Tweet/Facebook Updates - Bachelorette 8 - Discussion

Does anyone know if the Bachelorette blogging crew will have early access to the finale episode? I don't use Twitter so I don't know if any of them have mentioned anything.

Nibbles22 wrote:Probably feel differently if it were an Arie related Company!

I wouldn't. Most companies donate to worthy causes in one way or the other--they just don't advertise it--they just do it. The advertising of drop for drop is what I don't care for. Who knows what that means? I guess some people want expensive water in plastic bottles--their choice. It's just not mine. But it has no bearing on whether it's 1F's or Arie's company.

Amberish wrote:Wow, I have somewhat similar professional background as you, at least 6 years of it back in the days of the big eight!

That said, I think we both know what we are talking about. PW is a tiny little start up based out of Utah, and not sure at all why they would even want a California connection. Would they have really incorporated here? These are the details that I don't know.

I don't know if PW is even marketing their product in California, I doubt that very much given the lawsuit filed against ENSO and two companies using their technology - one based in California and another in NJ, I think. As regards incorporating in California, that is a a matter of no importance at this stage [just my personal opinion and you would, am sure, understand why]. Anyway, I am also sure that the PW counsels are aware of the restrictions or the 'Dos and Don'ts' in states they distribute their products to and would decide/act accordingly. I am not a lawyer and will not pretend to know the law but it would behoove me as an 'accounting professional' to know the basics in matters impacting my work. I think it is essentially much ado about nothing: if they are not doing business there, why even 'prosecute' them in public opinion court? As we all are aware of, what is illegal in one jurisdiction, may not be necessarily illegal in another.

BTW, I have no problem with the lawsuits as these will simply encourage further research/study probing further/in-depth the science behind the technology. Advancement happens because of people who dare to take the risk ... blaze new horizons. The cost seems too much but if a 'Christiaan Barnard' did not do what he did, our understanding of the human heart would not have advanced as where it is now. Just my 2-cents.

Maybe someone could tweet '@peoplewater' and ask them exactly what percentage of their profits goes to charity? I mean assuming anyone actually cares about getting this question answered.

And someone (again assuming they care) could also tweet them and point out all the things the company could be doing more efficiently and effectively and maybe People Water will implement better policies and procedures and do better in the future.

For me personally, (not saying anyone has to feel this way), I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt that they are a new company, doing the best they can, still learning as they go, and maybe when they know better they will do better. (Paraphrasing Maya Angelou here.) There is always hope where people have good intentions.

beader wrote:

Nibbles22 wrote:Probably feel differently if it were an Arie related Company!

I wouldn't. Most companies donate to worthy causes in one way or the other--they just don't advertise it--they just do it. The advertising of drop for drop is what I don't care for. Who knows what that means? I guess some people want expensive water in plastic bottles--their choice. It's just not mine. But it has no bearing on whether it's 1F's or Arie's company.

That is the fundamental makeup of PW, and why it was established. It only makes sense to advertise it as such. Honestly, this would NOT be an issue if it was a company run by Arie! In fact I've asked numerous times for someone to specifically tell me what Arie does to give back, and I'm not talking about sales for his 'team Arie' tshirts either! It's just another ridiculous topic for Arie fans to find fault with Jef, and quite frankly it's getting old!

Speaking of the PW slogan 'drop for drop' ... it may sound a bit disingenuous to use that as a marketing tool but given the 'outcome' of the project, it does make sense. Once the well is dug out in the right spot and deemed drinkable, the benefits for its beneficiaries are enormous and almost infinite. I prefer not to look at it literally, I guess, because some things, I feel, have more depth/substance than how it is articulated. Again, my not so authoritative or, quite possibly, ill-advised take of things.

I assume PW has no profits. It is barely in incubator start up mode. It will need to plow everything it and its angel investors have into cracking the monumental "shelf space" challenges characterizing the cutthroat consumer beverage industry.

We are just now seeing a launch strategy unfolding.

BUT unlike many in the Do-Good/For-Profit space PW's pledge (drop for drop) is not tied to profits; it's tied to volume of water purchased by consumers. They don't have the luxury of waiting for profits. They have to Do-The-Good from the first drop of water they sell.

3) What’s unique about PW is they prepay for the well projects and assign each water bottle and well project with a QR code and a water batch number that corresponds with that well project. As the bottles are sold, a percentage of the sale is used to pay down each well project. If you would like to help fund a well project, purchase a bottle of People Water, scan the QR code, and follow your water project.

