The video clip discusses a clever business strategy employed by an unnamed American individual during the era of lucrative reverse charge calls. AT&T was heavily advertising its "1800 operator" service. The strategist realized that a significant portion of the American population (estimated at 20%) struggled with spelling the word "operator." Capitalizing on this, he purchased the phone number "1800 operator" spelled phonetically as "E-R-O." Consequently, every time AT&T ran its multi-million dollar advertising campaigns promoting "1800 operator," this individual would receive approximately 20% of those calls for free, as people dialed the phonetic spelling. This is presented as a legendary business move.

Financian

There was an American genius who, in the time when you made reverse charges calls in the states and they were very lucrative, AT&T did heavy advertising to promote 1800 operator.

And this guy figured 20% of Americans don't know how to spell operator. No.

So he bought 1800 operator, spelled E R O. And literally, every time AT&T did a million dollar, you know, multi-million dollar advertising campaign promoting 1800 operator, he picked up for free 20% of the calls.

And I'll catch you now. A legend.

How This Genius Stole 20% Of AT&T Clients Using A Misspelling

There was an American genius who in the
time when you made reverse charges calls
in the states and they were very
lucrative. AT&T did heavy advertising to
promote 1800 operator.
>> And this guy figured 20% of Americans
don't know how to spell operator. No.
>> So he bought 1800 operator [music]
spelled E RO. And literally every time
AT&T did a million dollar, you know,
multi-million dollar advertising
campaign promoting 1800 operator, he
picked up for free 20% of the calls. And
I'll catch you now.
>> A legend.

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How This Genius Stole 20% Of AT&T Clients Using A Misspelling

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