Agency boss Ferrier’s undercover sex clinic investigation
Naked Communications boss Adam Ferrier has taken the unusual step of posing as a sufferer of sexual dysfunction to investigate the activities of controversial clinic the Advanced Medical Institute.
Ferrier – who has degrees in clinical pyschology and commerce and worked in forensic psychology before turning to the marketing world – pretended to be suffering with both premature ejaculation and erectile problems for his visit to the AMI.
The controversial organisation had been coming under growing scrutiny of its advertising strategy and marketing techniques. Its “Longer lasting sex” billboards have been banned by the Advertising Standards Bureau for breaching community standards, while one of its TV ads has been taken off the air for poking fun at men who suffer sexual dysfunction. Last week, the AMI successfully won a court order to prevent the Sydney Morning Herald from publishing a story about the organisation’s activities.
Ferrier posed as a potential patient to examine the company’s marketing techniques when individuals visit the organisation.
Brilliant post, this is crusading blogging. You know, like how journalists used to be crusading?
Go to Ferrier’s blog and read the full post.
Great stuff!
I agree with both of you. I spoke to Adam on the phone earlier, and said that I’m surprised that one of the current affairs shows didn’t think of doing this. It’ll be interestigngif anyone else now runs with this.
(Apologies, by the way, to re:turn on – I needed to trim your comment slightly for libel reasons).
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella
No worries about the libel trim, the fact of its necessity is testament to Mr. Ferrier’s guts!
Great work Adam. One of the ‘current affairs’ show did do a piece on this some months ago too, hidden cameras and all.
Poor old Brian Wenzel (Sgt Frank Gilroy) gets roasted for doing the adverts – he is just etching out a living (ACA or TT did a story about his fortunes turning around because of a negative article they did).
If the advertising has been banned, why am I still seeing it on a billboard on top of a building on cnr of Buckland St and Broadway Rd, Sydney?
next mission hair loss?
…or did Adam get sprung by someone as he was leaving the clinic, and come up with this preposterous ‘investigative journalist’ story? Just asking.
It’s a prick of a job, but someone has to do it! And Adam, if you cop any flak – stand firm.
“pretended to be suffering with both premature ejaculation and erectile problems for his visit to the AMI” – HAHAHAHA Absolute polywaffle Adam
Interesting that most of the comments appear to be from guys.
As I am sure many of you know the AMI is turning its focus onto women who have trouble reaching orgasm. Perhaps a female needs to see how that experience compares?
Crusading???! or journalism of the lowest order. I had really sh*t service at the local branch of my bank last week. If I report on this does it mean my bank is a terrible service provider or am I just using a one off case to make a sensational point?
Just got an advertising email before from a internet marketing company that sent an email with an advert promoting AMI..seems like they are going the internet path to get customers.
Is it journalism or did he get found out?
Re Andy’s comments, I’m sorry but did your shit bank service cost you close to $5K? Did it deal with something that could potentially have a significant impact on both your physical and psychological health? There are some areas where the cost of getting it wrong is so great that even a one off bad case is worth pointing out to ensure it doesn’t happen again. And clearly from the rest of the media coverage on AMI this is hardly a one off…
Brilliant “undercover” work (excuse the nuance) from one of Australia’s most exciting consumer pyschologists @!
….don’t suppose it was part of the research for the Thredbo campaign?
Must have got tired of impersonating an advertising agency.
Amazing. Putting yourself in the shoes of the audience. That’s pretty ground breaking
oooh grumble grumble grumble grumble grumble
This is not journalism of any order. Writing a blog does not make you a journalist.
Thanks for taking the time to leave so many positive comments. Please spread the word about these guys. Also be pre-warned that they are now tackling womens sexual health issues.
Also I have never described myself as a journalist.
Who handles AMI advertising?
AMI are very a visible brand with the help of mainstream media, namely radio, TV and of course, outdoor.
If I recited the same mantra as Naked, I’d want them discredited too.
I think they also rely very heavily on PR, WOM and direct sales. They seem to use every media angle possible.
Would it be totally wrong to say that AMI rely heavily on oral?
On the weekend I went from North Sydney to out west and reckon I saw at least 5-6 of the AMI billboards…the people who were in the car with me were discussing the billboards..etc when we saw them. So I guess at a minimum it works in terms of people knowing what it’s about
3 votes to Grono for the oral line 🙂