W9WI.com - Marketing Hall of Shame

<H1>Marketing Hall of Shame</H1><P>

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My mailing address is on the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference
List, a list of those who don't accept junk mail.  It is also listed with
all three credit bureaus as an address that is not to be sold for marketing
purposes.<P>

See above a picture of the garbage forced into my mailbox by crooks who
refuse to adhere to industry voluntary standards.  This pile doesn't include
unsolicited credit card offers, which I consider dangerous enough to shred
immediately.<P>

The companies in this Hall of Shame feel their product is so important that
they <u>must</u> ignore potential customers' requests - that they
<u>must</u> impose their garbage upon those members of the general public
who've already said they don't want it.  <P>

Credit card companies deserve a special place in this Hall of Shame. 
Firstly, because not one but <u>FOUR</u> steps have been taken to stop their
unwanted marketing material - but they've found yet another way to justify
their refusal to listen to the public.  <P>

Secondly, because they <u>KNOW</u> stolen credit offers are being used to
commit identity theft, but they continue to aid and abet this crime by
sending offers to people who've said they don't want them.<P>

<hr>

The Cheatham County Board is considering levying a tax increase to pay for
disposal of the growing amount of trash discarded by this county's
residents.  I wonder how much of this trash is intentionally shipped into
the county by direct marketers?  I've had a half-pound of garbage thrown in
my mailbox in just five days.  That's 36 pounds of garbage to one address
alone - and an address that's on the no-mail list.  (it also doesn't count
garbage mailed by charities, nor the three unsolicited weekly advertising
newspapers)  I wonder if this tax increase would be unnecessary if marketers
weren't forcing their trash on us?  I wonder if the County Board would
consider billing the direct marketers who actually impose this expense on
us, and not the taxpayers who are innocent victims of direct marketers'
greed?<p>

<hr>

Anyway, here's the Hall of Shame.  Expect it to continue growing:<P>

<bl>

<li><B>Yahoo</B>, who stole the WHOIS data for my domain and are using the
stolen data to try to sell me Internet advertising.  I've learned two things
in my time on the Internet: 1. A site with good content will advertise
itself.  2. Buying advertising services from someone who thinks it's OK to
spam is a very bad idea.  <B>TWO spams.</B></li>

<li><B>Sears</B>, who can't believe I don't want a service contract on my
digital camera...</li> 

<li><B>TV4US Tennessee</B>, a.k.a. AT and T.  They want me to demand that my
state legislators override local cable TV franchises and allow statewide
franchises.  While I have no sympathy whatsoever for the moneygrubbing cable
industry, I'm not so sure allowing the moneygrubbing phone companies to do
the same thing is going to make anything better...</li>

<li><B>ShopWise</B>, a.k.a. ADVO Systems, who simply cannot take "I DON'T
WANT YOUR GARBAGE" as an answer.  <B>ELEVEN spams.</B></li> 

<li><B>Fred's Discount Stores.  TWO spams.</B></li>

<li><B>Wal-Mart</B>.  They're <U>everywhere</U>.  Even in your junk-mail
bin.  <B>TWO spams.</B></li>

<li><B>Ashland City Times</B>, for their <I>Cheatham County Money-$aver</I>. 
<B>FIFTEEN spams.</B></li>

<li><B>NorthCrest Medical Center</B> of Springfield</li>

<li><B>BellSouth</B>, hard to say what's inside but since my phone still
works it obviously wasn't the bill...</li>

<li><B>Spann Funeral Home</B> of Dickson.  If I need their services, it's
going to be someone else who's going to be making the arrangements...</li>

<li><B>Unknown crooks</B> in Atlanta -- or Hazelwood, Missouri? -- who sent
something during tax season that kinda looks like a refund check.  Says
"OFFICIAL BUSINESS".  Has no name whatsoever on the outside.  The fact they
had my two-year-old (since changed) address clued me in that this was
garbage.  That, and the fact that I'd already received my tax refund.<br>
<B>ANOTHER</B> piece of garbage from these crooks: a white envelope with the
same return address and same mangled version of my address.  This one
doesn't claim to be a tax refund.  <B>TWO spams.</B></li>

<li><B>Cummins Industrial Tools</B></li>

<li><B>Nationwide Insurance</B></li>

<li><B>Advanced Circuits</B> who sell something I might actually buy if they
didn't spam it.</li>

<li><B>Firestone Auto Care</B>.  Apparently they think I haven't changed the
oil in my car in over two years.  If that were true I don't think I'd make
it to their store on Charlotte Pike.  Actually, <I>Auto Service of Pleasant
View</I> doesn't spam their customers; for that (and other!) reasons they,
not Firestone, get my business.</li>

<li><B>Champion Ford</B>.  See above.  <B>FOUR spams.</B></li>

<li><B>DirecTV</B>, another company that hasn't picked up on my new address
yet...  <B>THREE spams.</B></li>

<li><B>NRLL</B> of Irvine, California.  If I want to sell my land, I'll find
a Realtor.  One who doesn't spam.</li>

<li><B>Guitar Center</B>.  I made the mistake of buying a Christmas present
here two years ago.  They still think I'll buy from spammers.  Sorry
guys.  Well, maybe I'm <U>not</U> sorry...</li>

<li>The <B>U.S. Postal Service.  TWO spams.</B></li>

<li><B>Mathews Suzuki</B> of Clarksville.  Montgomery County shouldn't wait
up for my sales tax payment on an automobile purchase.  Their car dealers
have disqualified themselves from my business by their misleading
marketing.</li>

</bl>

Anyone else care to join the list?  I hope not...<P>

<P>&copy; D. Smith W9WI 2009</P>
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