg2prSiQDml0a6M_g9hmdoeoyQ
For some Barf means snow:
http://extra.listverse.com/amazon/unfortunateproducts/barf1.jpg
Quality gloves there:
http://dailypicksandflicks.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/handjob-gloves-better-than-nothing.jpg
Sorry, I hadn't realised we were talking about mobile phone service providers. :D
We weren't. ;)
I was pretty certain you could follow though. :)
Lol - I think the irony in your earlier posts sailed right over Barry's head! :eyebrows:
Marco.
Phil Hughes
24-03-2012, 16:22
Unless someone is holding a packet of throat sweets.....do not say yes to the offer " WOULD YOU LIKE TO SUCK A FISHERMANS FRIEND
northwest
24-03-2012, 17:32
I am sorry, we are seven pages in and this is a Hi-Fi forum - nobody has mentioned the schiit bifrost. It's name is one of the fundamental reasons I would never contemplate buying one. My family have long since decided I am nutty as a fruitcake and this would just confirm their suspicions. Sometimes we have to remember that we are interacting with "normal" people and small children.
I have long suspected the name is a mareketing ploy.
northwest
24-03-2012, 17:34
Unless someone is holding a packet of throat sweets.....do not say yes to the offer " WOULD YOU LIKE TO SUCK A FISHERMANS FRIEND
My father owned a Goblin Teasmade. Always a great source of entertainment for a teenager!
Lol - I think the irony in your earlier posts sailed right over Barry's head! :eyebrows:
Marco.
I thought I had - see my post (#56).
It was John refering to "putting pen to paper" that caused me to think he was talking about mobile phone service providers.
Am I the only one who thinks SMEG is an awful name for a refrigerator?
Clearly I'm the only 'Red Dwarf' fan here! :scratch:
Reid Malenfant
24-03-2012, 22:18
Am I the only one who thinks SMEG is an awful name for a refrigerator?
Clearly I'm the only 'Red Dwarf' fan here! :scratch:
Yeah, really bad name :rfl:
I like Red Dwarf to, gave up watching TV a long time ago though so I think I caught most of the first & a bit of the second series :doh: Rather like Blackadder I'll be purchasing the DVDs sooner or later :)
Clearly I'm the only 'Red Dwarf' fan here! :scratch:
Not at all - although I made my excusses and left after series 6. A mate has a SMEG fridge, always makes me laugh.
What about NEF kitchen stuff? Always thought that was a bit too close to NAFF. It aint cheap either.
Stratmangler
25-03-2012, 11:46
Am I the only one who thinks SMEG is an awful name for a refrigerator?
Clearly I'm the only 'Red Dwarf' fan here! :scratch:
If they (SMEG) did a Wallace & Gromit model it might sell rather well
http://www.smeg50style.com/sites/default/files/contents/stories/images-main/wallace-and-gromits-world-ine-your-senses-international.jpg?1325078925
BTW, you're definitely not the only Red Dwarf fan here.
The Grand Wazoo
25-03-2012, 11:58
If anyone remembers a band called King Kurt, they may know that the singer was known as Smeg. What they may not know is that before that he was in a band from Brighton called Smeggy and the Cheesy Bits
J1HMuN25fQ8
Bluedroog
25-03-2012, 19:58
Quality gloves there:
http://dailypicksandflicks.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/handjob-gloves-better-than-nothing.jpg
One size fits all eh?
'Better than nothin' ,apart from a blowy perhaps. :lol:
The deluxe versions are 'moisture' proof, and have silky fingers to prevent chaffing ;)
Marco.
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