Hugh MacLeod
Cartoons drawn on the back of business cards
March 30, 2006
Like Tara Hunt, Sprint also offered me one of their freebie uber-phones this morning. Very nice of them etc.
Sadly, they offered it without realizing I live in the United Kingdom, not the USA, ergo not eligible for this offer.
Better luck next time, Guys. But thanks for asking.
I'm a cartoonist.
I sell limited-edition prints.
I wrote a book.
I'm CEO of Stormhoek USA, which markets South African wine in the States.
I also draw private commissions.
Prints |
Opening | Current |
|---|---|---|
Bluetrain |
$900 | |
We Need to Talk |
$650 | |
Portfolio #2 |
$300 | |
NY NY |
$275 |
Doesn’t that show a lack of research by them, Hugh, I mean how difficult would have been to figure out you don’t live in the States?
It’s not that big a deal, Thomas. Oversights happen.
Besides, I write in an American “voice”, using American spelling.
Same thing happened to Allan Jenkins (Amsterdam).
Also, the Ambassador program is only open to people living in about 30 select US markets. Something they conviently forget to tell you during the initial email.
Why would anyone sign up for that anyway? Yes, it’s free phone service for six months, BUT even if you love it (and give rave reviews to everyone you know; which is what they’re banking on) and decide to re-up, they charge an activation fee, force one of their dreaded agreements on you AND change your phone number. (The last of which, by the way, you would not have to do if you were just some random Cingular customer that decided to switch. The activation fee is often waived as well.) That’s a fine how do you do for all your cooperation.
Why do companies (particularly, it seems, phone and cable companies) punish brand loyalty, rather than reward it?
I occasionally get some of these offers despite using English, rather than American English. For me, it was the dot com address I use that fooled them.
Dash–
I did it for the inner geek that loves to try something new and secondly I think its a step in the right direction for the stodgy lumbering world of marketing.
Hey at least the dinosaur is attempting to roll over a bit.
jose