Reputation Management Online

1.3 million people have enjoyed Brian Maupin’s humorous attack on ignorant iPhone consumers and the equally amusing response. Everybody has laughed at the knowing humour except for some humourless corporate wonks at Best Buy who in spite of a total lack of connection between Best Buy and the video have suspended mobile salesman Brian Maupin on the basis that his video disparaged a brand they carried (iPhone/Apple) as well as the store itself and were fearful of stockholders & customers being turned off to Best Buy Mobile, as reported by Maupin.

In summary: individual makes funny comedic video about iphone buyers set in a magic roundabout setting without any branding or references to stores. BestBuy corporate HR department announce that it is about BestBuy and suspend employee.

Outcome: BestBuy corporate wonk sets up BestBuy brand to widespread derision for being humourless and painfully stupid. Incredibly, they have now made this a negative story about BestBuy, they have attacked a funny video and cut across the US freedom of speech rights. Arguably, what should happen is that they should have said nothing, or laughed it off. Why don’t they sack the corporate type responsible for this mess either because he has made BestBuy a laughing stock or, and why not, for being incredibly stupid.