Save 50% on a 3-month Digiday+ membership. Ends Dec 5.
Urban Outfitters is in trouble, but for not for selling a piece of tasteless clothing. This time, shoppers are dragging the retail chain for its sky-high prices with the hashtag #UrbanOutfittersBeLike.
The campaign was sparked by a shopper on Twitter calling out Urban for selling a 4-pack of ponytail hairbands for $8. (For comparisons sake, a similarly priced rubber band costs $3.69 for 16 of them on Amazon.)
Urban outfitters.. pic.twitter.com/UsfiLzLf8p
— groovygoonie (@wholeyattamoney) June 25, 2015
Since that ridiculousness was pointed out last Thursday, roughly 19,000 people tweeted using the hashtag according to social media analytics firm Topsy. The most popular tweets lash Urban for affixing a fancy name (i.e. “vintage clear boho beanie”) to a cheap everyday item (a shower cap.) as a way to justify its high prices.
Digiday reached out to Urban for comment, but have not yet heard back. In the mean time, here are the most popular tweets resonating with frustrated shoppers:
#UrbanOutfittersBeLike classic weekender tote bag $59.99 pic.twitter.com/rWWHajdpWw — . (@GRANTGOGETS) June 26, 2015
#UrbanOutfittersBeLike bohemian cookie decorated sewing equipment holder $55.99 pic.twitter.com/KkVXGrlPzy
— 陈怡蓉 (@TAMMYMAMl) June 26, 2015
#UrbanOutfittersBeLike Oriental Mesh Flatforms, $250 pic.twitter.com/7NAlwII3Ch — nah (@__BackToBlack) June 26, 2015
#UrbanOutfittersBeLike “Hand-Sewn Indonesian Summer Solstice Hair Beanie” Retail Price: $179.99. pic.twitter.com/AZ43lwhlRO
— Petty La’Belle. (@RukaTrue_) June 26, 2015
#UrbanOutfittersBeLike pure authentic cleansing dihydrogen monoxide, £65.00 pic.twitter.com/TWig5QltV5 — Year 11 Banter (@Year11Bants) June 26, 2015
#UrbanOutfittersBeLike Vintage Wood Grain Graphite Stick $37.30 pic.twitter.com/Ow7sT5Mhna
— Chris Chris (@ChrisChris011) June 26, 2015
#UrbanOutfittersBeLike pioneer khaki workout towel $54.76 pic.twitter.com/ErEk8TihNx — j o r d a n n (@Janaee03) June 26, 2015
#UrbanOutfittersBeLike 6-piece designer food storage set (microwave safe) $43.89 pic.twitter.com/8aTzvrDPba
— Jamilah Lemieux (@JamilahLemieux) June 26, 2015
More in Marketing
Future of Marketing Briefing: The tells and flops that will define Omnicom-IPG mega holdco
The real story will sit in how this newly fused entity behaves — whether it breaks from the patterns that defined both parents or simply scales them.
In Graphic Detail: CMOs at a crossroads of power and proof
CMOs are closing out another year defined by churn and shifting ground.
As Black Friday nears, fake apologies from brands are all over Instagram
Brands have taken to social media in advance of Bliack Friday to ask followers for forgiveness. The catch: They’re apologizing for their products being too good.