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"Amy's idea was actually smart"

Posted by buscemi on 03-26-04 at 03:16 PM
I think that Trump was dead wrong about Amy's $300/car rental promotion being "stupid." Amy & her team made one stupid decision relative to the other team, and that was not courting (until it was too late) the VIPs and high rollers. Am I missing something? The other team decided to use their $$ to have the spinning wheel with a $1,000 pay out. Amy's team had a $300 pay out with the car, and presumably they used the rest of the $$ to hire the 2 women to help them get players the cards. With 5 people registering players for the cards, Amy's team actually got a significantly higher # of people registered for cards. Thus, strictly looking at the wheel vs. the $300/car rental, Amy's idea was good -- spend less on the prize so that you have left over $$ to get more people registering people for cards. The reason her team lost wasn't b/c of this; it was b/c Bill was registering the VIPs & high rollers. And yet Trump focused on the $300/car rental idea as being the stupid decision. To me, it seemed like he was focusing on the wrong thing.

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Messages in this discussion
"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by Bosco on 03-26-04 at 03:30 PM
LAST EDITED ON 03-26-04 AT 03:31 PM (EST)

say all you want but Amy's idea (in this particular episode) was not her smartest move. Like Brown (Trump's associate) said, it wasn't big enough for Trump casino. Trump is all for grande, BIG idea, remember? And I'd think that a night stay in Trump Tj Mahal costs more than $300 anyway, why would people go into trouble to get $300 value worth of car rental? It's just not enough incentive to keep people in the casino. Would you stay extra few hours for $300? Probably not. How about $1000? Yes definitely! Trump knows what he was talking about as he is very successful.


"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by CantStandToLook on 03-26-04 at 03:34 PM
I agree with Bosco...I've not been to ANY Casino where the BIG PRIZE was winning a rental. People want something they can take home and in the end it was basically $300 or $1000...now which line are you gonna stand in?


Handcrafted by RollDdice
"Dook ....still sux"


"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by buscemi on 03-26-04 at 03:39 PM
Yeah, but that didn't matter. Amy's team actually registered considerably more people, so it wasn't about their prize attarcting less people. They actually registered more people per workers (5) than the other team.

"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by buscemi on 03-26-04 at 03:38 PM
Yeah, but Bosco, here's the deal. Kwame's team had 3 people working for them. They registered 776 people. That's 258 per person. Amy's team had 5 people working for them (b/c they saved $$ on the prize). They registered 1337 people. That's 267 per person. So, basically, each person registered 260 people. That means by skimping on the prize, Amy got 520 more people registered. Now sure, you might say that the $1,000 made the people Kwame's team registered spend more at the hotel, but I think the main difference is that they registered the VIPs & high rollers. Your regular gambler may stick around longer for $1,000 tahn $300, but I doubt that they gamble that much more.

"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by areUkiddinme on 03-30-04 at 11:26 PM
like the name says....areUkiddinme....why do you think they are called high rollers....THEY GAMBLE MORE MONEY

"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by Jims02 on 03-30-04 at 11:50 PM
I think he was talking about "regular gamblers" and not the high rollers.

I agree partially with the "smart argument". I think the rental car was a stupid prize, but they did a great job in bringing in a large number of people. But, as Bill noted, volume doesn't win it, it's the type of gamblers you bring in. Had they actually thought of the VIP idea, they would've blown Kwame's team outta the water.


Jims02: 2004 CMY Anti-Executee Champ


"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by subman on 03-30-04 at 11:56 PM
As Troy would likely say if given the chance "If "ifs" and "buts" were candy and nuts, what a wonderful world it would be".

"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by Jims02 on 03-31-04 at 10:22 AM
Exactly.

Trump looked at the wrong thing. He should've focused more on their lack of focus on the VIPs...


Jims02: 2004 CMY Anti-Executee Champ


"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by managerr on 03-26-04 at 03:32 PM
The execution smart, the idea stupid. She should have negotiated with the hotel to see what they were willing to give away free in order to help the promotion. Casino hotels often give away a free night's room for example, or free drinks, a massage or something that people actually want, not a car rental.

But yes, they did lose because Bill outsmarted them. Kwame and Troy have often had some good ideas, but they often fail on execution and they would have lost if Bill didn't salvage a few high rollers this time out. (Although I must say even $1000 probably wouldn't attract a high roller)


"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by rtrader on 03-26-04 at 03:38 PM
I read that Katrina had the car dealer actually donate a cheaper car as the prize, and that Amy was so determined to get a Crossfire that she passed on the free car for the Crossfire rental.

