The New SCOTTEVEST Carry-On Coat

Last Monday we brought some clarity to the question of baggage fees and the conflict that erupted when SCOTTEVEST’s ad was rejected from Delta Sky Magazine. Millions of people have heard or read about the story in some form, but if you missed it you can read our post HERE. For more background, please skip to the bottom of this post, but the fun part is right below. So, all pun intended, let’s Carry-On!

At the end of last Monday’s post we mentioned that there was more to come… there was… and here it is..

On Friday, October 22, Scott will be submitting ads to in-flight magazines, including Delta Sky Magazine, for an entirely new product, the SCOTTEVEST Carry-On Coat, which has 33 pockets and is designed to hold enough wardrobe, toiletries and travel items for a weekend away… without bags.

Just how much can the Carry-On Coat hold?

The contest…

Tell us and Delta how a SCOTTEVEST can help save on baggage fees.

It is that simple and the prizes are great. You can do this in any number of ways.

We prefer video explanations via YouTube, but if you’re camera shy, feel free to just tell us in words; make it pithy, though.

Each Video and/or Post MUST end with the following statement: “That’s how SCOTTEVEST can save on baggage fees!”

You don’t need to have a SCOTTEVEST to enter, but if you do have an SeV product, feel free show us What’s In Your SCOTTEVEST.

Here’s an example of what you might enter into the contest. The coat I’m wearing is the new SeV Revolution; a full review is on the way.

Contest Details:

Deadline for all entries is 6PM PT on Friday, October 22

All entries MUST be posted in the comments section (below) – include your YouTube link and/or description below.

In your description on YouTube if you submit video, please include the following words: “What’s In Your SCOTTEVEST – Carry-On Contest”. Please be sure to tag your video: “SCOTTEVEST, Travel Clothing, Gear Diary, Carry-on, Delta, No Baggage Ad Contest” and include a link to both www.GearDiary.com and www.scottevest.com in your description. You still need to post a link to it in the comments below this article, or we might miss it.

Some suggestions for your entry:

What you would carry in your pockets that would otherwise require a bag?

What would you spend the extra money on instead of fees?

Where would you be going?

What are you going to be doing?

Check out prior WIYS (What’s In Your SCOTTEVEST) contest entries and www.NoBaggageChallenge.com for some ideas from Rolf Potts (and a separate contest).

We’re looking for creativity, cleverness, funniness, appropriateness (this needs to pass the magazine ad censors), and ultimately something we can quote in an ad running in airline magazines.

Prizes:

1st prize - 25,000 Delta Frequent Flyer Points transferred to your account (this is enough miles for a free US domestic flight), and a SCOTTEVEST Carry-On Coat. PLUS SCOTTEVEST will credit and use your story in their next inflight magazine ad (and likely their catalog & website as well)

2nd prize – SCOTTEVEST Carry-On Coat (and they will likely use your story in their catalog & website as well)
In addition, the top two entrants will be considered/interviewed for a No Baggage Challenge to make their “no baggage” story a reality

Other ways to WIN:

Tweet your entry and include @scottevest;  Scott’s favorite tweet will win a $150 SeV Gift Certificate

Post your entry on SCOTTEVEST’s Facebook Fan Page ; Scott’s favorite post will win $150 SeV Gift Certificate

Fine Print:

All entries MUST be posted into the comments on Gear Diary (below)

If you make a suggestion or submission (text or video), SCOTTEVEST will have the right to use this submission in future advertising, testimonials, etc. without compensation (other than the prizes to the winners)

Please keep in mind this is a family site, so let’s keep this very clean.

The winner will be announced on Monday, October 25, 2010.

SCOTTEVEST reserves the right to clarify the rules as needed.

Factors that will influence the winning entry:

• creativity and originality

• pithiness, i.e., short and clever catch phrases that are easily incorporated into our ad

• amount of views, ratings, comments, etc. that your specific entry may receive. So, please forward your entry to all your friends and ask them to rate/comment, etc.

The Background on the Story

We brought some clarity to the ongoing battle between Scott Jordan, founder and CEO of SCOTTEVEST (SeV), and Delta Sky Magazine. From our review of all the facts, it all came down to one fairly simple question: Do SCOTTEVEST products actually help passengers save on baggage fees, and if so, how? In sum, Delta says they don’t and can’t. Scott says they do and can.

We want to take Delta at their word when they claimed unequivocally that their motive for rejecting Scott’s ad had nothing to do with protecting revenues from luggage fees.

The LA Times reported that Delta rejected the ad because it “misleadingly suggested that passengers who stuff their belongings in the[ir] pockets don’t have to check bags.”

Scott’s not saying that you don’t have to check bags. Scott’s point is simply this: You’re only allowed one carry-on and a personal item. (Per Delta’s official, published carry-on policy, a jacket “does not count a personal item”. If you can’t fit everything you need into that one carry-on/personal item, you have to check a bag for the rest of your stuff. That checked bag costs on average about $25 per flight, or $50 per trip. By using a SCOTTEVEST to store those extra items, you MAY not need to check a bag. It’s that simple.

A passenger can travel light by using a SCOTTEVEST instead of a checked bag and/or carry-on, or they can supplement their carry-on with the extra carrying capacity afforded by a SCOTTEVEST. Bottom line: Scott’s products can hold a ton of stuff that you would otherwise need to put in a bag. Carrying more than one bag? Is your carry-on bigger than regulation size? Congratulations, now you have to check something… and pay for the privilege. When you get to your destination, unload your SCOTTEVEST and store your stuff.

SeV’s ability to save passengers from extra baggage fees is a fact that has been reported by some of the most respected media sources in the world, including the New York Times, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, Peter Greenberg on the Today Show, just to name a few. Moreover, it was documented in a six-week around-the-world “No Baggage Challenge” chronicled by noted travel writer Rolf Potts using only SCOTTEVEST clothing and no baggage.

I asked Scott how he came up with the name of the campaign, “Scottevest Carry-On Contest”. Scott’s answer…

“Simple. We want to move past the back and forth with Delta and “Carry On” with the business of the day. In fact, we’re so committed to doing this that we are even including a free ticket on Delta. They wouldn’t take my ad but I’m helping to support them. At the same time, I want to educate Delta and the flying public on a legitimate way to save money and look great doing it. That and the fact that just as this controversy was starting our most pocketed Carry-On additional/replacement was just being announced. So the name… it just worked. All that, and I’m a sucker for a good double entendre, as those who know me can attest. ”