# Inappropriate business or product names? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 26, 2006, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-business-or-product-names/362143 "2006-06-26T01:06:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-business-or-product-names/362143/21 "2006-06-26T18:20:18Z")
Kinda makes me want to tear out my esophagus with barbecue tongs every time I pass a bar in my town called “Whiskey Dick’s” It’s typical of the fratboy mentality of the town and has led me to want to open up a cat bathing and grooming shop across the street called “The Wet Pussy” ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-business-or-product-names/362143/22 "2006-06-26T18:39:32Z")
I hate it when restaurants give themselves unappealing names, like Tubby’s, or restaurants that serve a variety of items but use one particular type of food in their names, like Macaroni Grill. Bleh. ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-business-or-product-names/362143/23 "2006-06-26T18:55:07Z")
[QUOTE=WordMan] - In Hispanic countries, Chevy continued to market a care by the name of Nova. But “no va” in Spanish, means “it doesn’t go” - bit of a branding issue there… [/QUOTE] I hate to break it to you, but this myth has been debunked. Check Snopes on this story. I’m feeling too lazy to link to the Snopes article myself. ---
**Author:** ![Subway\_Prophet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@Subway\_Prophet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Subway_Prophet)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-business-or-product-names/362143/24 "2006-06-26T19:09:53Z")
[QUOTE=WordMan] - In Hispanic countries, Chevy continued to market a care by the name of Nova. But “no va” in Spanish, means “it doesn’t go” - bit of a branding issue there… [/QUOTE] Snoped. > **[FACT CHECK: Did the Chevrolet Nova Fail to Sell in Spanish-Speaking Countries?](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/chevrolet-nova-name-spanish/)** > > Did the Chevrolet Nova sell poorly in Spanish-speaking countries? > [@](#): > > - in the 1920’s, I think, Coca-Cola wanted to market Coke in China, so had someone come up with the Chinese characters that had the phonetic sound of “Coca Cola” and they proceeded to market it under that name. But apparently the characters themselves translated roughly to “bite the wax tadpole.” Snoped again. > **[Bite the Wax Tadpole](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/bite-the-wax-tadpole/)** > > Did Coca-Cola translate its name into a Chinese phrase meaning 'bite the wax tadpole'? Though I just love the ultimate bandnameness which is “Bite the Wax Tadpole”. There seriously needs to be a band. I frequently have lurid visions of what their on-stage gimmick may be. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-business-or-product-names/362143/25 "2006-06-26T19:14:42Z")
[QUOTE=hajario] There used to be a diet pill that was heavily advertised on TV in the 70’s. It was called A.I.D.S. By the late 70’s, they had changed their name to A.Y.D.S. but I doubt that they survived the unfortunate choice of name. “A.I.D.S. will make you lose weight fast!” Ugh. [/QUOTE] The name of the diet candy was always Ayds. I know. I had some in 1970. Ayds. There’s a local delivery service named Guaranteed Overnight Delivery. Their trucks have a huge “G.O.D.” on them. Some religious people have complained. ---
**Author:** ![TheBoneyKingofNowhere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@TheBoneyKingofNowhere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBoneyKingofNowhere)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-business-or-product-names/362143/26 "2006-06-26T19:16:49Z")
Once a year or so I’ll see a semi-truck at a construction site that on the side of the trailer, in large capital letters, reads: DAVIS ERECTION COMPANY. Always makes me smirk 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Subway\_Prophet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@Subway\_Prophet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Subway_Prophet)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-business-or-product-names/362143/27 "2006-06-26T19:29:35Z")
[QUOTE=TheBoneyKingofNowhere] Once a year or so I’ll see a semi-truck at a construction site that on the side of the trailer, in large capital letters, reads: DAVIS ERECTION COMPANY. [/QUOTE] Then there’s the [Schwing concrete pump trucks](http://www.schwing.com/01_cpumps/index.html). “Our broad line of concrete pumps allows you to grow with Schwing”, tee hee. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-business-or-product-names/362143/28 "2006-06-26T19:56:25Z")
[QUOTE=Subway Prophet] Snoped. > **[FACT CHECK: Did the Chevrolet Nova Fail to Sell in Spanish-Speaking Countries?](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/chevrolet-nova-name-spanish/)** > > Did the Chevrolet Nova sell poorly in Spanish-speaking countries? Snoped again. > **[Bite the Wax Tadpole](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/bite-the-wax-tadpole/)** > > Did Coca-Cola translate its name into a Chinese phrase meaning 'bite the wax tadpole'? Though I just love the ultimate bandnameness which is “Bite the Wax Tadpole”. There seriously needs to be a band. I frequently have lurid visions of what their on-stage gimmick may be. 🙂 [/QUOTE] cool - thanks for the Snopes references - I am fully debunked! What’s funny is that both of these were taught in my business school as 100% legit… ---
