Kogan's KEVIN37 LCD TV to snap up $900 stimulus?

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Thursday, 05 March 2009 06:03

Opinion and Analysis

Cheeky Australian direct online retailer Kogan, famed for inexpensive pricing and the Kogan Agora Android phone no-show, has launched a new 37-inch LCD TV called the “KEVIN37”, priced at AUD $900 and poking fun at Australia’s illustrious "toxic bore" of a Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd – AKA Kevin07, Kevin247 and Kevin747.

Careful to note in a disclaimer that “Kogan Technologies is not affiliated with, nor endorsed by, the Government of Australia, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, or the Australian Labour Party,” Kogan Technologies has nevertheless decided to go for maximum publicity points in the name and price of its new 37-inch LCD TV.

With a great many taxpayers set to receive an AUD $900 stimulus cheque in the mail from the Australian Federal Government, the $900 price of the TV is very clever indeed.

And with Australia’s PM Kevin Rudd known by his Kevin07 (2007) election slogan, his Kevin 247 non-stop work ethic and as Kevin747 for his propensity to have had more international travels in his time as PM than any PM before him, the “KEVIN37” LCD TV is a very clever name, too – bound to cause some controversy and media coverage, far more than any identical “Kogan37” TV might have created.

The timing of the KEVIN37 LCD TV is also exquisite. While available for “pre-purchase” today at Kogan’s website, it will ship to customers in April, just as many Australians get their free $900 stimulus bonus.

It’s something that will likely send those who criticise baby payments as “plasma payments” into paroxysms of rage, although we’ve a simple retort ready for Kogan: “hey, it’s not a plasma, it’s an LCD!”… although that will likely do little to soothe the critics.

Adding to the cheekiness is the free bonus of a KEVIN37 “free promotional T-Shirt”, matching the Kevin07 shirts that proved so popular in the lead-up to Kevin Rudd’s election – and likely set to draw even more ire from within Government ranks.

Indeed, the best thing that could possibly happen to Kogan following this announcement, aside from massive sales, would be some kind of Government rebuke, which would send traffic and sales into the stratosphere!

So, what does the shameless Ruslan Kogan have to say about his new KEVIN37 LCD TV? Please read on to page 2…