If that indeed is the case, the prospects of a free car should have brought more people over to Amy's team to swipe their card with Versacorp and not Protege (and they probably would have gotten the crowd without hiring the models to try to bleed off the VIPs that Bill booked for his team).


"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by buscemi on 03-26-04 at 03:41 PM
Yeah, but they dodn't need to attract more people; they already got more people than Protege. Their only flaw was not focusing on the VIPs and high rollers.

"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by Pepito on 03-26-04 at 03:59 PM
Haa, we're both posting at the same time, two minds one thought.

"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by areUkiddinme on 03-30-04 at 11:24 PM
NEWS FLASH.....the Crossfire WAS free to the casino guest that won the prize.....it cost Versacorp (Katrina and Amy)$300....not the contestant....Versacorps pitch to their target audience was that they were giving away a rental VALUED at $300.00. The players they should have been targeting wouldn't be impressed with a free rental....they are cash motivated

"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by Pepito on 03-26-04 at 03:38 PM
LAST EDITED ON 03-26-04 AT 03:41 PM (EST)

According to Katrina, the car rental had offered them a car as a GIVE AWAY, just not the crossfire, a lesser car. Gosh, darn Amy, you had your fingertips on a great prize and you failed to grasp it. A car give away would have been perfect!

It was made clear (even to me, despite the choppy editing...) that it was about quality, not quantity. High rollers immediately came to my mind... Go up to the complimentary suites and register them right there... all you need are one or two of the REALLY high rollers and you're home free. WHEEEE.

Come to think of it, why didn't they raffle off a free night or two at the Taj Majal? It would even have to be a suite. This could have been negotiated with management EASILY, and would have cost them NOTHING. Casinos give out tge use of complementary suites and rooms as drawing card all the time, just like for the high rollers.

With only Amy and Katrina thinking (Nick didn't contribute...) they were one brain short than the other team. Gosh darn, I'll bet she's full of ideas now that the competition is over.


"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by thetick on 03-26-04 at 03:54 PM
It was not only dumb it was chump change.

"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by subman on 03-26-04 at 04:49 PM
I think his objection was the whole idea of giving away a rental of a prize rather than the prize itself. However, Trump was too cheap to pony up the loot for a car giveaway so he should keep his mouth shut.

"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by Bosco on 03-26-04 at 06:19 PM
The idea is to make the most money, quality not quantity. In business it doesn't really matter how many people you drawn to the casino. 10 people can spend $10 each on slot machine. but high roller will spend 2K PER GAME when they do gamble. It is not the income per head that counts, but the sum of all money spent within the given time.

A hotel stay at the Trump taj mahal would be of equal value, but attracts even more people to the raffle! See some of you guys would have done better than Amy in this episode


"RE: Amy's idea was actually DUMP"
Posted by Bosco on 03-26-04 at 06:22 PM
Bill's idea is the key factor in the team's victory. However, Troy's $1000 give away would have beaten $300 worth of car rental anyway. Which line would you go to? $1000 or $300? It's just not attractive. I believe that Protege had many more prizes than just $1000 though as they had that deal with the wonder kid. Perhaps consolation prizes were tickets to the show?

"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by pmspml5 on 03-31-04 at 07:39 AM
My boss and her husband own a car dealership (he runs it) - They both said that they would have freely given away a lesser model car worth up to about $20,000 to have all of the free advertising that one clip on the show would have given them.

"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by jackandjill on 03-26-04 at 09:03 PM
It you've ever been to Atlantic City, the free rent-a-car idea was dumb. There isn't any place of value to drive to besides another casino which can be gotten to for a $1.50 Jitney ride.


"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by Oscirus on 03-27-04 at 11:22 AM
The only reason why Amy's team had more guest than kwame's was because of the stupid tiger idea which either drove away alot of customers or had them staring there in amazement and not gamblling.


Bring back the spice rack
Congragulations to the apprentice Mr Kwame Jackson


"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by realityshowgeek on 03-27-04 at 12:38 PM
Amy's idea was pretty lame and that skirt!! It was just barely covering her "assets".
Once again, I proclaim Kwame Jackson the winner!! Maybe those autographed basketballs will be worth something soon.

"Kwame"
Posted by Chrissy gal on 03-27-04 at 01:39 PM
Maybe those autographed basketballs will be worth something soon.

Wouldn't that be the best?? I have been predicting that Kwame will make the final 3 for a long time, but lately I can see how he could win.


"RE: Kwame"
Posted by Bosco on 03-27-04 at 04:54 PM
hahahha, now Troy and Kwame can just slap it in Nick's face "Kwame Jackson is REALLY a celebrity!"

