Ira C. Herbert's Arguments To Grove Press

Ira C. Herbert, an executive for the Coca-Cola company, formally writes to Grove Press, a small publishing company, addressing the issue that both companies are using a similar slogan to promote different products. The Coca-Cola company expresses extreme discontent with this occurrence and demands a repeal on the usage of the expression. Through an informal tone, Herbert expresses the problems that Grove Press has potentially caused Coca-Cola. In response, Richard Seaver, the vice president of Grove Press, clarifies all the misunderstandings in a stylish and sarcastic manner that enhances his response to Coca-Cola. He mocked the situation and the outlandish claims done by Herbert. Whereas Herbert’s letter was a more demanding professional letter, Seaver’s

Seaver mocks Herbert’s request using lines such as, “ We would certainly not want to dilute… nor diminish… but it did occur to us that since the slogan is so closely identified to your product…” (para 2). In other words, Seaver blatantly shows the irony in the letter by showing that the letter would not be necessary unless Coca-Cola is not selling as well as it usually does for it to be confused with a book. This criticism shows that Coca-Cola is threatened by competition and losing its place as one of the top selling companies. Adding insult to injury, this is done when Seaver states sarcastically, “We would be happy to give Coke the residual benefit of our advertising” (para 2). The essence of Seaver’s argument is that Grove Press, is going to sell its products, and if Coca-Cola wants a sum of the money, then Seaver’s Company will gladly oblige. Seaver is suggesting that Coca-Cola is consumed with greed and is power hungry to the extent of needing to remove all sorts of competition regardless of product. To sum up, Seaver demonstrates the destructive flaws within the Coca-Cola company that will turn the public against