Orange Disappointment: People Grumble About Cheering Capes and Ads
The Netherlands crashed out of the European Championship at record speed. Most people manage to swallow that disappointment; they deal with the setback in silence. Preferably, they don’t want to talk about it anymore—get rid of those little orange flags. Unless…
At first glance, the Netherlands’ participation in the European Championship has already been forgotten. There are no orange decorations to be seen anywhere, and everything is back to business as usual. But beneath the surface, the setback has not yet been processed. And those emotions are being expressed in complaints about advertisements, cheering capes and other orange supermarket promotions. Don’t believe us? We’ve lined up some of the grumbling.
Where is that thing?
Tonny Wouters is not happy with the delivery time for his Jumbo Cheering Cape. ‘I ordered a cheering cape at the beginning of June and still haven’t heard anything or received confirmation of when I can pick it up? What terrible service! If I don’t get it this week, I want my money back!’
That’s not going to work
Bouwens’s foresight is also commendable. ‘You can order cheering capes until June 24. I just ordered and paid for two. It’s June 22 now. I can’t pick them up until July 1. By then, the Netherlands may already be out. If I’d known that, I wouldn’t have ordered them.’
Order online? What’s that?
Mike is completely fed up. ‘I am—or rather, was—a loyal Jumbo customer. I collect stamps, filled a card, through the app, and I thought I’d order the cape. I was told it had to be done online; I was dumbfounded. Anyway, I did it after all, and now I have to wait a week and a half. I’m deeply disappointed. What a letdown after such an advertising campaign. They don’t mention this. I think I’ll go somewhere else from now on.’
What a letdown
Marja has the same complaint: ‘What a letdown. Ordered the capes today, but you can only pick them up a week and a half later. Football is almost over.’
Grandchildren
Hilly is collecting stamps for three cheering capes, for her grandsons. They were already sold out! ‘How great do you think my grandsons’ disappointment will be? A large company shouldn’t let this happen. Especially when children are involved!’
Paying the price
Things were no bed of roses at Albert Heijn either. Those tattoos, for example, caused burn blisters on Sandrina’s children. ‘I previously contacted AH because all three of our children had burns on their arms from the orange children’s tattoos you receive at the checkout when shopping. I received a package containing cuddly toys and chocolate bars for the children. They are all very happy with them, and I would like to thank you for that (the card stated the sender was Marjan)!’
And not everyone likes that ad either
At least, not everyone. Willem writes: ‘A lot of noise, especially in the color orange, as if everyone likes football, including the encouragement to put your TV outside. Almost nothing is as invasive as the sound of a TV or radio. When a match is watched by two or more people, the number of decibels will only increase because of those present. Imagine being the neighbor of these people, who have to work the next day, are ill, or simply want to go to bed on time. Besides strongly disapproving of football supporters’ behavior, Albert Heijn should be ashamed of encouraging such popular entertainment for its own benefit and at the expense of civilization.’
Left or right?
Whether this complaint about Jumbo’s orange advertisement is serious or not, it certainly is a brainteaser. ‘I have a complaint about the Snollebollekes song. They sing: from left to right, but they go from right to left, and not from left to right.’
Look at it the other way: the glass is half full. You didn’t get your cheering cape on time, but you don’t want to wear it anymore anyway; the irritating ads are off television, and the tattoos can go in the trash—good riddance. Still stuck with a house full of orange junk? The World Cup is next year, so a new round means new opportunities!
Read also:
- 10 favorite Dutch bakes
- Complaints are pouring in about Coca-Cola
- A flood of complaints about Albert Heijn because of an overly successful stamp-collecting promotion
Source: Klacht.nl, images: Albert Heijn, Jumbo
