  Zulu_warrior Member Username: Zulu_warrior Post Number: 3163 Registered: 10-2003 |
R2-D2 gives Postal Service street cred March 28, 2007 By ONEITA JACKSON FREE PRESS BLOGGER When I saw the first one, I said, “Oooooo, somebody’s gonna get in trouble for tricking out that mailbox.” But it sure was cool. Then I peeped another about a week later. Advertisement “Hold up, now. What is this about?” No one’s getting in trouble, Ed Moore told me Tuesday. He’s the manager of communication for the U.S. Postal Service in Detroit. “They’re not going to stay,” he said of the R2-D2 mailboxes. “They’re for a promotion.” Apparently the post office is making a big "Star Wars" 30th anniversary announcement Wednesday — wooooo, somebody would get in trouble if they told me. “Well, how long did it take to paint them?” I demanded. “When was it done, how did they do it, how many are there and — tell me everything, man!” There are five in Detroit, he said. Four in Royal Oak. And the U.S.P.S. got the stealth team out for the plop-downs: “It was done after a certain time and for them to just appear.” Moore said he selected the locations in Detroit and wanted people “when they saw them the next morning to be like, ‘Whoa.'” Well, whoa, whoa. Moore said the 400 R2-D2 boxes across the country are the first to be tricked out. (Yes, he did say “tricked out.”) I’m scared of the United States Postal Service (www.uspsjedimaster.com) getting some street flavor. Better go check them out because they'll be gone in about three weeks. | ||
Zulu_warrior Member Username: Zulu_warrior Post Number: 3164 Registered: 10-2003 |
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=/20070328/BLO G19/70327050 | ||
Danindc Member Username: Danindc Post Number: 2255 Registered: 10-2003 |
I saw one of these on the Senate side of Capitol Hill. Two people who live in the apartment building behind it were having drinks and posing for pictures with R2. | ||
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1 Post Number: 8700 Registered: 10-2003 |
Why is our post office wasting money on this non-sense. Will it cause the post office to spend less, bring in more revenue? What? | ||
Thejesus Member Username: Thejesus Post Number: 798 Registered: 06-2006 |
I have to admit, though, it makes them less of an eyesore...not that mailboxes area as big an eye sore as cell phone towers, but it sure does add something to the corners where these boxes are located...I kinda wish they'd stay, or at least paint something else on them | ||
Rrl Member Username: Rrl Post Number: 769 Registered: 12-2003 |
Mailboxes in their standard color and shape are about the most inconspicuous street fixtures out there. Not eyesores in my opinion; no more so than a fire hydrant. This promo does seem like a waste of money though. Brings up an interesting thought however; with all the street mail boxes around the country, I'm surprised the USPS hasn't started selling the boxes as billboards for advertising. Wrap them in adhesive-backed vinyl sheets. Interesting way they could generate more cash w/o constantly raising the cost of stamps. Another way Starbucks or MickeyD's can infuse our lives with their marketing.  | ||
Gannon Member Username: Gannon Post Number: 8810 Registered: 12-2003 |
I'd guess they are getting revenue from this...some of the last remaining open space for Madison Avenue to gunk up with their advertising. Whee! First one I saw is below Mezzanine's corner windows...R2D2, in the house on Broadway and Grand River!! Harmonie and I were walking by it after a happy hour pint at Coaches Corner...just the other night. | ||
Ndavies Member Username: Ndavies Post Number: 2501 Registered: 10-2003 |
My guess would be there is a Starwars stamp or series of stamps coming out. This does generate money for the post office. All those stamp collectors that buy stamps that are never used generate lots of profits for the post office. | ||
Gannon Member Username: Gannon Post Number: 8811 Registered: 12-2003 |
This isn't a journalist-filed story, it is merely a blogger with a headline. There is surely more to the story, they wouldn't be ABLE to use the R2D2 image without money flowing...and I'd bet it is the Lucas enterprise paying our largest non-profit. The USPS IS run as a non-profit, isn't it?! heh... | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 297 Registered: 10-2003 |
Ha, I just walked down the street to check out the Royal Oak R2. Totally cool! Love it! I have no problem with this kind of environmental art, it adds a lot of character. I'm excited because my work is sponsoring a Tiger for Tiger Town, that will be another fun time. | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 1771 Registered: 12-2005 |
FWIW, I recently read that the USPS has been quietly removing street mailboxes. I believe the reason had something to do with security or less demand due to email, etc. This might be useful to others here: Mialbox Locator. There's a photo there of an R2D2 mailbox in Manhattan. | ||
Spacemonkey Member Username: Spacemonkey Post Number: 182 Registered: 03-2006 |
How long until someone steals one. A day? | ||
Ndavies Member Username: Ndavies Post Number: 2502 Registered: 10-2003 |
Oh look what I found. It was fairly obvious. Postal Service gives 'Star Wars' stamp of approval. http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=/20070328/NEW S07/70328032 | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 298 Registered: 10-2003 |
"How long until someone steals one. A day?" Stealing even one letter is a pretty serious felony. I can't imagine what an entire mailbox would land ya. | ||
Ndavies Member Username: Ndavies Post Number: 2503 Registered: 10-2003 |
quote: So's killing someone. That doesn't seem to stop murders from happening. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 299 Registered: 10-2003 |
I'm not sure murder and stealing an R2D2 mailbox because you're a star wars fanatic really fall into the same crime mindset. | ||
Ndavies Member Username: Ndavies Post Number: 2504 Registered: 10-2003 |
It doesn't really matter, If there's enough profit in it. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 300 Registered: 10-2003 |
 beep bleep whistle | ||
Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk Post Number: 583 Registered: 11-2005 |
There are two in Greektown and there's another on Woodward near Warren. This isn't a journalist-filed story, it is merely a blogger with a headline. She is a journalist; she's a copy editor. She's not a reporter. Copy editors, page designers and photographers are journalists, too, you know. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 316 Registered: 10-2003 |
I have some friends who would be very happy with you for that statement Rawk. | ||
Imhere Member Username: Imhere Post Number: 23 Registered: 02-2007 |
I saw one of these by the Royal Oak main post office. I thought it was just Royal Oak trying to be trendy/different, but apparently not. | ||
Gannon Member Username: Gannon Post Number: 8828 Registered: 12-2003 |
Rhymes, I said that because of the byline, and the gaps in the story large enough to drive a semi-truck through. Too many follow-up questions afterwards, far too many colloquialisms in the language used. If this person took journalism and writing courses, I'm sure their professors are proud. I've never "peeped" anything or anyone in my life, forcing Newspeak upon the unwilling should be a crime. Perhaps I'm simply expecting too much from the New Free Press...who needs journalistic standards?! It was a fun story... |