That's the crux of the missing disclosure, that would be important/relevant from a consumer protection standpoint.

It all boils down to a percentage of sale. What's the percentage.

And also, what goes into pre-paying for wells? Sales projections? So far, they have done three. How much was pre-paid for each?

How hard would it be to Tweet that out, or blog about it, particularly at this "break out" moment where 100,000 FanGirls and others are momentarily focused on @jefholm? I might be blown away by their generosity, quit this job I've loved for 20 years, and sell the bottles down the street from a street cart in front of the Federal Trade Commission, starting with David Vladeck himself, LOL!

instinct wrote:

Nibbles22 wrote:Probably feel differently if it were an Arie related Company!

Speaking only for myself, no, I wouldn't. The information that has been presented is about as factual and impartial as could be. I started out the show completely neutral about Jef, and what I've learned about PW has definitely lowered my opinion of him, every bit as much as it would have lowered my opinion of Arie or whomever else. My opinions always evolve based on inputs, as long as they're based on facts not hyperbole.

Unfortunately, certain socalled 'facts' are as relative as the persons doing the reviewing/observing. If it isn't so, we wouldn't be litigating so many things in court today. I remember the ad "the drink that refreshes" ... [not a direct quote, I think] and, I thought, the drink made me puke. Evidently, it did not work for me but, I guess, I belong to the minority so should I dismiss that ad as misleading? Certainly not! The saying "different strokes for different folks," makes sense!

Amberish wrote:

gurlbrit wrote:

cherryyou wrote:

Amberish wrote:

cherryyou wrote:I get what you are saying but it's rather presumptuous to suggest that PW is doing deceptive advertising. The fact that PW is providing a 'trace' _ "purchase a bottle of People Water, scan the QR code, and follow your water project." _ for how the percentage of the sale is allocated, they are 100% opening themselves to full disclosure. Their accounting team will definitely make sure that the information relating to that claim will be readily available and accessible to the auditors who will review the numbers for veracity (I know I would ask the accounting department/section to prepare the requisite schedule/reports for auditing purposes). As someone who had dealt with accounting-related issues with independent auditors, I can tell you that this sort of claim invites close scrutiny from visiting auditors and if the claim is not fully substantiated and accounted for, the firm _ in this case PW_ can face serious fines and, worst _ incarceration. Anyway, I don't think this is the forum to discuss this subject. I appreciate the information shared relating to the subject as it is very instructive but, I think, it is rather myopic to assume the worst without knowing the other relevant and pertinent facts, in this case, the role of 'accounting-auditing' in this issue.

PW is 100% opening themselves to full disclosure? Really? Where did you read that, their website?

So this little, privately owned company will open their books for whom? Me, if I ask them to? Hmm, I'd be willing to wager BIG money that's never gonna happen, because PW doesn't have to, unless and until sued by my home State of California, and we will sue, because we do that. In California, we're sue happy ... we love them consumer advocacy lawsuits and especially them whopper settlements.

No, I didn't read that in their website. I guess, as a former controller-accountant for a couple of multi-million dollar companies, I know a little bit about the issue I am talking about. I understand my background is nothing compared to some people's here but I speak from real experience [not just academia]. I guess by 'full disclosure' you meant doing it publicly? First of all, PW is a privately-owned company and as long as, accounting-wise, their practice is in compliance with the law, they have nothing to worry about. BTW, I lived in LA county for 2 decades so I am aware of the state's litigation-prone culture.

Morning cherryyou and Amberish. I always thought that NJ was the most litigious State in the Nation. I learned something today, it has been said that NJ has the most lawyer's per capita than any other State. Ah well, lawyers make the money and the rest of us lose!

I have a couple of clients your way and am well aware of New Jersey's litigation lovefest, but you are such a tiny state. If only because of size, we are and will always be the much bigger buliy!

ROFL yep, lived in Cali too back in the 80's, you can drive from one end
of NJ to the other in less than 3 hrs (as long as you don't get caught
in traffic). Watch out for the State Patrollers though, love to give out
tickets....

Welcome to NJ, let me give you a traffic ticket!

Well .. A couple of weeks ago PW did post that the sale of the TEAMJEF shirts had already paid down 1/2 of the project

I think it is great they build the wells but realistically they need someone there that can maintain and keep them working.

I don't do Twitter, so will someone who does, please let me know if there are any new and interesting tweets?