Here is a list of Jewelry and Accessories stores at that mall. If I were one of them and I wanted some free and good PR, I'd hire this woman in a New York Minute http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/store_listing.asp?id=7
Just yesterday I saw a tv commercial for some trial lawyer--I can't remember the class action law suit they were peddling. The clincher was though that Erin Brockovich came on and endorsed it. I immediately thought, "That's one smart fuckin' sheister." Anyway, it's sad that in our country companies have to make employment decisions like this. For every high-profile example like this, there are probably 10,000 other people similarly getting fucked over who aren't even noticed.
I don't even understand why people think Diamonds are something that has to be had in our society today anyhow. There is this whole urban myth that diamonds are part of marriage, when in fact, all that has happened is the diamond companies have sold that message to the people, when it is not true. Diamond companies artificially inflate the value of diamonds by keeping them off the street, and incite violence in 3rd world countries that are diamond rich by paying warlords for them. Warlords who use slaves to bring the product to market. Hell if anything, they should probably be outlawed.
Well, here's one side of the story. As someone who has unfortunately been involved with dozens of such media lynchings I can state that every single one was 100% untrue. However, the business are prohibited from responding. Don't get me wrong, all of this may be true, but I'm old enough to know there's two sides to every story- especially when the media is involved.
Prohibited? Hardly. They don't live on a message board, so Freedom of Speech is still their right. They choose not to respond as their lawers have advised them that lying could get them in trouble, and the truth has already been reported. If it were untrue, they would immediately sue for libel.
I'd find a new PR agency if they told me I was "prohibited from responding." I took some PR classes back in college in the mid-90's, and a key point they drove home was that you don't remain silent. Americans equate silence with guilt. It's a natural instinct to clam up when accused, whether you are an individual or a business, but the truth is you need to present your side of the story with intelligence and a single voice. The smart strategy here for Zales is to apologize for the oversight, say some throwaway crap that they were just misinterpreted, and pay for the old lady's health care. Then a month from now jack up everybody's premium to pay for it.
