Free Essays on Firestone

Firestone tires could have avoided many of their legal and public relations problems if they’d used the template Johnson and Johnson established in the 1982 Tylenol scare. That’s the conclusion reached by Bob Garfield in an article in the August 28, 2000 issue of AdAge. The author compares the similarities of the problems both companies faced, and the differences in the recovery process Johnson and Johnson took in the Tylenol scare versus what Bridgestone/Firestone is doing to combat the negative publicity, and regain their customers’ trust. In October 1982, several individuals died as a result of Tylenol capsules contaminated with cyanide. In an effort to save lives, Johnson & Johnson, the makers of Tylenol, recalled every single bottle in the country, no matter whether they were on the store shelf or your bathroom shelf. They also shut down all production and distribution of the medication. Johnson & Johnson publicized the recall with full-page newspaper ads and stories on the news. They had an open policy and were willing to answer any questions at the expense of their good name. As stated in the article, it was a public relations nightmare for the company, but Johnson and Johnson had a â€Å"quick and thorough response†, and the public’s appreciation of its honesty and an expertly handled ad campaign helped retain most of their customers. Unlike J&J, Firestone’s initial reaction to their nightmare did not inspire public trust. A couple of years ago, when dozens of people died in Ford Explorers equipped with Firestone tires, the Bridgestone/Firestone Corp. did not launch an ad campaign to inform, and regain the trust of the public. Instead they launched a mudslinging campaign against Ford that ultimately resulted in the termination of their 100 year old business relationship. In fact, because of their slow action and ne... Free Essays on Firestone Free Essays on Firestone Firestone tires could have avoided many of their legal and public relations problems if they’d used the template Johnson and Johnson established in the 1982 Tylenol scare. That’s the conclusion reached by Bob Garfield in an article in the August 28, 2000 issue of AdAge. The author compares the similarities of the problems both companies faced, and the differences in the recovery process Johnson and Johnson took in the Tylenol scare versus what Bridgestone/Firestone is doing to combat the negative publicity, and regain their customers’ trust. In October 1982, several individuals died as a result of Tylenol capsules contaminated with cyanide. In an effort to save lives, Johnson & Johnson, the makers of Tylenol, recalled every single bottle in the country, no matter whether they were on the store shelf or your bathroom shelf. They also shut down all production and distribution of the medication. Johnson & Johnson publicized the recall with full-page newspaper ads and stories on the news. They had an open policy and were willing to answer any questions at the expense of their good name. As stated in the article, it was a public relations nightmare for the company, but Johnson and Johnson had a â€Å"quick and thorough response†, and the public’s appreciation of its honesty and an expertly handled ad campaign helped retain most of their customers. Unlike J&J, Firestone’s initial reaction to their nightmare did not inspire public trust. A couple of years ago, when dozens of people died in Ford Explorers equipped with Firestone tires, the Bridgestone/Firestone Corp. did not launch an ad campaign to inform, and regain the trust of the public. Instead they launched a mudslinging campaign against Ford that ultimately resulted in the termination of their 100 year old business relationship. In fact, because of their slow action and ne...