[Automobill]

I happened to catch the tail end of Bill O'Reilly's "The O'Reilly Factor." He mentioned his boycott against France.







http://www.newsmax.com/archives/arti...1/190529.shtml
Bill O'Reilly reports on his "The O'Reilly Factor" TV show that his "Boycott France" bumper stickers at $2.50 apiece have sold in the tens of thousands and continue to fly out the door. Another question: Has the French boycott – so eloquently advocated by O'Reilly – masked the real boycott, the one by French, European and other consumers against America for our invasion of Iraq?

These days, CNN, Financial Times, Advertising Age and the like are burning column inches – not about the boycott-France campaign, but about ominous reports that the total percentage of consumers worldwide who use U.S. brands has fallen to 27 percent from 30 percent just a year ago. This survey reviewed 15 major American brands, including such heavyweights as McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Yahoo!, Disney and Nike.

According to a recent study by market research consultant NOP World, the percentage of those saying they 'trust' Coca-Cola fell to 52 percent from 55 percent, McDonald's to 33 percent from 36 percent and Nike to 11 percent from 14 percent. The study is entitled 'America, the World, and the New Challenges for Global Brands.'

NOP managing director Tom Miller warns: '[I]t seems to be an erosion of support. It is clearly a warning sign for brands.' Gone apparently are the heady days in 2003 when angry Americans could point to double-digit drops in French wine consumption by U.S. sippers. Despite the dip, however, those French vintages never lost their No. 3 ranking in sales in the U.S. – behind Italy and Australia.

And about a year ago Fromage.com, a French cheese distributor, was reporting that its U.S. sales had gone down 15 percent. But such relished factoids are missing from the headlines these days. Saw another group of sites:

http://www.webwonks.org/Extra/boycott/boycott.html
Join the "Boycott France" Campaign

Since this grass roots "boycott France" movement has started tourism in France has fallen 20%, sales in French wines have dropped by 10%. You CAN make a difference.

Check out these lists of boycott resources from:

BoycottWatch.com
FranceSucks.com
FoegetFrance.com
MetroSpy.com
BoycottFrance.com What do people think about this boycott?

[drlifeech]

I'm not a fan of boycotts, but I'm REALLY not a fan of anything french.

[2CNWXAqN]

As an outsider (ie an Aussie) can someone explain to me why the US dislike the French so much? Sure they didn't support the war in Iraq, mainly because they said there wasn't enough evidence ... and guess what.....

Is there an actual reason for all of this hatred, or is it just becase?

[KuevDulin]

Just because, I think.

[chuecaloversvv]

The USA is the one country on the globe least likely to engage in boycott behaviour. The consumers apparently ignore such campaigns.

American consumers were notorious for ignoring all those "Buy American" campaigns in the 1970's as well.

Britain, Canada and Australia are all notorious for actually delivering on boycotts - and notably, are all still boycotting French wines due to France's nuke tests on the Bikini Islands some 8-10 years ago. French wine imports to those countries fell considerably and has never recovered their dominant market share. It is to be noted that since that boycott was launched, the French have profited from massively increasing their wine exports to the USA to make up for the market losses in those countries supporting the French wine boycott.

Indeed, serving French wine in Canada is still a political statement that you are a rightwinger (supporting France's right to nuke whatever they please).

I've never seen on single statistic that 'proves' that a boycott actually worked in the USA.

[Gromiaaborn]

"Bill O'Reilly reports on his "The O'Reilly Factor" TV show that his "Boycott France" bumper stickers at $2.50 apiece have sold in the tens of thousands and continue to fly out the door."

Somehow, I don't envision someone that plasters a "Boycott France" bumper sticker on his or her car as someone who dumped their French wine collection and cancelled their Paris vacation.

Nothing like supporting a supposed a boycott of France by buying a bumper sticker made (probably) in China.

As far as the wine boycotts, my guess is that French wine sales would have decreased anyway, though it's quite possible that a boycott could have sped up the decrease.

I'd be shocked if French wine was selling as well in Australia as it was even five years ago regardless of a boycott. Australia is producing some excellent wines now, and also produce a lot of inexpensive "every day" bottles. Ones that are quite tasty but sell for $6-8.

Canada is also producing some decent wine from the Niagara region. Chile and Argentina have been on the rise for years as producers of decent inexpensive wine.

The competition in the world market has risen dramatically, and France simply no longer has the edge it used to. In fact, it's "snobbery" about wine has cost it. People like to know what they are buying. That's not easy to figure out from a French wine label. The French wine industry wants everyone to treat wine the way the French do. But most wine drinkers simply want a decent bottle of wine at a fair price. That may not be the case at the high end of the market, but the high end is only a small part of the market.
And even at the high end, the French don't dominate as much as they did in the past.

[rionetrozasa]

MM is right - Americans are terrible at boycotts, unfortunately price is the name of the game regardless of where bought or origin of manufacture.
Take all of the "Buy-America" campaigns - it has done nothing to stop the ever-increasing trade deficits for foriegn goods.
When it comes to consumerism - Americans are the greatest hypocrites on earth.

[Zugaxxsn]

I think it's all crap ... and that Bill O'Reilly is making a lot of money with it.

I wonder how many people really buy the "The Bill O'Reilly Jigsaw Puzzle" or such stuff???

[AnypecekceS]

I think it's all crap ... and that Bill O'Reilly is making a lot of money with it.

I wonder how many people really buy the "The Bill O'Reilly Jigsaw Puzzle" or such stuff???

