Someone has just written the same comment on 7 of our most recent blog posts. Rather than approving the comment 7 times and hijacking the conversation on those posts away from their intended topic, we have decided to dedicate a separate post to this particular comment. It is replicated (in full) below:
What I would like to know “Mag-Nation” is how a NZ company (which all the profits go back overseas) can claim $30k in government grants for a website from Melbourne city council, (funded by the tax payer) to run a glorified newsagency under the label that its an innovative business?
With content in your “about us” section like – “All the girls who work at mag nation are gorgeous. All the boys have big schlongs.” I’m shocked that the Melbourne City Council thinks its a good idea to fund such blatantly sexist, boorish content.
Not only that, this “Undies Monday” is STOLEN from Gaslight Music who used to have a once a year nude event to raise money for public radio!
So in short – $30,000 of taxpayer funds for a disgusting sexist website, and stolen ideas from other companies.
“Mag-Nation” does not constitute an “innovative” business. More like an innovative way of ripping off other peoples idea’s and wrapping them up in SMUT to make corporate profits that get sent overseas.
WASTE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS!!!!
Signed:
Angry City Of Melbourne Taxpayer.
(who doubts this message will even be posted in its entirety)
A few thoughts in response Mr/Mrs Taxpayer.
1. It was 15K, not 30K
2. We “started” in NZ, but we are an Australian registered company. The NZ company is a subsidiary of our Australian Parent company. All profits (or losses) stay in the Aus entity.
3. We never claimed Undies Monday was original. We in fact openly admit the inspiration came from Gaslight. See this link and the comments.
4. The Australian Retail Association also awarded us “most innovative retailer” in 2007
5. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. We respect yours, and your right to not shop or engage with us. The City of Melbourne obviously had their own opinion as well.
6. We did post this in its entirety.
I can’t be arsed loading the site, so forgive me, but yes, I’d find the schlongs/gorgeous thing kind of stupid. On the rest, however, your angry commenter has been officially Smacked Down. Suck it, ACoMT!
ha! Nicely done.
If you don’t offend someone once in a while obviously you’re being straight laced and boring.
Congratulations! You’re not!
http://xkcd.com/137/ seems relevant here.
(PS. I’d shop there more often, and spend more money, I’m just intimidated by the guys with big schlongs behind the counter. Cute girlies are all good, however.)
(PPS. Kidding!)
I really admire the transparency that your brand offers and the confidence that you show in your own business.
You primarily serve the Australian market. Whether the money stays in Aus or NZ is irrelevant. It is primarily Australians that are loving your brand and gaining access to publications that they otherwise would not have.
Three words: tall. poppy. syndrome.
I agree with Michael. Many businesses try to hide this kind of criticism, it’s great that you have actually taken the time to address it. To add my unimportant opinion to the mix, I love the different brand strategy offered by Magnation and think it does the whole publishing industry a service.
No doubt your women are gorgeous. But what’s the average size of your mens’ schlongs? If you’re lying, you might get reported to consumer affairs Victoria
LOL. Isn’t NZ a state anyway? Sure as hell we’re pretty happy to claim plenty of their better known children as Australian anyway AND keep the dollars they generate.
dear angry city of melbourne tax payer GET IN THE BIN.
vote #1 mag nation
“glorified newsagency” ? wow i have heard of understatements but this guy is out of his league.
maybe he is just an old geezer who likes to complain and resists all change. therefore im sure he would obviously prefer to pick up a newspapaer form his newsagent and not get distracted by any nonsence such as international superstar magazines, designer tee’s, tools for creative expression and the best part, the GORGEOUS STAFF.
seriously, this persons complaint make me love you guys even more. good move on posting it up.
I was most offended by the newsagency comparison, has this person ever set foot in a Magnation store?
Dear Angry City Of Melbourne Taxpayer,
Have you ever stepped foot in mag nation? I highly doubt it, You are clearly a McGills lover who is still devastated by the fact that it closed down….
“All the girls who work at mag nation are gorgeous. All the boys have big schlongs.” is CLEARLY a joke. mag nation is a shop with a sense of humor.
You need to stop frowning upon such things and start embracing them, What a boring world it would be without a laugh or two.
Dear Angry City of Melbourne Taxpayer
Were you loved as a child?
I can understand why the commenter was disgruntled, and I must say, the description of supposed qualities of your staff (gorgeous/schlongs etc) seems like a silly and offensive attempt at being cool. But, it’s your company website and your right to fail at being professional in ‘about’ descriptions.
Not only is mag nation nothing like a newsagency, the staff are gorgeous inside and out right up to the top – they are some of the most kind-hearted, patient, supportive, awesome people in the world and niche publishing would be worse off without them.
