photodog
Lord High Commander of Upper Broughton and Gunthor
I suppose there are many with so little imagination, that plodding prose is perfectly satisfying...
Should've been strangled at Berthon
- Thread starter Greenheart
- Start date
Quandary
Well-known member
You all seem to think it is an innovation, Berthon have been using these phrase since a long time BC (before Clarkson?) I was reading this stuff in Yachting World at least twenty years ago.
So why are they still in business?? perhaps it works?
When I bought Yachting World I used to enjoy reading the extravagant descriptions and it is significant that I still remember the phrases, I can not remember what any other big broker was saying years ago. Mind you the fact that they were always listing boats that I tended to drool over, may have been a factor.
So why are they still in business?? perhaps it works?
When I bought Yachting World I used to enjoy reading the extravagant descriptions and it is significant that I still remember the phrases, I can not remember what any other big broker was saying years ago. Mind you the fact that they were always listing boats that I tended to drool over, may have been a factor.
xyachtdave
Well-known member
Er yes that was me that started it..............
The Berthon ads in Yachting World don't tend to advertise Bavaria 36's (no offense), if you are in the market for a Swan 651 you will know your 'widgets' and your 'magic carpet' and not be put off/attracted by the text.
It's only a bit of fun, fair play to them and when I need an......
'immaculately spoodled, slippery, bells and flutes included, gleaming from zatch to zuzzle, in Bobby bargain territory'
yacht I will know where to go................
Greenheart
Well-known member
Just the facts, Ma'am
When I look at yacht descriptions, I like to place the vessel in my own index of knowledge - so I want to read the age, dimensions, keel type, rig, accommodation layout, hull condition, refit record, etc, and some detail about kit or fittings that make the yacht different from the builder's standard version.
Berthon doesn't do that.
Any of their descriptions could be applied (by someone with a strong stomach) to any yacht. "Interior jazzed with wizard updates." "Overburdened with space-shuttle bells and flutes". "Serious teak innards and epic widget-count". "Uber functional twiddly bits".
I'm repelled by this presumptiously chatty, grossly unsubtle, faux-afficionado, wine-bar boozer's boasting tone. It was embarrassing when it started years ago; it's now long past its half-witted best.
The yachts for sale here are some of the loveliest, anywhere...but they're described as if on a TV shopping channel.
When I see the Berthon page, I picture a fat old stock-broker trying pathetically to impress other over-the-hill players at a squash court. If that's the market they're reaching for, I'm glad not to understand why this tone appeals, if it does.
That's all.
When I look at yacht descriptions, I like to place the vessel in my own index of knowledge - so I want to read the age, dimensions, keel type, rig, accommodation layout, hull condition, refit record, etc, and some detail about kit or fittings that make the yacht different from the builder's standard version.
Berthon doesn't do that.
Any of their descriptions could be applied (by someone with a strong stomach) to any yacht. "Interior jazzed with wizard updates." "Overburdened with space-shuttle bells and flutes". "Serious teak innards and epic widget-count". "Uber functional twiddly bits".
I'm repelled by this presumptiously chatty, grossly unsubtle, faux-afficionado, wine-bar boozer's boasting tone. It was embarrassing when it started years ago; it's now long past its half-witted best.
The yachts for sale here are some of the loveliest, anywhere...but they're described as if on a TV shopping channel.
When I see the Berthon page, I picture a fat old stock-broker trying pathetically to impress other over-the-hill players at a squash court. If that's the market they're reaching for, I'm glad not to understand why this tone appeals, if it does.
That's all.
xyachtdave
Well-known member
Dancrane
Sorry but if you are buying the Challenge 67 advertised (I would suggest this is not in the over the hill squash player bracket) you won't be needing to know the keel characteristics, rig type etc etc.
Vote with your feet, when you are willing to upgrade to an 'Unbreakable tin sailing yacht' you can look elsewhere for one if you don't like the blurb...
