Comments on: Grocery Chain Smears Itself on Defamation Pursuit Against Video Creators

By: John Drugach

John Drugach — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 21:26:15 +0000

I drove 70 miles each way to the nearest A&P over Labor Day weekend. And, spent $92.00 just to prove that the video ( as
distatseful as it may have been to some) was the best marketing
effort that A&P has had in years.

By: Ken G.

Ken G. — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 16:33:44 +0000

Yep, I got that same canned email response from A&P. I just wish they had any stores in Northern California so I could actively boycott them instead of just passively boycotting them.

I think A&P’s public relations department needs to sue their legal department for destroying their brand image.

By: jischinger

jischinger — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 20:54:07 +0000

yeah, I got the same letter. I suggested that they fire the guys, but to sue them was over the top and would create far more bad PR than good.

“Producing a video that intentionally and unjustly depicts our company in a negative light”

I thought this was a funny line by their lawyer, A&P stores are one of the filthiest stores I have ever been in, a little more than bad light if you ask me; more like rats and rotting expired food. No wonder they wish to remove any and all videos, just look at the place these guys worked! I wouldn’t be surprised to find that store alone has a long list of city health and safety violations.

This action just isn’t a good thing overall for video makers and dare I say even bloggers.
http://jischinger.wordpress.com/2007/09/02/death-of-the-political-blog/

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 18:37:15 +0000

Now I am VERY curious to know how they arrived at a ‘recovery of damages’ figure of a million dollars.

By: marquisdejolie

marquisdejolie — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 18:24:02 +0000

Got my response email from those fascists today jischinger. It was probably canned, but A&P sent me this:

A&P management’s position on this matter should be self explanatory. Producing a video that intentionally and unjustly depicts our company in a negative light, and utilizing company facilities without management knowledge of the specific content involved, is obviously a blatant violation of our policy.

Accordingly, the company has dismissed both employees, and is exploring legal avenues for the recovery of damages, and the removal of any and all videos about the Company from the website where it has been posted by the individuals.

We will continue to work through our store management, labor union and legal process to bring this unfortunate series of events to an appropriate conclusion, and will have no further public comment while that process continues.

Richard De Santa,

Senior Director, Corporate Affairs

By: jischinger

jischinger — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:17:17 +0000

The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company Also owns A&P, Waldbaum’s, A&P Super Foodmart, The Food Emporium, Super Fresh
Farmer Jack, Sav-A-Center and Food Basics
90 Delaware Ave
Paterson, NJ 07503
Email: apcustomerrel@aptea.com

In case anyone wanted to drop them a note stating just how STUPID they are.

By: TET

TET — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:02:52 +0000

I think the lawsuit on the video is more likely a PR stunt dreamed up by the video’s creators. No sane business would waste money going after a couple of ‘broke college kids’ (as they put it). Though, there could be a case for defamation now that the grocery chain has been named and has a reputation for being stupid enough to sue a couple of broke ex-employees.

Marq… it would be ridiculous if I was talking about war victims. Victims are people who’ve given up. Heroes are people who haven’t. Despite the odds they remain positive and inspire others to remain positive. Soldiers can be and are heroic but they are trained to do what they do and understand the risk that their job entails.

By: woodblockdoll

woodblockdoll — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 17:02:07 +0000

I didn’t get rid my own athlete’s foot until I *stopped* peeing on my feet. Or was it when I stopped eating spinach…

By: Brett Slater

Brett Slater — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 13:54:45 +0000

Does A&P really think that two guys who work in their produce department have a million dollars? To paraphrase Robert Frost:

Two paths diverged in a PR controversy, and I ?
I took the one that makes my company look bad in the eyes of consumers.

Mike Abundo’s right… This coulda been handled better.

Regarding the video itself? I made it through about 60 seconds before clicking out. There appear to be no winners here.

By: marquisdejolie

marquisdejolie — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 13:05:08 +0000

Reducing military service to an employment status while elevating war victims to the status of ‘hero’ seems counterintuitive and patently ridiculous to me.