Do Ya Think I'm Silly

Are you being clever or annoying potential customers?

I have covered some of what I will talk about here before under hard-sell techniques but this is such a great example of what not to do I can't let it go by.

I got a Christmas Card in my mail yesterday. Or at least I thought I had got one. The envelope has "Merry Christmas" and "Card Only" written on it so it looks like someone is sending me seasonal good wishes. Who wouldn't want to open this?

Inside what I find is not a real expression of good will at all. A local personal trainer has sent me a roughly photocopied page that is folded like a card but is really all about him. What he has done is sneakily gotten me to open the offer he sends every month or so.

He thinks he has been clever in getting his offer in front of my eyes again. Ok so he did do that. But, has he considered that what he has done is fooled me and I won't forget or forgive that? I'm not a very big fan of Christmas but what I do know is that well-wishing and gift-giving should be open and honest. This method wasn't either.

Number 2 reason that this insults is because what he offers is the same exclusive '3 free sessions worth $197' every time he does a letter-box drop. If the same offer is made repeatedly and regularly then surely it is not special at all.

I now think that this this man believes that we, his "neighbours" are all silly. These tactics create the smell of someone who wants to take without giving anything of value back. It seems he thinks of the people in this world as existing solely to be put through his money making grinder.

He may be a good PT but he is no longer a trustworthy person in my eyes. Reading the same "special" offer for the 3rd or 4th time and then this dirty trick must surely have many people feel the same.

* Sorry Rod Stewart for misappropriating one of your song titles