Not looking for online row, just a different opinion......
Sorry but if you are buying the Challenge 67 advertised (I would suggest this is not in the over the hill squash player bracket) you won't be needing to know the keel characteristics, rig type etc etc.
Vote with your feet, when you are willing to upgrade to an 'Unbreakable tin sailing yacht' you can look elsewhere for one if you don't like the blurb...
Not looking for online row, just a different opinion......
Greenheart
Well-known member
I didn't find these phrases in just one ad - I'm not certain why you specify the Challenge 67. I wasn't suggesting the buyer of a state-of-the-art race boat needs telling what he ought to know already.
There are always lots of different yachts here, some are unique, many are very beautiful, lots have high performance...but ALL of them are smeared over with the same bland, overworked, artless exaggeration, like a gin & Jag crowd shouting about sports results.
It's certainly a question of taste - I don't like what you call Berthon's 'blurb'. These boats speak for themselves, the reader only needs elementary technical spec. Berthon's skin-crawling similes and deranged metaphors sell them short. Whose taste does that suit?
There are always lots of different yachts here, some are unique, many are very beautiful, lots have high performance...but ALL of them are smeared over with the same bland, overworked, artless exaggeration, like a gin & Jag crowd shouting about sports results.
It's certainly a question of taste - I don't like what you call Berthon's 'blurb'. These boats speak for themselves, the reader only needs elementary technical spec. Berthon's skin-crawling similes and deranged metaphors sell them short. Whose taste does that suit?
prv
Well-known member
Tranona's, DickB's, Danny Jo's, Fergus's, Photodog's, Flower Power's, Quandary's, and XYachtDave's, apparently.
HTH.
Pete
Greenheart
Well-known member
As I said earlier, enjoy your hot-dogs, boys!
They surely are junk, but since you have the appetite...
BlueSkyNick
Active member
DanCrane, I have to say I find your use of language quite offensive.
By all means give your views about why you dont like the style of advertising - its not everybody's cup of tea - but rude personal remarks about somebody you have never met are out of order.
By all means give your views about why you dont like the style of advertising - its not everybody's cup of tea - but rude personal remarks about somebody you have never met are out of order.
Greenheart
Well-known member
I'm sure you're mistaken, Nick. Not the least offence was intended, to any contributor. That's official.
I wondered if anyone felt as I do, about Berthon's eccentric sales copy. And actually, quite a few evidently do.
My criticism of it is well-earned, and I can't honestly retract a word.
If contributors want to express their support for it, they risk me wondering why. I like some junk-culture, too, but I'm not too fond of it to recognise its faults.
Enjoy your afternoon, folks.
P.S. Is the YBW server giving trouble today? Service seems inconsistent.
I wondered if anyone felt as I do, about Berthon's eccentric sales copy. And actually, quite a few evidently do.
My criticism of it is well-earned, and I can't honestly retract a word.
If contributors want to express their support for it, they risk me wondering why. I like some junk-culture, too, but I'm not too fond of it to recognise its faults.
Enjoy your afternoon, folks.
P.S. Is the YBW server giving trouble today? Service seems inconsistent.
Tranona
Well-known member
As I said earlier, enjoy your hot-dogs, boys!
They surely are junk, but since you have the appetite...
Since when have you become the arbiter of good taste - in anything. The ads are not aimed at armchair dreamers - you can create your own images if you want.
They are aimed at giving in a few words the "come on" for people who are interested in buying the boats on offer. Fitting 20 boats into a page with a good picture of each does not leave room for all the detail that you seem to find important - that is for the full spec, and many BUYERS will have a pretty good idea what they expect to see anyway.
BTW in the colourful language stakes, your attempt at demonstrating your "superiority" is way OTT (and rude).
I was trying to work out what triggers off your regular (but infrequent) visits here - thought it might be the lunar cycle, but it is new moon rather than full moon so thats probably not the cause. Maybe its just the natural cycle of trolls!
prv
Well-known member
rude personal remarks about somebody you have never met are out of order.
