CR Blog
Customer service, SNCF style
Posted by Eliza Williams, 3 September 2010, 14:05 Permalink Comments (13)
DDB Paris has created a set of amusing ads for French rail company SNCF, which show five passengers receiving epic, personalised greetings when arriving at Gare l'Est in Paris...
The ads, directed by Glue Society's Matt Devine, aim to promote the services of the online booking website, voyages-sncf.com. To emphasis the personal touch of the site, five travellers are captured on film receiving a tailor-made welcome when they arrive at the station - Sylvie, a heavy metal fan, is greeted by a rawk band (top), while a young chap called Fabien is mobbed by screaming women (above).
Elsewhere, romantic Gabrielle is uncomfortably serenaded by an uber-tanned Liberace lookalike, and Aurélien is beseiged by kung fu fighters.
In the final spot, kiddies Jade and Jenna get greeted by a batch of excitable clowns. While all this activity might put you off travelling via Gare l'Est, the passengers in the ads (mostly) seem to take it all in their stride. We wonder how many less cheerful reactions to being surprised in this way ended up on the cutting room floor....
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13 Comments
I absolutely love these. Especially Fabien, that made me laugh hard. It's great the genuine surprise on their faces and the by standers - makes it all the more memorable and relatable. Welldone DDB.
2010-09-03 21:16:13
We wonder how many less cheerful reactions to being surprised in this way ended up on the cutting room floor
2010-09-04 02:47:35
brilliant
2010-09-04 09:48:21
I cant figure out what's going on in the kung fu one. Are they fighting for his honour or something?
A
2010-09-04 13:56:40
AMAZING, how wonful had it been if that little girl was scared out of her mind by clowns and her dad got make-up on his knuckles
2010-09-04 18:41:34
"Advertising signs the con you into thinking you´re the one that can do what´s never been done, that can win what´s never been won. Meantime life outside goes on all around you."
Bob Dylan
2010-09-05 11:46:26
Awesome, this is making cool ads to talk about and share. Excellent, happy surprises for the everyday customer.
2010-09-06 02:48:26
wow..I am missing this..I was there in Nice,France last year same time...been to Paris many times..
2010-09-07 06:57:08
These are fantastic! Really uplifting, and humourous. The Liberace one especially!
2010-09-07 13:47:33
Shameful.
2010-09-13 17:06:47
These are fantastic! Great work! Love the rock band greeting. She's so surprised, the cynic in me wonders… actor?
2010-10-28 08:19:01
omg this is amazin, and so much better than the T-Mobile one. The "personal touch" message is very clear.
2010-10-28 10:31:32
Fantastic adverts, I particularly liked the Kung-fu one, and I agree with the above comment, it is a lot better than the T-mobile advert, it is more fun, interesting and it was funny!
2010-10-28 18:34:19
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