H&R Block Heads

by Onder Skall

Just do me, baby!

H&R Block recently announced the construction of H&R Block Island. The story goes that SL residents (at least, those from the US) can swing on by and get some free tax advice.

"Fifty years ago, we changed the tax preparation landscape by opening up our first office on Main Street, understanding that back then, people wanted to connect in person in a local office with a tax pro they know," said Paula Drum, vice president of marketing, H&R Block Digital Tax Solutions.

Doesn't that just make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside?

It was a compelling enough story to catch the attention of the Second Life Insider ("Okay, this is actually kinda cool.") and Wonderland (who just thought it was funny).

Of course, a closer look at the press release reveals that you have to go by the island between 6 and 7 pm PDT on a Tuesday or Thursday before April 17 or you're out of luck. You'd better hope nobody ahead of you has a tough question.

Once you've arrived at the (most likely vacant) island you'll be greeted by promotional videos, sales copy, some free scooters (oh now we're all excited), and a bunch of tango-related merchandise. "Tango" is the name of H&R Block's new tax software, and the hope is that residents will do a little affiliate marketing of the product on their own lands. Of course, if you want to find out anything about the software, the address offered by the press release offers no information. Here's hoping you don't mind selling something you know nothing about.

In other news, a press release on the 23rd announced that Coldwell Banker is buying up mainland, building houses on the lots, and then selling them. Alright, so many people have been doing this since Second Life opened and corporate presence in Second Life isn't news. They also have a lot in Ranchero that features many of the functions available from their website, but with the advantage of Second Life lag. This is news because... well... because they wrote a press release.

Next time you do something insignificant (and by all accounts do it poorly), write a press release about it. The next thing you know Second Life Herald, Second Life Insider, Terra Nova, and Fortune will all be reporting what you've done as news!

PR... it makes the world go 'round, doesn't it?

Comments

[Cocoanut Koala]

SL just gets more fun by the minute.

coco

[Simone]

Turbo Tax *cough*

[HowDidIGetHere]

God forbid someone try to do something practical in Second Life, like giving tax advice. Taxes after all are only for people who lead real lives.

[shockwave yareach]

Actually, TurboTax is by Intuit - the HRBlock tax preperation software is called Taxcut.

And you know, for all I like Taxcut and use it every year, I don't know if I want to have a nice, cozy relationship with HRBlock in SL. What, paying them for their software to do a single task isn't enough? Now I'm expected to take long showers with them on their sim too? No thanks.

[Onder Skall]

HowDidIGetHere - but they're NOT giving tax advice. They're popping in for two hours a week so that they can CLAIM they're giving tax advice. If they kept ACTUAL OFFICE HOURS this would be a completely different article.

If the link to the Tango information gave you ANYTHING other than a logo, this would be different too.

[OneBigRiver Stork]

How is it that you don't know anything about Tango? You could...you know...follow the link and use it? It doesn't ask you to pay until the last step. And since you can buy your license code in SL for L$ 100 ... why not try it?

Personally, I used it, and it worked great. It would not be worth the regular price of US$ 70, but it is definitely worth L$ 100. :)

[Mark]

Trouble finding material Onder?

Is there anything you sad sacks don't whine about here?

The companies are here to stay. More are coming.

Y'all treat SL as if it were RL, so I don't see the issue.

[Cocoanut Koala]

"and hosting tax-related events."

I can hardly wait.

coco

[Brace]

Back when I used to file taxes before I went renegade, I used this new fangled thingydo called turbotax.

filing your taxes (GASP!) by your own damn self (GASP!) via software (GASP!) without nary a sheet of (GASP!) paper. well dayum I was on the cutting edge and all that.

I guess that there thang caught on after the years, and those person-to-person old skool tax services - Like H&R Block began to shiver in their boots.

Can't beat em - join em! Tada Tango!

That's all this is.

The old skool trying to get new skool, without going bottoms up.

now if H&R wanna really have something that works in a 3D world, they should hightail it to Active Worlds like Wells Fargo did.

[Spankubux]

"and hosting tax-related events."

I can hardly wait.

coco

Oh. Coco doesn't like something. I suppose that's important somehow.

[shockwave yareach]

Brace: Both Taxcut and Turbotax have been out for over a decade now. HRBlock and Intuit made computer products and network money services like billpay and checkfree long before the average American first heard the word Internet.

I still don't see what possible interest I'd have in their sim, though.

[Brandon]

Hey I just saw a cool video about second life...it goes into what you guys are talking about a little bit...plus its super funny and interesting as well. its in this thing some people are doing called nerd of the week. heh.

http://one.revver.com/watch/215878

[Brace]

"Both Taxcut and Turbotax have been out for over a decade now"

yeh I KNOW. Didn't I express that on my first post?

but see I also watch TV. And its only been in the recent year or so that H&R block has started to step up its (any) major advertizing of their software.

In direct response to turbotax gaining increasing popularity.

THEY've been marketing themselves for those 10+ years, and now H&R is scrambling to catch up before we all end up ditching them and turbotaxing our lil brains out.

[Nbkvqex]

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