I'm pretty sure Nick's referring to the Berthon copywriter, not anyone contributing to this thread.
Pete
Danny Jo
Active member
Briefly it crossed my mind that someone at Berthon might have started this one, but only briefly, because I had other things to attend to - the mustard on my hot dog had messed up my arm chair.
BlueSkyNick
Active member
Yep, expressions such as
are hardly necessary to help DanCrane make his point. It says more about him than about the person he is referring to.
Greenheart
Well-known member
Monthly cycle?
Good one, Danny Jo. Bon appetit!
Tranona, I wasn't aware of a 'cycle', but there may indeed be something in that. I certainly was outlandishly irritable, reading the Berthon ad yesterday. Funny, because I wasn't until then, nor am I now.
I'm inclined to think it could indeed be something we don't control. I've observed petulant streaks on the forum before, and more today.
Tranona, you know I’m no troll. That itself is an unpleasant thing to have suggested. To me, you’re often the voice of experience and knowledge, and I read your entries avidly, because why would anything you say be other than your wise judgement of every case in point? I usually disagree, but doubt my own P.O.V. at those times.
Many thanks for your guidance.
Good one, Danny Jo. Bon appetit!
Tranona, I wasn't aware of a 'cycle', but there may indeed be something in that. I certainly was outlandishly irritable, reading the Berthon ad yesterday. Funny, because I wasn't until then, nor am I now.
I'm inclined to think it could indeed be something we don't control. I've observed petulant streaks on the forum before, and more today.
Tranona, you know I’m no troll. That itself is an unpleasant thing to have suggested. To me, you’re often the voice of experience and knowledge, and I read your entries avidly, because why would anything you say be other than your wise judgement of every case in point? I usually disagree, but doubt my own P.O.V. at those times.
Many thanks for your guidance.
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Marmalade
Well-known member
Berthon must be laughing their heads off - an entire forum thread dedicated to their adverts.
jonic
Well-known member
Greenheart
Well-known member
Alright, jonic, but the charge is the same, whether I go looking for clients or they come looking for me!
Special bonus, if there are more than fifty replies, understood? You didn't think I spend my weekends gibbering nonsense for free?
Special bonus, if there are more than fifty replies, understood? You didn't think I spend my weekends gibbering nonsense for free?
Tranona
Well-known member
Tranona, I wasn't aware of a 'cycle', but there may indeed be something in that. I certainly was outlandishly irritable, reading the Berthon ad yesterday. Funny, because I wasn't until then, nor am I now.
Many thanks for your guidance.
Pleasure's all mine!
So, you were irritated - so what? Just don't buy one of the lovely boats they have for sale. In trying to make an issue out of what you see as misuse of language only shows that you are probably better at it (misuse that is) with your own colourful (and largely meaningless) prose.
Always interesting to see an alternate view, but would suggest in this case it is a real minority view and nothing is gained by banging on about it - as you see it is beginning to irritate others.
Greenheart
Well-known member
Perhaps, on the basis of the forum’s chorus of outrage at my criticism of Berthon (not a syllable of which I withdraw), it might encourage the wrong sort of interest, if I observed that the broker to which jonic refers, provides some of the best, most accurate, detailed but not over-long descriptions, and excellent full colour photography.
This really is yacht brokerage as it can be, when someone has shown sense and taste, and attends closely to the information requirements of interested parties.
(HAVE A LOOK, AND SEE IF YOU DON’T AGREE)
http://www.jryachts.com/yachtbrokeragelistings.html
This really is yacht brokerage as it can be, when someone has shown sense and taste, and attends closely to the information requirements of interested parties.
(HAVE A LOOK, AND SEE IF YOU DON’T AGREE)
http://www.jryachts.com/yachtbrokeragelistings.html