**Author:** ![Gorgon\_Heap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-business-or-product-names/362143/29 "2006-06-26T20:27:38Z")
**Subway** … BIMBO! [Answers - The Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions](http://www.answers.com/topic/bimbo) ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-business-or-product-names/362143/30 "2006-06-26T22:26:18Z")
[QUOTE=TheBoneyKingofNowhere] Once a year or so I’ll see a semi-truck at a construction site that on the side of the trailer, in large capital letters, reads: DAVIS ERECTION COMPANY. Always makes me smirk 🙂 [/QUOTE] There was a company in Edinburgh or thereabouts named “Spook Erections”. I think perhaps they are responsible for phantom pregnancies. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-business-or-product-names/362143/31 "2006-06-26T22:51:54Z")
About 40 miles south of buffalo lies Ellicottville, a charming little ski town. One time I was passing through Ellicottville, there was a new tavern along the main drag in the village. Its name? SKI HEIL. I’m surprised the BAR-F gas station chain in Las Cruces never comes up in these chains. What’s more amazing is that you have to explain why the name seems wrong to locals, after which they pass it off with a shrug. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-business-or-product-names/362143/32 "2006-06-26T23:02:36Z")
[QUOTE=Max Torque] I don’t want cable service that’s “sudden”, I want it cheap and reliable. [/QUOTE] Would it have been better, if they had gone with “Two Dollar Whore”? :smack: Walmart closed their food counter. The sign hung during remodeling says “Blimpies”. I imediately thought of chicken grease on bread. What a great name for a fast food place “Blimpies”. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-business-or-product-names/362143/33 "2006-06-26T23:07:45Z")
[QUOTE=Subway Prophet] Then there’s the [Schwing concrete pump trucks](http://www.schwing.com/01_cpumps/index.html). “Our broad line of concrete pumps allows you to grow with Schwing”, tee hee. [/QUOTE] And other concrete pumper trucks I see are Putzmeisters, which is also amusing. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-business-or-product-names/362143/34 "2006-06-26T23:08:07Z")
[QUOTE=Dung Beetle] I hate it when restaurants give themselves unappealing names, like Tubby’s, or restaurants that serve a variety of items but use one particular type of food in their names, like Macaroni Grill. Bleh. [/QUOTE] Cheesecake Factory? If we’re just talking about restaurant name peeves, mine is something that seems to be far more common in the industrial Great Lakes region than elsewhere; names in a format like [posessive version of proprietor’s name] [creative name] The result are names like: Joe’s Lakeside Inn Eddie’s Oak Hill Tavern Dino’s City Line Lounge Vinnie’s Old Town Grill Chuck’s Manor House Tap If I’m meeting someone at the last place mentioned on the list, do I tell them to meet me at “Chuck’s” or “the Manor House”? On the way to work, I pass by “Lady Luck Casa Lounge II”. WTF? ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-business-or-product-names/362143/35 "2006-06-26T23:16:05Z")
Shopping last night I saw a container amongst the hand lotions. It was labeled “Crack Cream”. I snerked and almost bought it just because of the name. While working on the New Georgia Railroad, a friend of mine and I were walking down to the railyard where the steam engine were were going to be taking on an excersion was parked. Next to the tender, there was a crane with a clamshell for loading coal into the tender. On the boom of the crane, in large red letters, was printed “Steel Erection”. My friend giggled and remarked “don’t we wish”. I’ve never been able to look at a crane without giggling since. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-business-or-product-names/362143/36 "2006-06-26T23:38:57Z")
I’m not sure if it’s still there, but there used to be a greengrocers shop in Southampton; it was called ‘The Melon Cauli’. It was directly opposite the main gate of a cemetery. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2006, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-business-or-product-names/362143/37 "2006-06-27T00:52:28Z")
[QUOTE=Dung Beetle] I hate it when restaurants give themselves unappealing names, like Tubby’s, or restaurants that serve a variety of items but use one particular type of food in their names, like Macaroni Grill. Bleh. [/QUOTE] Bleh indeed. Every try to grill macaroni? You won’t try it twice. A similar chain eatery is Maggiano’s Little Italy. They’re all huge noisy places in shopping malls, not Little at all, except perhaps in comparison to the real Italy. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2006, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-business-or-product-names/362143/38 "2006-06-27T02:12:12Z")
“Atlantis Overseas Removals” in Aberystwyth at first struck me as funny. But somehow it’s not so very funny when you realise that they are being deliberately sillly. (Yes, I am fussy about my feeble amusements, all right? 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2006, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-business-or-product-names/362143/39 "2006-06-27T04:40:32Z")
Bars in my area: Whiskey Dick’s Dick’s Den The Rack Mickey’s (as in roofies) Car dealers: Bill Swad Chevrolet Tom Raper RV ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2006, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-business-or-product-names/362143/40 "2006-06-27T05:10:44Z")
The owners of [this Vancouver company](http://www.google.ca/maps?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&q=hung-gay&near=Vancouver,+BC&radius=0.0&latlng=49250494,-123111934,902961195570457541&sa=X&oi=local&ct=result&cd=1) don’t even bother trying to maintain a web presence. I have an intuition that PageRank wouldn’t serve them terribly well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-business-or-product-names/362143.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inappropriate-business-or-product-names/362143.md?page=3)