Man Sticks QR Code In Metro Washrooms So People Buy His Product, 'Impress Your Loved One'
QR codes are popping up everywhere nowadays, especially with digital marketing becoming so popular. But perhaps the most surprising location? Washrooms! And what's even more unexpected is what you can do with these QR codes - you can purchase chocolates. Wondering why chocolates are being sold in washrooms? It's all part of a clever strategy known as guerrilla marketing.
Guerilla marketing refers to a marketing strategy that focuses on unconventional, low-cost tactics to promote a product, service, or brand. It often involves using creativity and imagination to grab the attention of the target audience in unexpected ways.?
Man slyly puts QR code to own product in metro station
A 31-year-old man, claiming to be a startup entrepreneur in the chocolate-making business, took guerrilla marketing to the extreme and ended up getting arrested.
His mistake? He slyly placed QR code stickers in the washrooms of various metro stations across the city.
The stickers, bearing the tagline "Impress your loved ones with dzir. SCAN ME!," were the brainchild of the suspect, Arun, a resident of Talaghattapura.
Arun's modus operandi involved traveling on the Green Line from Silk Institute to Rajajinagar Metro station on April 22 to paste the stickers.?
The following day, he repeated the process on the Purple Line, starting from Kengeri Metro station.?
However, his spree came to an end when he was apprehended at Deepanjali Nagar.
According to a police officer, Arun would disembark at each station, quickly enter the gents' washroom, and strategically affix the stickers above the urinal commode.?
This way, anyone using the washroom would be drawn to the catchy tagline and encouraged to scan the QR code.
No advertisement allowed on metro premises without permission
Arun was apprehended by Metro housekeeping staff at Deepanjali Nagar station on April 23.
According to the complaint filed by Chandrashekharaiah, aged 62, an assistant security officer at the same station, Arun was caught around 2:45 pm while placing stickers in the station's washroom.?
Chandrashekharaiah stated that Arun claimed the QR code was simply for promoting his products, such as chocolates.
Upon being caught, Arun admitted to the act but asserted that he was unaware it constituted a crime.
Metro officials clarified that any form of advertisement within their premises requires prior permission, and the advertiser must adhere to specific procedures and pay the Metro for the privilege.
"A case under the Prevention of Destruction and Loss of Property Act, Karnataka Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, and IPC section 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) has been registered. Arun was arrested and released on station bail. After polls, we will once again question him in detail," stated a police officer.
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