Every year, as income tax season approaches, Liberty Tax Services stations people in flowing Statue of Liberty costumes on street corners near their offices. The people Liberty hires don't just stand there, they dance and sing, wave and smile, run back and forth, wave the flag and their signs, and engage any passersby caught glancing their way.
The closer April 15 gets, the less likely I am to be amused. And on truly cold days -- when, Liberty has assured me in the past, their people are outside only for a few minutes at a time -- I get positively angry, no matter how bundled up they are.
But Saturday was in the 40s, and the crew outside Liberty's office at 1504 State Street, was hopping with energy -- dancing, running back and forth, engaging passing motorists and frequently earning a horn toot of approval. They were wasted there on that sidewalk; they shoulda been in showbiz. And all for just $7.50 an hour, four hours a day. For the next two months.
Let's hope the weather stays warm a bit longer... for their sake, if for nothing else.
Corey Harris, 17
Ricky Isom, 39
Devon Wiggs, 17
DON'T LET THE FLAG TOUCH THE GROUND!!! BETTER YET PUT IT AWAY IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO TREAT IT CORRECTLY.
ReplyDelete7.50 per hour? wow, this is absolutely the most irritating thing, I drive by these people 5 times a day, on durand ave. and I always just had hoped that maybe, it was part of an internship to get a good job there. Its a truly annoying campaign, I would NEVER go to Liberty tax, just because of this.
ReplyDelete7:41 - Relax, it's not hurting anyone. Their having a little fun. If it bothers you that much - take another route so that you don't have to see them.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless 'em
ReplyDeleteOut there working....and the advertising does work. I would not have noticed Liberty Tax was even there if not for the animated dance routine everyday as I drive by.
Do what you gotta do! They are creating jobs and being creative in advertising. There is nothing to complain about.
Nothing to complain about -- except for the fact that some of these people are mentally challenged and are being taken advantage of? Put out some balloons, put up a sign. I don't like it either.
ReplyDeleteHey they are working and earning a living. It may not be my cup of tea. They will get waves from me as I drive by.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoys seeing them. It reminds me that I don't have the worst job in the world!
ReplyDeleteFrankly, I think it’s a waste of time. There are so many other ways to advertise, that probably cost less. That said, I can not belittle the people that are actually out there doing this. They are at least working. I’d much rather see them doing this than standing on a corner with a “Will Work For Food” sign. I give them credit for doing, what I would consider, a rather embarrassing job.
ReplyDeleteThat aside, I wonder how it is that Liberty Tax is still in business, after the scathing article in the JT two years ago (I think it was) about the large numbers of mistakes they make; some small (a few hundred dollars) to some really big whoppers (in the 10’s of thousands of dollars). I certainly would never go there.