“Checkers will literally cross the ocean for you,” was one response to a Checkers Sixty60 campaign in which a branded jet ski was seen making a grocery delivery.
Videos of a branded Checkers Sixy60 jet ski (part of the Shoprite Group Holdings) went viral, after it was spotted at the beach in Clifton, Cape Town last week delivering goods to a beachgoer.
An advert later spotted on social media showed the jet ski delivering ice lollies to a boat, with the delivery being so speedy that they hadn’t melted.
Aqeela Jayy couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw the jet ski.
“It’s a flippen brilliant innovative plan if you ask me,” she said.
Videos posted on social media garnered well over 1.6 million views, with many pleading with the retail giant to ensure the jet skis were launched before Boxing Day (December 26), which traditionally sees thousands of people flocking to the beach.
Rashied Mohammed Salie, who labelled the innovation as “world-class”, said he would use the service every time he was at the beach if it was available.
“Swimming makes one hungry. I mean, how cool will it be to be in the ocean, a family member on the sand ordering you a cold beverage or food to eat and here comes the jet ski delivery man? I think it’s brilliant marketing,” said Salie.
One social media user commented that “Checkers clearly has money to waste”, while others had lots of questions about how the system would work, and if it was real, when it would be rolled out.
“It’s confusing because how on Earth will the driver of that jet ski locate your position in the water when there would be hundreds of people at beaches during the holidays, mostly the popular beaches in Clifton?” Monique Gedult asked.
Another questioned whether Checkers would be rolling out the innovative plan to beaches like Strandfontein, Monwabisi near Khayelitsha, as well as Muizenberg and Simonstown.
Others wanted to know whether swimming pools were included in the shop’s plans.
Michelle Arendse liked the idea, but asked: “Would the delivery man go pick up the goods with his car, then have the jet ski loaded onto the roof of his vehicle, offload it, and drag it onto the beach for him to get into the water?
“It sounds like way too much trouble,” Arendse said.
She also questioned what the delivery fee would be.
“Kudos to Checkers for their marketing, they clearly went all out. But, there is so much questions around this. The marketing screams ‘I’ll cross the ocean for you’ and your fun in the sun, but, is it really worth it? Will it actually work?,” questioned Arendse.
Matthew Titus questioned whether all delivery drivers would now need to add “able to swim” to their resumes when applying for the position.
“One thing about the Sixty60 initiative is that delivery is fast and super easy to do. I love the scooter vibes; I’m struggling to wrap my head around jet skis delivering groceries, though,” said Titus.
Michail Adams, an ice cream seller at Camps Bay, said he would be disappointed should Checkers start delivering to beachgoers using jet skis since it might harm his small business.
“It’s frustrating that big shops are taking business away from small traders,” he said.
A disgruntled Adams said he struggled to secure his beach trading permit and relies on this income to support his family.
“I don’t think they realise how hard we work to put food on the table,” he added.
He noted that many people prefer ordering online due to the variety of options available.
“Of course, tourists will also choose to order online,” he said.
Adams emphasised that visiting the beach should include a unique Cape Town experience, where people decide to buy from local traders like him.
One beach lover joked: “Next year Checkers will launch its helicopter to get your goods while you in an aeroplane.”
On social media, users had a field day discussing what they would order while in the water.
Ice creams, fizzy drinks, pies, chocolates, chip and dip, biltong, slap chips, biscuits, peanuts and raisins and sunscreen were some of the preferred items on their list.
Joel Steenkamp said Checkers used the right time of the year to send a jet ski out.
“People are beaching, what better way to market your brand than using a jet ski. I love the idea. I really hope it gets rolled out though. Imagine the cool selfies we could take with the delivery man on his super cool jet ski,” said Steenkamp.
Charl Bremmer said: “The message here is obviously that they are super fast with deliveries and that it’s as fast as a jet ski. Everyone that uses the Sixty60 app knows how fast their delivery service is, so jet ski’s is just showing off now. Brilliant though Checkers,” said Bremmer.
