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Microsoft employees force coolness...fail miserably

Posted Nov 17th, 2009 at 8:17 PM and seen
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Microsoft has once again reinforced its reputation as the Mr. Belding of tech companies, painfully unhip and forever chasing down Zach Morris (Apple in this little “Saved by the Bell” analogy).

Employees at Microsoft’s Apple-look-a-like store in Mission Viejo broke into a not so spontaneous ass-shaking version of the Electric Slide. And you thought playing Pin the Tail on the Donkey at last year’s office holiday party was embarrassing.

Fair Warning: The video is nearly five minutes long and you deserve a cookie if you can make it all the way through.

Slightly cooler Microsoft news (no dancing, I promise).

 Annie Colbert

Comments (38)

Nov 17, 2009
Michael Holmes said...
I'm sorry...I tried...but I couldn't get past 24 seconds. Seemed a bit embarrasing :(
Nov 17, 2009
Michael Holmes said...
Wait...I found the courage...the electric slide??
Nov 17, 2009
randygoldman said...
mine gout!!!!! electric slide....in 2009??? really???
Nov 17, 2009
Deobrat Singh said...
What on earth is that?
Nov 17, 2009
Monica Brady said...
um... lame... I'm still not going to ever set foot in a Microsoft store..
Nov 17, 2009
Adit said...
Epic Fail!!
Nov 17, 2009
Aric Monts-Homkey said...
Fail! Microsoft should stop trying so hard to be like the other, cooler, more hip guy wearing t-shirt and jeans.
Nov 17, 2009
GaryVinz said...
Who will waste a cookie for this man....this is what happens when every thing becomes scripted, I believe all those who participated did enjoy the fun bit @ the end "howling!!" the rest was like job for them...
Nov 17, 2009
mishlamanda said...
The electric slide to the beat of I Gotta Feeling by the Peas? ... Um no.
Nov 17, 2009
CrAshRus said...
I hope the Black Eyed Peas find the meanest, toughest lawyers on the planet and sue Redmond for billions to the power of trillions!
Nov 17, 2009
Boo said...
I'm so embarrassed for them...
Nov 18, 2009
Stan Xhiao said...
I used to work at Walmart HQ. Every Saturday, all the senior managers gathered for a meeting, and they started it with a "spontaneous" dance/cheer like this. I was so embarrassed for all those 800 fat, middle-aged wanna-bes.
Nov 18, 2009
reachstudents said...
It is terrible (even the customers are bored) but for me, being so awkwardly uncool MAKES them cool.
Nov 18, 2009
hybridstar said...
dang... why am i still using microsoft products... fail.
Nov 18, 2009
Kerry said...
So sad.... so so sad.
Nov 18, 2009
brian from nodebtworldtravel.com said...
I stopped after 34 seconds. Note to Microsoft - you become hip when you put out cool, interesting, fun products. Not when your employees dance around a store.
Nov 18, 2009
BurgessComputer said...
1:37 That's what we could watch...ouch!
Nov 18, 2009
Thomas Gemkow said...
Meanwhile, 18 customers walk out and go buy a Mac due to lack of good customer service...
Nov 18, 2009
Sue said...
I made it to 53 seconds.
Nov 18, 2009
johnbeagle said...
Call me a nurd, but that was cool. Looks like customers and employees were all having a good time. Good dancing is overrated anyway.
Nov 18, 2009
Anthony Sicola said...
Simply awful. If my favorite geniuses at the Apple Store ever pulled a stunt like this, I'd switch to Linux.
Nov 18, 2009
Anonymous said...
Not Microsoft... Metoosoft.
Nov 18, 2009
QueenGeek said...
this is why i'm a windows admin that owns a mac....truly sad. kinda reminds me of the coke vs. pepsi commercials.
Nov 18, 2009
bri said...
Congrats to BurgessComputer - I could only manage 1:19... would have been way better if they actually sang the song... besides bad dancing and clapping of hands...or not - really, I guess there's no saving this... must turn away now... oh the shame...
Nov 18, 2009
Cee said...
OMG! PLZ say this isn't so! Could this be the new customer sevice ploy for Microsoft , honestly.
Nov 18, 2009
kevin_white said...
who's helping the customers?! they all left and went to the apple store.
Nov 18, 2009
Myself said...
Aw, come on, guys! Let them have their "Oprah moment." Had the customers all joined them, we'd all be saying how much fun it was. Wrong on many levels but they get points for trying.
Nov 18, 2009
Scott said...
IS that chick shoplifting at 2:14?
Nov 18, 2009
mindianajones said...
aw, come on now - it wasn't THAT bad! clearly, it lasted way too long, and i did have to wonder who was helping the customers while the employees were electric sliding, but there were a few customers dancing with them at the end. it looked kinda fun, if you were just browsing - which (i think) is what most people do in stores like that, anyway. (otherwise, that's some very counterproductive branding...)
Nov 18, 2009
Jeff Betts said...
Scott: good eye! That's hilarious! I think it's a flyer or piece of paper...
Nov 18, 2009
cwaturner said...
I knew there was a reason i switched to Mac...
Nov 18, 2009
christina said...
ya.. all i can think is: for 5 minutes.. who is helping the customer?!?!?!?!?
Nov 18, 2009
Albert Maruggi said...
Thanks @GuyKawasaki for sharing this one. It's classic.First I'm not a MAC guy, second I'm an observer of society, business and communications. this is classic in that a store that is patterned after Apple, they go an do a dance where everyone is to be in step. Ah! this is an era when the individual is recognized for what they uniquely contribute to the community. Sorry folks nothing personal.
Nov 18, 2009
Colum Donnelly said...
I made it through the five minutes and now………... I need CPR!
Nov 18, 2009
Kyle Kivet said...
First of all, I think the Black Eyed Peas are a good match for Microsoft - both are wildly popular (for reasons unknown to true artists in their field) and make a product that is at best mediocre, and at worst less than useless.

Second, since this is the marketing idea that won, what were the ideas that were rejected? This is really the best idea they had?

Nov 19, 2009
Mike said...
Way to go Microsoft. Copying something that already been done...

And doing it badly I might add. Reminds me of their software products...

Nov 20, 2009
joelangston said...
Yeah.... Who's the hottie in the green shirt? ;-)
Dec 26, 2009
tried, but no good said...
I tried, but I couldn't get past a minute.

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