By the way did anyone see auctions on eBay? the auctions sell autograph of the most likely to win (their words) candidate on the apprentice 2. can't remember the guy's name...I guess he was casted to be on the apprentice 2. his autograph goes for A LOT! think of how much Kwame's would go for if he won (as noone had predicted this and never thought to get his)


"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by Traces on 03-31-04 at 09:30 PM
"The only reason why Amy's team had more guest than kwame's was because of the stupid tiger idea which either drove away alot of customers or had them staring there in amazement and not gamblling."

Actually, the tiger was a great idea. The only problem was that it should have been shown in the beginning to get a crowd going and get people in line and have something to look at so they stay. I don't know why they brought it out so late!

"You know, that might be the answer - to act boastfully about something we ought to be ashamed of. That's a trick that never seems to fail." -Lieutenant Colonel Korn


"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by areUkiddinme on 03-30-04 at 11:15 PM
You are missing the point. The task was to get people in the casino and gambling. The people most likely to gamble the most money are NOT going to be impressed by the offer of free use of a car with a value of $300.00. But put a $1000.00 in there hands to start the roullette wheel spinning, yeah they'll be attracted. If you want to attract money you have to use money.

"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by subman on 03-31-04 at 00:01 AM
I haven't seen anyone else mention this but, a large cash prize of $1,000 would likely get gambled right back to the house and count towards that team's ultimate victory in this challenge where a car rental would have no effect on the outcome.

"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by networkinggirl on 03-31-04 at 11:02 AM
I have to disagree here. Amy's idea was yoooogely stupid.

1. Her prize was small potatoes and attracted the small potatoes crowd. Mostly people who weren't big gamblers or gamblers at all.

2. The prize wasn't worth waiting the whole day for. $1,000 was. People registered for the car rental drawing and left.

3. Because it was small potatoes, Amy had to go into desperation mode by hawking on the microphone, chasing people down to sign-up, etc. People were leaving the casino because of all the noice going on. It wasn't a comforting, fun atmosphere. Amy reeked of desperation.

4. Hiring the "models" (and I use that term loosely) actually probably cost her about $1,000. 3 models x 7 hours x $20-$25 per hour? Easily $1,000 or more.

5. She was being cheap, thinking she was saving on overhead...but she really wasn't. Cheap models, cheap gamblers, cheap prize. Had she found 2 top notch models and had them promote during peak gambling time, she could have reeled in higher rollers without having to step on Troy, Bill, Kwaame's toes.

6. Why raffle off a prize that requires people to LEAVE THE CASINO to use?


"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by leogirl_21 on 03-31-04 at 11:13 AM
Amy's idea was not very good...I would NEVER wait in line to enter a raffle that will give me a car on rent. $1000 line for a raffle, YES because its cash and I can do a lot with it.

"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by realityluver on 03-31-04 at 11:40 AM
>2. The prize wasn't worth waiting
>the whole day for. $1,000
>was. People registered for the
>car rental drawing and left.
>

Exactly, did you notice that the winner of the car raffle wasn't even there to collect on their prize? The $1000 winner was right there waiting on that money.



"Nothing comes between me and my TV!!!"


"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by drjc on 03-31-04 at 04:30 PM
Yes, and that might have been the critical difference.

I never heard Protege mention if you had to be present to win the $1,000. But Amy specifically told the models that you don't have to be present to win the car rental. Big Mistake! As a result, gamblers could register for the car rental and then leave without spending any more time at the Taj Mahal. If you had to be present to win the $1,000, however, that means that gamblers had to either hang around or return to the Taj Mahal, meaning they're more likely to gamble there. Remember, Protege had fewer registered gamblers, but their people spent more money.

This small requirement might have the key factor.


"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by Bosco on 03-31-04 at 07:43 PM
What would you do when you won $1000 in a casino?
you GAMBLE! thinking you could have earned more.
(okay not all of you think like this but many people must lol)
so $1000 prize benefits the casino as they tend to spend money right then and there.
Did you see people's face when the prize was drawn? exciting, anticipating.
drjc, I completely agree with you. they should have required people to stay to win the prize.
if not hiring models, they can afford to give away bigger prize easy.
I don't think it matters how many people you attract, if they don't spend money, then no profit.
Guess cheap potatoes attract cheap crowds eh?

"RE: Amy's idea was actually smart"
Posted by Bosco on 03-31-04 at 08:47 PM
Bosco the Maine Coon and Aspen the Ragdoll