NOP brand value after doping allegations

GradStudent wrote:

So I have a few questions:

1. Do you think the NOP brand image has been tarnished, improved, or stayed the same after the doping allegations?

2. Are you more willing or less willing to purchase merchandise from a group with these kinds of allegations against them?

3. Are you more willing or less willing to purchase merchandise from the organization that sponsors a group with these kinds of allegations against them?

4. If you see someone with merchandise from a suspect group, are you likely to think of them differently?

Thanks for your time!

1. The brand image has tarnished in my view.

2. Less willing.

3. Not as deterred from purchase as #2.

4. No, I won't think of them differently.

1. no

2. no

3. no

4. no

Just don't care about it at all. Good shoes are good shoes...

Yes, I do think the doping allegations hurt them.

However, I think their Olympic medals helped them.

And the brand as a whole has benefitted from marketing moves like Breaking 2.

So while the doping allegations hurt them, it seems to me that the brand is doing just fine.

1) Stayed the same since allegations.

2) Less willing to purchase from group.

3) Less willing to purchase from sponsor.

4) I would think differently of some fanboy wearing NOP gear.

Every couple of years I'll buy a Nike Pegasus to see how it's doing. This really has nothing to do with NOP, though.

1. Yes it has been tarnished but it has been slowly improving as we see young athletes like Murphy and Engels coming in. Also include that they are transitioning to a new coach and possibly a new system who know...

2. Less willing

3. I've been using Nike way before the allegations and I like the products more that I have my questions with the NOP team so I wouldn't be as swayed

4. Possibly but not too quick to judge

1. The brand image has tarnished in my view.

2. Less willing, but I don't know that I would have bought it in the first place (seems douchey if you're not a 13:15 5k'er)

3. Don't really care that strongly to "boycott" a company over it.

4. No, I won't think of them differently, for the most part. I think GR has probably crossed lines but the others are mostly grey/white zone, IMO.

1) stayed same (always seemed evil to me)

2) same (never would purchase Nike)

3) same (never would purchase Nike)

4) I might question their intelligence and knowledge

1. Tarnished

2. Less willing. I will not buy NOP gear.

3. Less willing. I'll still buy Nike gear if it's the best option, but not if there is an equivalent alternative. (tough to separate the effect the NOP allegations had on this from Nike's handling of other issues)

4. No, I don't think of them differently

[quote]GradStudent wrote:

1. Do you think the NOP brand image has been tarnished, improved, or stayed the same after the doping allegations?

I think it has been slightly tarnished after the allegations.

2. Are you more willing or less willing to purchase merchandise from a group with these kinds of allegations against them?

I am just as willing as I have always been, which is very willing.

3. Are you more willing or less willing to purchase merchandise from the organization that sponsors a group with these kinds of allegations against them?

I am just as willing as I always have been, which is pretty supportive.

4. If you see someone with merchandise from a suspect group, are you likely to think of them differently?

I will think of them just the same, I have no bad views on the NOP.

GradStudent wrote:

1. Do you think the NOP brand image has been tarnished, improved, or stayed the same after the doping allegations?

2. Are you more willing or less willing to purchase merchandise from a group with these kinds of allegations against them?

3. Are you more willing or less willing to purchase merchandise from the organization that sponsors a group with these kinds of allegations against them?

4. If you see someone with merchandise from a suspect group, are you likely to think of them differently?

1. To who? I'd be shocked if anyone that doesn't visit these message boards has heard of NOP. I make my wife watch every T&F event and marathon on TV and i'm sure she's never heard of them. To me meh, a little bit but they're probably not much scummier than anyone else out there.

2. N/A. I'd feel like a tool wearing a NOP singlet, just as I would wearing one from BTC, Hansons-Brooks or anyone else.

3. I already think Nike sucks and try to avoid them if I can get an equal product from someone else. Nothing to do with NOP but their business practices in general. But I do have a pair of 4%s

4. See #2. I'd just think the person was a tool.

1. Do you think the NOP brand image has been tarnished, improved, or stayed the same after the doping allegations?

Mildly tarnished, nothing concrete has stuck to them but it doesn't look good.

2. Are you more willing or less willing to purchase merchandise from a group with these kinds of allegations against them?

Less willing, I'm not very likely to buy team branded merchandise anyways so a potential scandal seals it for me.

3. Are you more willing or less willing to purchase merchandise from the organization that sponsors a group with these kinds of allegations against them?

I am assuming this means "will you still buy nike" yeah they make good products. If the NOP allegations ever stick it is just one bad apple.

4. If you see someone with merchandise from a suspect group, are you likely to think of them differently?

Someone who is a fan? Probably not, if someone wears Penn State clothing I don't instantly think that they support child abuse.

Have not purchased a Nike product in well over a decade. No plans to purchase any of their products in the future. I did not care about the NOP before or after allegations. Buncha dorks if you ask me.

OP -

You may want to clarify - are you asking about the "Oregon Project" team ... or Nike as a whole company?

1. Tarnished

2. Less willing

3. Less willing, but only somewhat. I still purchase Nike products, but will not purchase any NOP gear.

4. If they are actually a runner from the NOP, I am automatically skeptical of them. However if it is a regular runner in a local race with NOP gear, I figure most of them are just ignorant of the allegations and like the NOP winged-skull design (which does look pretty cool)

1. I think the brand has been tarnished but fans will always be fans to the end. I was never a fan of the NOP group from the beginning before the allegations and investigations solely based on the athlete's personalities- I just felt like other teams had athletes that were more relatable, friendly, & likable.

2. Similar to above I definitely won't buy any of their products now - but then again I was unlikely to in the first place. I am of the group that feels guilty for wearing my livestrong merchandise (I have a pair of shorts bought many years ago that are my favorite and I can't give them up) so I am definitely not going to be purchasing any NOP gear.

3. As far as Nike goes if it is the best option I will still be likely to purchase Nike products however these types of allegations has caused me to do a bit more shopping in which I first check to make sure there isn't comparable items within the realms of New Balance, Saucony, Brooks, or Addidas before automatically purchasing a Nike product.

4. Yes, I will think they aren't much of a student of the sport. I think NOP is really bad for track in America specifically look at what Lance did to American cycling? when is the last time you saw an American in the top 10 of the tour?

NOP is not a brand, nor do they care about that. Nike is the brand.

NOP is a track club, with the focus on creating world class distance running athletes. They do not care about marketing and merchandising, because their operation does not depend on that. Their operation depends on the results

of their athletes.

Selling products is not needed to financially support their initiative, and they don't care about being liked or disliked.

Congratulations on answering 0 of the 4 questions.

Oh no! I did the same!

Ok, Mr. “Grad Student”, I hope you don’t actually believe that you’re going to get meaningful, representative data from a damn Letsrun thread. There are obvious issues with sample population, size, and nonresponse bias. The people who will even have a chance to see this thread are better informed about NOP allegations than 99.9% of the purchasing public. Furthermore, the vast majority of the people who will even click on this thread are self-selected to hate NOP. And among those who actually respond, almost every person will be among those who hate them.