Rob E Dangerously 0 Report post Posted October 15, 2002 Damn them! Is 'Dell Dude' Steven Done For? October 14, 2002 06:32 PM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - Dude, are you getting a pink slip? Dell Computer Corp.'s sales of personal computers have soared since the advent of the fictional pitchman "Steven," known for his catchphrase, "Dude, you're getting a Dell!" But perhaps fearful of a backlash against the ubiquitous Steven, who playfully harangues friends and strangers into buying a Dell PC, the company said on Monday it is moving on to a new, less dude-centric advertising campaign. "We're trying to look at some alternatives," said Dell spokesman Bob Kaufman, who said the company is currently airing ads that feature a group of eager interns. "We test ran some of the interns spots during the summer and got some positive reactions." Kaufman declined to say if the "Steven" campaign was merely on hiatus, or gone for good. In two years, Steven, played by 21-year-old New York University acting student Ben Curtis, has become a cult advertising figure not seen since the likes of Joe Izuzu and Clara Peller of Wendy's "Where's the beef?" fame. Inundated by calls from adoring fans, Dell set up a Web site (http://www.dell4me.com/dude) and even offered a line of "Dell Dude" apparel. The campaign was originally created in 2000 by Dell's then-ad agency Lowe, a unit of Interpublic Group of Cos. Inc. . When Dell switched to Omnicom Group's DDB agency in April, 2001, Steven went along for the ride. If Steven is on the way out, nobody seems to have told "DellDudeSteven," an automated chat program set up by Dell to run on America Online's Instant Messenger. When asked on Monday, "Dude, I heard you're getting fired!" the program responded, "I haven't." ------- I tried to get some comments from Steven on AIM also. TheBigHackDaddy: So, are you getting fired? DellDudeSteven: am i? getting fired? what do u think? TheBigHackDaddy: I think you are DellDudeSteven: huh? TheBigHackDaddy: I heard it on the news DellDudeSteven: u always say funny things, TheBigHackDaddy. :-) well. anyway... hey, wanna figure out which Dell system is best for u? TheBigHackDaddy: No DellDudeSteven: ok, fine. TheBigHackDaddy: Who'd win in a fight, Bill or Ted? DellDudeSteven: dunno... ----- he's stonewalling Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MarvinisaLunatic Report post Posted October 15, 2002 Have you seen the new Dell Commercials? They are as annoying as the "Dude" commercials.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest kkktookmybabyaway Report post Posted October 15, 2002 That "Dude" guy grew on me (but then again so does cancer). Oh well, (almost) every ad campaign runs its course. In my nasty e-mail to HP/Compaq telling them about the sh*tty experience I had with their company, I finished my letter by saying "Dude, I'm getting a Dell"... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest cynicalprofit Report post Posted October 15, 2002 It makes you money, you want to switch the campaign? WTF? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Razor Roman Report post Posted October 15, 2002 My chat with Steven RSohorJr: Who is ur favorite pro wrestler DellDudeSteven: who is my favorite pro wrestler? RSohorJr: yeah DellDudeSteven: hmmm... RSohorJr: well who is it? DellDudeSteven: hmm... u know, i'm not quite sure anymore. RSohorJr: Bullshit! DellDudeSteven: whoa. ok. RSohorJr: Do you think HHH is holding down RVD, Jericho and Booker T? DellDudeSteven: i'm not sure what 2 think about some things. RSohorJr: Do you think Stephanie McMahon is the reason wrestling has become crappy? DellDudeSteven: i dunno. RSohorJr: Do you want to fellate Scott Keith? DellDudeSteven: yeah, i guess... it's hard 2 say. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest kkktookmybabyaway Report post Posted October 15, 2002 "It makes you money, you want to switch the campaign? WTF?" Maybe it wasn't making $ anymore... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest cynicalprofit Report post Posted October 16, 2002 Could be, but since it worked so well, why switch it now when its still working, i mean we are talking about it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest kkktookmybabyaway Report post Posted October 16, 2002 Don't know. Don't care. The way I see it, I'm not getting paid to run Dell's ad/marketing campaigns, so I could give a crap whether or not the "Dude" guy stays. BTW: I just saw one of the new Dell comms, and the Dude guy was in it. Interesting... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Leena Report post Posted October 16, 2002 Ugh, I've been talking with DellDudeSteven for 10 minutes now. He ignored me after I told him to tickle my stuff. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bps "The Truth" 21 Report post Posted October 16, 2002 If they stop using him...another computer company will start using him. Then he'll get to say: "Dude, they paid me to say that." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob E Dangerously 0 Report post Posted October 17, 2002 "Dude, Dells are good paperweights, but I love Microsoft windows!" oh yeah.. "Dell dude's reign of terror to continue" (via Fark) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Razor Roman Report post Posted October 17, 2002 Dude, you NEED a new Hewlett-COMPAQard. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DrainYou42 Report post Posted October 23, 2002 I think it's over. . . Here's the massage I got: DellDudeSteven: greetings Negative Creep64! well, my work is done here so i'm going into luxurious robot retirement. it's truly been a pleasure chatting with u about Dell computers and other cool stuff. take it easy! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
