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Agency boss Ferrier’s undercover sex clinic investigation

adam-ferrierNaked Communications boss Adam Ferrier has taken the unusual step of posing as a sufferer of sexual dysfunction to investigate the activities of controversial clinic the Advanced Medical Institute.

Ferrier – who has degrees in clinical pyschology and commerce and worked in forensic psychology before turning to the marketing world – pretended to be suffering with both premature ejaculation  and erectile problems for his visit to the AMI.  

ami_longer_lasting_sex1The controversial organisation had been coming under growing scrutiny of its advertising strategy and marketing techniques. Its “Longer lasting sex” billboards have been banned by the Advertising Standards Bureau for breaching community standards, while one of its TV ads has been taken off the air for poking fun at men who suffer sexual dysfunction. Last week, the AMI successfully won a court order to prevent the Sydney Morning Herald from publishing a story about the organisation’s activities.

Ferrier posed as a potential patient to examine the company’s marketing techniques when individuals visit the organisation.

Writing on his Consumer Psychologist blog, Ferrier described his first encounter with a member of staff:

“He then asks if there are any other issues with my love life and I let him know that despite my inability to get a firm erection I also prematurely ejaculate, lasting at best around 1 minute (as I was saying this it occurred to me that this condition must be close to medically impossible – but it didn’t worry Greg), hurriedly he tells me AMI can help and I am now going to speak to the doctor.”

Via a phone consultation with an AMI doctor, he was quickly prescribed a nasal spray and vitamins at a cost of $4,650.

Ferrier concludes: “My suggestion if anyone is suffering any form of sexual dysfunction to visit their local GP, or psychologist as a first port of call – not the AMI.”

The posting can be seen on Ferrier’s blog here.

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