Question

Topic: Student Questions

How Would You Sell Ice To Eskimos?

Posted by Anonymous on 11/23/2004 at 12:30 AM ET 75 Points
'How would you sell packaged ice to native alaskans?"

This is one of the questions microsoft asks its marketing applicants in job interviews.

My proffesor always told me that a GOOD marketer can sell a hamburger to a hungry man but a GREAT marketer can sell ice to eskimos.

So how would you sell ice to eskimos?????
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by Peter (henna gaijin) on 11/23/2004 at 1:20 PM Accepted
    Think of bottled water suppliers and how they market their products. Tests have shown that bottled water is no better (and sometimes worse) than tap water, yet lots of it is sold.
  • Posted by SteveByrneMarketing on 11/24/2004 at 2:54 PM Member
    Put vodka in the center of ice cubes.
  • Posted by SteveByrneMarketing on 12/10/2004 at 7:24 PM Accepted
    Funny that Microsoft uses this question. For what! creative thinking skills? How creative is it when you have a monopoly on the ice? :-)

    As a hypothetical what’s it really saying --

    - That an unknowledgeable buyer will buy something that’s not really in their interests? Can a great salesperson sell a candy bar to a kid for $20?

    Or

    - That some salespeople are so great they can have a hypnotic effect even on a knowledgeable buyer – and sell them a bad deal?

    Either way, the customer looses and ultimately so will the seller.
  • Posted by SteveByrneMarketing on 12/10/2004 at 7:35 PM Member
    p.s. -- re: "the same water that flows from their faucets".

    It may not be any healthier, but how do you support it's the same? Certainly many folks believe this, and some of them buy the bottle water anyway.

    fun question, thanks for posting it mac504,

    - Steve

  • Posted on 8/25/2010 at 5:02 PM Member
    I agree that it's not ethical to sell a product or service if it is not beneficial to the customer.

    But for conversational sake, I think it would be very easy to send a letter explaining the diseases caused by ice contaminated with moose droppings and other unhealthy toxins. Perhaps even showing scary statistics to support the fear element.

    Of course, the solution would be to purchase "Pure Ice"... 100% natural, purified, and durable. Available in various colors and pre-shaped for more cost effective igloo building, or with a variety of flavors for consumption.

    Nothing beats offering a free sample of an ice cube flavored with natural lime juice, and then encouraging an eskimo to sample their own ice from the ground for comparison.

    If you ever need help selling a product... check out BAM! Copy Writing.
  • Posted on 9/19/2011 at 6:03 AM Member
    In a world, where algorithimic predictions placed by "K" place put and call options while the innocent sleep. To place ethical sentiment on trade, negates eons of human conflict and evoluton. A free market without controls.
    Lasse faire. A roller coaster of blood sweat and tears.
    In order to sell ice to the eskimoes! (KISS)
    Add cordial!!
    By two and save!!!
    May God have mercy on us all!!!!
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