WHIRLPOOL HIT WITH ANOTHER INDIA CONTROVERSY
By Adnews Staff
U.S.-based Whirlpool Corp.'s Indian subsidiary has found itself in hot water recently because it is giving away gifts with purchases. India's fair-practices watchdog has set up an inquiry into the scheme after a complaint by rival refrigerator maker Godrej-GE Appliances, the company that leads India's refrigerator market with a 40% share. Under Whirlpool's promotion, customers scratch a card when they purchase a Whirlpool product. They could win such items as a home, two Opel Astra and three Maruti Suzuki cars, food processors and wall clocks. A print campaign supports the promotion. It was created by Contract Advertising of Bombay using the headline, "We've already won over millions of hearts. Now you can get millions in gifts." The appliance maker ran into controversy last month when it had to pull an ad claiming to be the number-1 marketer of refrigerators and washing machines in India last year.