No Way, Ebay

Christmas. It’s an Advent Sunday on Zurich’s Bahnhofstrasse. Vladimir and Olga are arguing loudly. Passersby are standing around them, looking completely confused. V: «Who is this gift for?»
O: «For my sister.»
W: «I have a different one for Anouschka.»
O: «Why?»
W: «She’ll get a cheaper one.»
O: «And who is that for?»
W: «For my father.»
O: «He’s getting the expensive designer bag.»
W: «Of course.»
O: «Your family always gets the very best.»
W: «Yes, because your family didn’t pay for the wedding.»
Bodyguard:
«We have to go. People are watching.»
Olga throws a gift at Vladimir.
W: «You bitch. That candlestick is one of a kind.»
O: «I don’t care. I paid for it anyway.»
W: «With what money, please? I’m the one paying for everything.»
O: «In your dreams. My family is richer. And my sister is getting this gift.»
W: «Why are these people standing around us?»
O: «They’re Swiss. We’re in Zurich. Don’t you know that?»
Bodyguard:
«The situation is too dangerous. We have to leave.»
W+O: «I love you.»
What reads here as a dispute between two newly wealthy Russians (short version) was actually a staged guerrilla marketing campaign two weeks ago. The message: eBay.ch makes pre-Christmas shopping completely stress-free. The concept was developed by the Basel-based agency Favo. As funny and entertaining as the stunt was, none of the passersby realized that eBay.ch was promoting itself. (cl)