Monday, March 5, 2007

Before getting onto the mail at hand, I thought you should know – I'll be putting out the next issue of Rants 'n Raves this week.

I think I'll fill you in on a Rogers cell phone debacle, another one featuring Ticketmaster and maybe cast a kindly look at Consumer Reports' mailed mea culpa, among other things.

If you're not a subscriber yet, email me: b_knight@telus.net


LOVING LAVENDER
I received a package from Epilepsy Canada that felt particularly weighty, although not thick. I was intrigued. At least I was until I read the teaser: "Your Free Epilepsy Lavender Ornament is Enclosed!".

Even though the surprise was now gone, I opened up the envelope. And I must say, the ornament is pretty cool – a heart shaped piece crafted from brass with a clear plastic cover on one side. Inside, you can see a heart shaped wreath made of lavender. What a refreshing change of pace from address labels.

There were some things I admired about the package but a couple of other things had me lamenting on their behalf. If you're with Epilepsy Canada, get in touch and we can kick around some ideas.


GREAT DEMO
The latest issue of Direct Marketing News came with a promotional paper sleeve wrapped around it. As they say, it's "from the folks who invented The Bellyband™".

So you see this cool wraparound. Then you see that it's presented by the folks who invented them. And when you open the band up, you get all the info you need in case you want to try using one in your next mailing.


A ROYAL PAIN
RBC Asset Management, part of the Royal Bank group, sent me a self-mailer that had me wanting to throw a brass ornament at them.

There were no instructions on how to open it. I had to figure out on my own that I should tear away the bottom, then the left and right side.

Why would anyone send out such a difficult-to-open piece? Because they really don't want you to open it.

They're required by law to help you request their 2006 annual report and 2007 semi-annual report. But of course they don't want to go to the expense of paying postage for the request (the postage paid request form was enclosed) or incur the cost of printing extra copies of the reports and then mailing them.

So they make the whole process arduous in the hopes that people will give up with the first perf. It may save them some money, but it won't gain them any friends.


WHERE'S PRIVACY LEGISLATION WHEN YOU NEED IT?
One non-profit that I support sent me a package with the following teaser on the OE: "Your support last year made such a difference...".

Call me Mr. Private, but I don't want my letter carrier knowing which charities I support and when I last donated. Here, they make all these promises about not sharing my name with any other organizations. Then they blab info about me to every employee of Canada Post who touches my envelope.

And while I'm in a grumpy mood, I can't understand why so many direct mailers set their postscripts in bold (as this non-profit did). The PS is sitting there in an island of white. It's easy to spot. It's easy to read. Why risk overkill by bolding it?

It's a technique that confounds...

Dr. Bob
b_knight@telus.net