The other night my kids wanted Kentcky Fried Chicken for dinner. Being the manipulative little monsters clever children that they are, all they had to do was mention PETA's opposition to KFC to convice me to go there.
Today I read that PETA is protesting Mercedes-Benz leather interiors. It seems that several of the company's cars are only available with leather interior.
A company official claimed that she was "not aware of a single customer who has requested … a leather-free car" and not been accommodated. PETA, however, is aware of many—including a Texas businesswoman who tore the leather upholstery out of her brand-new Mercedes CL-500 and returned it to DaimlerChrysler headquarters and B-52’s frontwoman, Kate Pierson, who was told that she would have to wait nearly a year for a Mercedes ML320 SUV with nonleather seats. PETA has also heard from people who opted not to buy a Mercedes after the automaker refused their requests for nonleather upholstery.
I don't understand why the woman in Texas bought a car and then tore out the seats. If you're spending close to $100,000 for a car, wouldn't you check these things out before you bought it? Buying it, tearing it up, and then returning it sounds like the actions of an unstable person. This begs for more information about this unnamed woman.
A company that produces a luxury item is ignoring its customers wants? Let's do some fact checking...
The ML320 is available in two trim levels, Classic and Elegance. The Elegance has heated, electrically adjustable leather seats (versus cloth), sunroof and premium audio. There is no mechanical difference between the two....As evidence of the M-Class’ acceptance in the market, there is a waiting list of almost two years for it in some parts of the country....
Well, then, compared to a two-year wait for the SUV, one year doesn't sound that bad.
I can afford KFC. I can't afford a Mercedes. If anyone wants to help me defy PETA's protest by buying one for me just let me know when to pick it up from my local dealer.
I'm only asking this out of self-centered greed the desire to slap back at PETA. I'm even willing to take the less expensive (only about $40,000) SUV instead of the CL500. You get the good feelings from helping my protest for less than half the price of the other car! I'll even treat you to a dinner at KFC to celebrate.