If I could vote on the budget most of my tax dollars would go to them.
Olly, you are a legend. GET IN THE BIN = hilarious.
It’s funny that a store promoting literary content, has so many supporters that have totally missed the point.
I’ll break it down again…”$15,000″ were wasted on a website promoting “gorgeous girls and big schlongs”.
This is where your tax dollars are being spent. On a CORPORATE dodgy website designed to make money for MAG NATION, there is NO BENEFIT for the taxpayer.
How many of the above supporters pay substantial tax or rates? I’ll bet none.
And how many of those supporters will ever pay substantial tax or rates ? I’ll bet none – because with such moronic spoon-fed brains they would never have the intelligence to move anywhere up the ladder – what suckers.
I would rather see that “$15,000″ of tax payer dollars providing anything else to the public, and invest in its own citizens – than be spoon-fed and brainwashed by some non-innovative NZ company who defraud our tax and rate payers.
Maybe the Men’s Gallery strip club should sell some magazines and paint some feature walls and advertise “gorgeous” women and claim a tax payer funded website? Hey they already have the nudity thing going on – anything else is just “innovative”.
I’ll give Mag Nation credit on one thing – they are good at portraying themselves as an innovative business to government, council and awards organisations – that’s all.
ACoMT
(Again, I doubt this will be posted.)
You guys are the bomb. Keep up the good work. Personally, I would rather shop at a newsagent which is full of friendly, gorgeous and well-endowed staff. But maybe that’s just me.
I think MOST people have enough sense to realise that the website is not REALLY about promoting gorgeous girls or big schlongs. In fact, I haven’t seen a single picture of either on your website.
Can I complain about that???
This week’s release of the ipad just goes to show – print is at risk of being shunned for digital media. Mag Nation has successfully built a community dedicated to providing extensive print media to the public when this day and age calls for dismissal of print and publication.
They might not be building their reputation on giving to charity but they are sustaining and distributing CULTURE and it’s WONDERFUL and so important to society (in NZ AND Australia..surprise surprise)
And Mr Angry Tax payer: How dare you assume that none of Mag Nation’s supporters don’t pay taxes when you have no way of knowing this. That statement proves that your complaints hold no merit and you are not doing anything constructive by ranting – you are simply producing negative energy.
I think your beef is with the City of Melbourne then, because yes, the grants are intended for businesses. Private businesses situated in Melbourne.
You don’t think Mag Nation is innovative? Then what does innovation mean to you?
I’d not worry about the criticism, guys. You are developing a great brand and it’s a brand that has that rarest of things –– personality. Not a lot of brands have the guts or the ability to use irreverence as a brand marker.
You do. So stick with it.
Haters, as they say, are gonna hate.
Ross
Hey Angry COM Taxpayer are you a teabagger? Do you complain this loudly about every thing that gets funding? Get off the internet and go pay some more taxes. Sounds like about all you are good for…
This is baffling. Such outrage at $15k being spent on what, with only extreme generosity, could be labelled ‘smut’. State and local governments waste exponentially more money on far stupider things. I can only imagine the apoplectic fury at the Myki project. Or worse, try living up here in NSW.
For the record, I’m in the second top tax bracket, before you invoke that elitist “no one here pays tax” shit from earlier, Angry CoM Tax Payer.
[...] Even if you are scared of social media at first, keep in mind that it will get easier with time and experience. It is also important to remember that it is better for your brand to be aware of comments, both good and bad, to ensure you get a chance to respond to them. Being scared of what people may say doesn’t stop them saying it, it just means that you are choosing to ignore it. As previously mentioned Mag Nation’s recent response was handled well and met with positive comments from their readers. See Mag Nation’s full response here. [...]
[...] Even if you are scared of social media at first, keep in mind that it will get easier with time and experience. It is also important to remember that it is better for your brand to be aware of comments, both good and bad, to ensure you get a chance to respond to them. Being scared of what people may say doesn’t stop them saying it, it just means that you are choosing to ignore it. As previously mentioned Mag Nation’s recent response was handled well and met with positive comments from their readers. See Mag Nation’s full response here. [...]
I pay plenty of taxes/rates you elitist moron –
how dare you think you know anything about each commenters intelligence/profession/tax bracket/preference of anything.
To you Angry COM Taxpayer, and I quote – FUCK OFF AND GET IN THE BIN INDEED!
**Bloody brilliant Olly
Hi angry tax payer.
I pay $30k+ in taxes every year. I’m more than happy for my taxes to go to something like mag nation, big shlongs and all. Can we be satisfied that your anger and my happiness cancel each other out, and we can both embrace the democratic system and move on?
Happy Tax Payer.