Koala responds to ‘ageist’ competition backlash
- Replies 15
We recently shared a story about Australian mattress company Koala running a competition that seemingly excluded Australian seniors. You can read more about this here.
Understandably, a lot of Australians were upset and angry at this marketing campaign.
For those that missed it, here’s what some SDC members had to say about it.
Member @SusanK: ‘I can't believe that they can get away with this.’
Member @lynstacker: ‘This is so discriminatory. I am a boomer and proud of it. The problem now is that Gen X Y Z want to start where we are finishing. My first home was a one bedroom flat. I slept on a camp stretcher, my heating was a blanket and I had no refrigerator. I was not out every day having smashed avo or chardy lunches with my friends. I was working three jobs with interest rates at 17.5%. There was no first home buyer subsidy nor any of the other subsidies which XYZ enjoy today. I do hope someone deserving wins this competition but I will not be a customer of Koala.’
And member @LorLes put it beautifully: ‘I object to this notion that all boomers are well off and the implication that somehow they are ripping the system off.’
‘And let’s not overlook the homeless. The largest contingent of the homeless is women in my age bracket. Whilst they have no mortgage, I’m sure they’d appreciate rent for a year to just bloody live, luxuries be damned.’
‘This notion that somehow the boomers stole the future from the millennials and Gen Z when they, in fact, created the conditions the millennials and Gen Z enjoy rubs me the wrong way.’
‘Yes, the attitude behind the website is discriminatory and perpetuates a myth. However, I intend to enter and game the system.’
Since posting the story, a Koala spokesperson has reached out to us to provide a statement.
‘Baby boomers are not banned or restricted from applying to the giveaway in any way and are encouraged to apply. There is no age restriction nor is there a date of birth requirement as part of entry.’
‘The questionnaire is written in jest, playing on an ongoing cultural debate in Australia about which generation has had it easiest, with millennially skewed questions designed to be novel and fun. The answers are framed in a way that the correct answer is obvious and this was designed as such to be democratic for all entrants, no matter their age.’
‘Our efforts are simply a tongue-and-cheek love letter to a generation who we can all recognise are doing it tough (Millennial and Gen Z). We love our baby boomer customers and are confident they will understand the novelty of this initiative. Everyone is welcome to apply and we welcome any Australian to try and receive free rent or mortgage for a year.’
What do you think? Do you appreciate their latest statement? Will you be entering the competition? If so, you can enter the competition here. We would love to hear from you.
Understandably, a lot of Australians were upset and angry at this marketing campaign.
For those that missed it, here’s what some SDC members had to say about it.
Member @SusanK: ‘I can't believe that they can get away with this.’
Member @lynstacker: ‘This is so discriminatory. I am a boomer and proud of it. The problem now is that Gen X Y Z want to start where we are finishing. My first home was a one bedroom flat. I slept on a camp stretcher, my heating was a blanket and I had no refrigerator. I was not out every day having smashed avo or chardy lunches with my friends. I was working three jobs with interest rates at 17.5%. There was no first home buyer subsidy nor any of the other subsidies which XYZ enjoy today. I do hope someone deserving wins this competition but I will not be a customer of Koala.’
And member @LorLes put it beautifully: ‘I object to this notion that all boomers are well off and the implication that somehow they are ripping the system off.’
‘And let’s not overlook the homeless. The largest contingent of the homeless is women in my age bracket. Whilst they have no mortgage, I’m sure they’d appreciate rent for a year to just bloody live, luxuries be damned.’
‘This notion that somehow the boomers stole the future from the millennials and Gen Z when they, in fact, created the conditions the millennials and Gen Z enjoy rubs me the wrong way.’
‘Yes, the attitude behind the website is discriminatory and perpetuates a myth. However, I intend to enter and game the system.’
Since posting the story, a Koala spokesperson has reached out to us to provide a statement.
‘Baby boomers are not banned or restricted from applying to the giveaway in any way and are encouraged to apply. There is no age restriction nor is there a date of birth requirement as part of entry.’
‘The questionnaire is written in jest, playing on an ongoing cultural debate in Australia about which generation has had it easiest, with millennially skewed questions designed to be novel and fun. The answers are framed in a way that the correct answer is obvious and this was designed as such to be democratic for all entrants, no matter their age.’
‘Our efforts are simply a tongue-and-cheek love letter to a generation who we can all recognise are doing it tough (Millennial and Gen Z). We love our baby boomer customers and are confident they will understand the novelty of this initiative. Everyone is welcome to apply and we welcome any Australian to try and receive free rent or mortgage for a year.’
What do you think? Do you appreciate their latest statement? Will you be entering the competition? If so, you can enter the competition here. We would love to hear from you.