Sprint customer’s ‘ghetto’ comment incites angry discussion online
The mobile carrier’s latest campaign got consumers—and its CEO—talking online. The fast-paced conversation resulted in an apology after the ad left a bad taste in users’ mouths.
“Man on the street” marketing tactics often elicit positive customer referrals, which can entice new clientele.
Unless, however, a customer goes off the rails.
This was the result of Sprint’s “Listening Tour,” led by the company’s chief exec, Marcelo Claure. After traveling around the country to ask consumers their opinions about various mobile carriers, some of those sessions are being released on YouTube.
One video—released Tuesday—was called “controversial” by Twitter users and was later taken down by Sprint’s PR team after an outcry of online negativity.
In the video, a consumer refers to rival mobile carrier T-Mobile as “ghetto,” to which Claure nods:
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