Actually he makes nothing.
He guarentees 100% of the net proceeds go to primarily Habitat for Humanity.

[ZIZITOPER]

Boycott France? Sure .. I'll have a Big Mac and an order of Freedom Fries!!!

[beethyday]

I dont think it does make much of a sense.
Yesterday I bought a Hamburger Royal TS at McDo that will ruin my health, today I bought the European alternative, a big and tasty Döner Kebab "mit alles" and "mit scharf", that will ruin my health.
And that also may be the reason why McDo has to suffer losses. The Europeans are learning themselves on their own to make junk food.

[LoloLibia]

The USA is the one country on the globe least likely to engage in boycott behaviour. The consumers apparently ignore such campaigns.

American consumers were notorious for ignoring all those "Buy American" campaigns in the 1970's as well.

Britain, Canada and Australia are all notorious for actually delivering on boycotts - and notably, are all still boycotting French wines due to France's nuke tests on the Bikini Islands some 8-10 years ago. French wine imports to those countries fell considerably and has never recovered their dominant market share. It is to be noted that since that boycott was launched, the French have profited from massively increasing their wine exports to the USA to make up for the market losses in those countries supporting the French wine boycott.

Indeed, serving French wine in Canada is still a political statement that you are a rightwinger (supporting France's right to nuke whatever they please).

I've never seen on single statistic that 'proves' that a boycott actually worked in the USA.

Really? Didn't know about that. I heard that the loss of influence of french wine was a result of the concurrence from italian, californian, australian and south african wines, which for a similar quality are often cheaper.

PS: JDD said it before me. JDD, what you have to know is that french wine is so expensive only in foreign countries - in france, the prices are much lower (I would say that they are "normal"). A bottle that sells 10€ in france will be sold 25$ in the US...





As for the boycott, well, I have a very french feeling about it No need to say more I guess

[Dogxzysl]

I think it's all crap ... and that Bill O'Reilly is making a lot of money with it.

I wonder how many people really buy the "The Bill O'Reilly Jigsaw Puzzle" or such stuff???

Lets see....Micheal Moore makes money from his "valliant efforts ".......good!
O'Reilly makes money from his "valliant efforts".....bad!

[dmitrynts]

All indications are that France will chalk up a banner year for 2005 for exports to the USA - French wines are leading the way by significantly increasing their share of the US wine market during the 2004/05 period... indeed, France has increased their share of the US wine market in every year since the 'French Wine' boycott (over the French test-nuking of Bikini Island) began about 12 years ago.

I suppose it will be amusing a year from now when people confront this O'Reilly character with the actual economic 'facts' showing that once again, Americans will cheer loudly in favour of this boycott and then go out and buy some French wine and French perfumes (because they were on sale).

[esanamaserrn]

Really? Didn't know about that. I heard that the loss of influence of french wine was a result of the concurrence from italian, californian, australian and south african wines, which for a similar quality are often cheaper.

That is what they call 'propaganda'. That would be the French perspective. Fact is there is a notable "boycott French wine" movement rolling in Canada, Australia and UK and has been going for some 12 years now and French wine sales have fallen very significantly in all three countries.

And it ain't the price - French wine is fairly cheap here - cheaper than Italian wine anyway. Indeed, due to exchange rate perversities, US and Aussie wines have become comparatively expensive here lately - yet they are the prime beneficiaries of the 'boycott French wine' movement.

France chose to nuke-test Bikini Island 12 years ago. I haven't touched a drop of French wine since.

[Ikhqgvas]

That is what they call 'propaganda'. That would be the French perspective. Fact is there is a notable "boycott French wine" movement rolling in Canada, Australia and UK and has been going for some 12 years now and French wine sales have fallen very significantly in all three countries.

And it ain't the price - French wine is fairly cheap here - cheaper than Italian wine anyway. Indeed, due to exchange rate perversities, US and Aussie wines have become comparatively expensive here lately - yet they are the prime beneficiaries of the 'boycott French wine' movement.

France chose to nuke-test Bikini Island 12 years ago. I haven't touched a drop of French wine since.

Isnt it a bit stupid to maintain a boycott so long actively, only because of something that happened 12 years ago, something that has been stopped? I mean who do you intend to punish? Well perhaps Chirac? But whats if he leaves the stage? Do you just continue to punish another government that had nothing to do at all with the tests, or just all French citizens, or perhaps especially french whine producers?

[praboobolbode]

ROFL...It's hilarious really. So the British boycott french wines because some crazy french politico nuked the Bikini islands. Fuck wine producers anyway, I like beer!

[Rupeviv]

You'll need a lot of research these days if you want to boycott a specific country. Are you quite sure the French vineyards aren't US-owned ?
Globalization, you know.

[scoussysows]

As an outsider (ie an Aussie) can someone explain to me why the US dislike the French so much?

Is there an actual reason for all of this hatred, or is it just becase?

Because despite the stereotype, many Americans do travel abroad, and France was always the most popular destination.

And that's where many Americans learned first hand that the French, or at least Parisians, are the rudest, snottiest and nastiest people on the planet.

And then there's all the American bashing in the French press.

So a boycott of France is part of the reaction to France's constant disrespect of Americans.

[MedicineForUs]

Because despite the stereotype, many Americans do travel abroad, and France was always the most popular destination.

And that's where many Americans learned first hand that the French, or at least Parisians, are the rudest, snottiest and nastiest people on the planet.

And then there's all the American bashing in the French press.

So a boycott of France is part of the reaction to France's constant disrespect of Americans.

That's right. We don't respect baby-killers