In South Florida's cutthroat world of air conditioner repair billboards, one company has taken things too far. In January, an appliance service company called Air Around the Clock posted an eye-catching billboard reading, "Your wife is hot. Better get your A/C fixed."
But this summer, a competitor posted its own billboard on the same highway reading, "YOUR WIFE IS NOT HOT! because you called ALL YEAR COOLING to replace your A/C." Oh no they di'nt!
"It's quite upsetting", said Michael Lang, the operations manager for Air Around the Clock. "We sent them a cease and desist order to stop, and they persisted, so that's why we went ahead and filed the lawsuit."
A 28-page lawsuit filed by Air Around the Clock claims that All Year Cooling ripped off their slogan and the look of their billboard to deceive consumers.
"It's just fair competition, and they're just mad we came up with a more clever slogan," said Meredith Mendez, a lawyer for All Year Cooling.
Clearly, the gloves are off. Until this fearsome battle shakes out in court, drivers will no longer be able to rely on air conditioner repair companies to determine the hotness of their wives.
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Friday 30 October
By Heavytoka
Honestly I would call these guys to fix my A/C! That billboard is really funny!
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Sunday 01 November
By Susan
My hubby and I saw this very billboard. I thought it was hilarious! Come on, guys in the media, this is controversy? Too funny!
Sunday 01 November
By Zack
"Taken things a little too far"? Are you kiddingg me? It was FUNNY! There is nothing offensive about it. I wish the media would find REAL news to report instead of trying to create a controversy that does not exist.
Sunday 01 November
By understanding
Susan, the "controversy" which is a poor choice of terms, isn't because the content of the add is racy. It's a copyright issue. All Year Cooling played off of Air Around the Clock's slogan. It would be like on company slogan saying "Where's the beef?" & another company coming up with "We've got the beef." The way I see it,no law was broken because they didn't use the same slogan & didn't use the other company's name.
Sunday 01 November
By Tigerlily
Seems alot to do about nothing. I don't see why they are suing. Who cares? It's just an ad and a clever one at that. I say, they (the ones suing) should just let it go, both will benefit.
Sunday 01 November
By pinkthenred
They need to stop complaining and just come up with an even better saying. Obviously they have it in them to be witty being they came up with the hot wife thing first. I guess it comes down to just how bad they want the "wife". The customers and potential customers are both amused.
Sunday 01 November
By Bonnie
The first billboard was funny. The second one was not. Sounds like the second advertiser doesn't have have a lot of creativity.
Sunday 01 November
By Joe
The way I see it, doesn't matter if someone thinks this is funny or not. Some will find it finny while others get mad, still some don't see it funny ot maddening. To me this is all about people in the media doing all they can to MAKE some kind of news. There's nothing that is newsworthy here. No laws were broken and if something is funny or not sure does not make it news. It's just more of the same old trypical AOL putting thing out for all of us to read that is nothing more than an "AOL waste of time".
Friday 30 October
By ACDC
"...It's just fair competition, and they're just mad we came up with a more clever slogan..."
That is hilarious.. How can they say that their slogan is MORE clever when it is a blatant rip off? The "Your wife is hot" slogan is clever, the "Your wife is not hot" is retarded. Immediately it makes you think that if your wife is not hot, then you don't need to call an AC company. Also, saying your wife is "not hot" carries a very negative connotation. I wouldn't want to work with a company that has that slogan, even if they mean it in a different context.
I can't believe I am still writing.. who gives a shit about any of this anyway...
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Sunday 01 November
By steve
Non-story. Move on.
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Sunday 01 November
By JuicyXoXo
lol i thought it was gunna be like "ur wife is NOT hot. but u are ..... :)'
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Sunday 01 November
By Justme
I am a woman and don't find this anymore offensive than those stupid commercials on television with phone numbers to call "Hot" women in your area. Good grief, with all the other things going on in this world this is just another way to get attention and they did!
Sunday 01 November
By TC
That billboard is very funny! Some people have no humor. The joke of it is it starts out sounding offensive until you see "because you called all year cooling to replace your AC". It makes you say "ohhh, okay".
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Sunday 01 November
By Cheryl
Sexist and stupid. Not a non-story as long as it's "hilarious" to ridicule women.
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Sunday 01 November
By SpiceMonkey
Quit burning your bra, the '70s are over with.
Sunday 01 November
By RBJ
Give it up Cheryl,You are no doubt a lesbian feminist with no self respect.There is nothing in these ad`s that should offend anyone.
Monday 02 November
By cathy
Get a sense of humor. That is funny! I would call them.
Reply
Sunday 01 November
By madamjanesu
how come they're always talking about women's looks? and not men's looks? how come women dont find this offensive? oh i know, because women are stupid indeed. i guess there's nothing wrong with judging women by their appearances. it's ok to use women to sell products. it's ok to degrade women whop aren't "hot" according to heteropatriarchal ideals. yay, im excited that my daughter will be objectified.
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Sunday 01 November
By Joe
Are you serious??? Weman are used in ads for many different reasons, alot more than men for one basic reason, most ALL people would rather see a beautiful woman than a nice looking man. Why? Simple, the female body is just plain BEUTIFUL! It is nothing more that they are more pleasing to the eye than men are. Sure isn't nothing to be offended by and it sure is not sexist either. It's just the facts of things.
Sunday 01 November
By Sam
It's nice to know you think your own doughter is stupid! What's wrong with you anyway??? Sounds like you have some very deep and serious problems and I feel sorry for your little girl who has got a lifetime of hering her own father talk such garbage like you do. People like yourself will find SOMETHING wrong with everything, point your finger and tlak such stupid things only to make yourself feel better. Why not just relax a little and enjoy what is out there? Enjoy the sight of a beutiful lady rather than telling everyone how wrong they are for doing just that, how wrong they are for not saying how it should be some ungly fat guy on that billboard. Gee, how many people do YOU think would rather see some ugly fat guy selling a product that some very beautful, slim woman with a knock out body??? I'll be you laugh like hell at some joke pointed at some ugly fat guy huh? Wow, I bet you're a load of fun for your doughter...poor girl.