More Waste Of Money

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

You and I obviously have a different understanding of the word "their intended effect".

The effect they are having according to this thread seems to be ****ing off existing customers and other people who cannot even get cable service.

To be honest though the same could be said of any spam email or even phishing scams. They "work", seemingly according to your definition. Doesn't make them particularly popular or acceptable either.

OK.. Looking at it logically for a second. Businesses wish to make money while minimising cost. As such, any process that costs a business money without contributing to the profits (or at least minimising losses) is likely to be stopped.

Bearing that in mind, from a business point of view, Mailshots must make them a profit as it's unlikely so many businesses would still be using them as a marketing tool.

That doesn't mean they aren't an irritation for the consumer though.

[dilli-theclaw]

I'd like to point out it doesn't really bother all that much I only mentioned it because I get it.

[qasdfdsaq]

Originally Posted by Stuart

OK.. Looking at it logically for a second. Businesses wish to make money while minimising cost. As such, any process that costs a business money without contributing to the profits (or at least minimising losses) is likely to be stopped.

You and I obviously have a different understanding of the word "contributing"

And lets not forget plenty of business do stupid things that don't get stopped because stupid people are in charge of them.

Bearing that in mind, from a business point of view, Mailshots must make them a profit as it's unlikely so many businesses would still be using them as a marketing tool.

"If they're doing it, it must make them a profit" is a pretty niaive way to think of things these days, when a lot of businesses are finding money is not the only thing they need to be making.

[Pierre]

What's the big deal?

VM do it, BT do it, talk talk do it, sky do it.

Also pizza hut do it, dominos do it, insurance firms do it.

Loads of companies do it. If you don't want it, or the offers aren't applicable to you - bin them. Don't worry about it, move on with your life.

If junk mail is a big issue in your life, then you are truly blessed that you have no bigger problems to worry about.

I would rejoice if all I had to winge about was junk mail.

[Ben B]

Could always put a 'No junk mail' sticker on your letter box

[WillPS]

Originally Posted by Ben B

Could always put a 'No junk mail' sticker on your letter box

Wont stop addressed mail.

[alanbjames]

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

I was always getting them. Handy coaster supply.

i was averaging 2 or 3 a month at one point lol

---------- Post added at 03:09 ---------- Previous post was at 03:06 ----------

Originally Posted by Stephen

I constantly get mailshots from Sky/Talk Talk and BT. I just bin them, not really too much to get annoyed about. Just a waste of paper.

I get talk talk constantly sending me mail addressed to the occupier. The Guy who lived here before me died and left a hefty bill with talk talk and they sent around debt collectors about a year after i moved in for £350 and i had to get letters from housing association to prove i had taken over the tenancy.

I just now write on the envelope return to sender and post back when i go to post office.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

You and I obviously have a different understanding of the word "contributing"

I doubt we do have a different idea of contributing..

And lets not forget plenty of business do stupid things that don't get stopped because stupid people are in charge of them.

The fact is that a lot of companies use Mailshots. Not every company is run by stupid people.

"If they're doing it, it must make them a profit" is a pretty niaive way to think of things these days, when a lot of businesses are finding money is not the only thing they need to be making.

You can nitpick all you want but the primary goal of the average business is to make money. Not everything they do will directly earn them money, but everything they do should (even if indirectly) contribute to that.

[broadbandking]

I don't understand this, its a little bit of advertising why is everyone getting so annoyed, if you don't like it don't read it.

[Chrysalis]

Originally Posted by Stephen

Its not being wasted though. Mailshots do work.

I was getting them whilst a customer, how does that work?

Also shoving them down my face every week A4 sized isnt going to make me come back, its just going to make me angry.

I dont open these mailshots, its A4, I look for the VM logo and its in the trash.

---------- Post added at 07:10 ---------- Previous post was at 07:08 ----------

Originally Posted by Pierre

What's the big deal?

VM do it, BT do it, talk talk do it, sky do it.

Also pizza hut do it, dominos do it, insurance firms do it.

Loads of companies do it. If you don't want it, or the offers aren't applicable to you - bin them. Don't worry about it, move on with your life.

If junk mail is a big issue in your life, then you are truly blessed that you have no bigger problems to worry about.

I would rejoice if all I had to winge about was junk mail.

I cant remember the last time I got a mailshot of BT and sky. I get one of VM every single week (except a 3 week spell where I got no post at all).

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

I cant remember the last time I got a mailshot of BT and sky. I get one of VM every single week (except a 3 week spell where I got no post at all).

Well that goes to show you that these mail shots are a bit more targeted than you think.

I don't live in a VM area, and I have never received a VM mail shot.

Whereas I get BT, Sky and Talk Talk all the time.

[Another VM User]

There is also a Mailing Preference Service but that's not as funny or satisfying as what Sirius and Gary do

---------- Post added at 10:51 ---------- Previous post was at 10:49 ----------

Originally Posted by alanbjames

The only other ISP i know for doing this kind of thing used to be AOL UK. They were well known for sending out millions upon millions of free trial cds a month to random people.

This was the sort of thing that prompted me to get a CD shredder... I was a volunteer and used to get hundreds a month to pass on - usually with my phone bill cheque

I still use said CD shredder to destroy SSD's when they are dead.. oh and CD/DVD's obviously

VM seem to send out " to the occupier" all the time - I am waiting to see if I ever get mails from Sky after joining them. So far nothing.

---------- Post added at 10:53 ---------- Previous post was at 10:51 ----------

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

I cant remember the last time I got a mailshot of BT

Oddly enough I got one this morning trying to flog me their amazing package with BT sports.

Of course I would need a TV and a TV licence first - no thanks!

Also I'm the same with the post.. It's nice to only get things you actually expect (apart from mailshot rubbish) - DCA letters for other people are quite funny too

[Chrysalis]

Originally Posted by Pierre

Well that goes to show you that these mail shots are a bit more targeted than you think.

I don't live in a VM area, and I have never received a VM mail shot.

Whereas I get BT, Sky and Talk Talk all the time.

yeah they targeting certian areas I have no doubt. MY area has a higher turnover of residents than probably more affluent areas so I expect the frequency is related to that, the areas has very high VM takeup, so thats another frustration in that they are agressively seeking customers when the area has capacity issues.

[Gavin78]

Originally Posted by Ben B

Could always put a 'No junk mail' sticker on your letter box

I bought one of those stickers does it work does it fk I even have a note up no cold callers or take away menu that doesn't work either.

I'm sure they see it as a challenge I even asked the postman not to post junk through my door but he said he has to to get revenue for the post office as they get paid for it.

[richard s]

Just put all the junk mail back into the post boxes - the post office will soon get fed up with it just like us householders who receive mail we did not ask for.