OT - negative marketing

[David WE Roberts]

From time to time I come across examples of people trying to promote their business but having the opposite effect.

For example, the person who serviced the gas boiler (before we owned the house) stuck his label recording when the boiler was serviced over the paper instructions on the boiler. The label won't peel off without also removing the instructions. So I can't read how to light the boiler. No, I won't be asking hime to service the boiler in the future.

Just had a letter this morning from a building company. It said "I have been told by your architect that you have received planning permission for your extension". I checked (although our architect wasn't mentioned by name so I was already pretty certain) and our architect has never heard of him. The planning permission has not yet been decided.

So I have basically received a letter saying "I am a liar and an idiot, can I do some work for you?"

Strangely, I won't be contacting him to arrange an appointment.

Cheers

Dave R

[GlowingBlueMist]

If the offending label is one of the self stick type you might be able to remove it using a product similar to what is shown in the following URL.

if it removes both labels you should be able to glue the original back on as most of these label removers do not remove the text printed on the label itself.

[David WE Roberts]

Thank you for the helpful tip :-)

However I Googled the instructions (just to make sure) so I don't now need to get the label off. I was just enormously underwhelmed by the thought process of someone who would stick the label over the instructions instead of somewhere on the acres of bare metal where it wouldn't do any damage. Enough for me to decide I would not use the details on the label to contact him.

[John Williamson]

If you were feeling generous, you could use the details on the label to contact him to say just *why* you weren't going to use his services, and, by the way, could he provide the instructions to replace what he's covered up.

It's also possible that it was an employee or subcontractor that did the service, and he's not aware of the problem.

[David WE Roberts]

No mileage in it for me. Service was presumably in 10/06. Boiler is likely to be in a skip within six months. A conversation based on "You don't know me, but the boiler you serviced about six years ago for the previous owners - you stuck the reminder label in a pretty stupid place so I won't be using your services in the future." has limited benefit for both parties.

[F Murtz]

And also possibly deliberate and he thinks if you dont know how to start your boiler that you will have to use him to do it

[John Williamson]

In any case, contacting him and telling him why you won't be using him might modify his behaviour.

Apart from being greedy and shortsighted, he may be a competent workman. I know it's unlikely...

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Rather like a cold call from a company you already deal with trying to sell you something else. Often insurance companies, where say you have your car with therefore a customer and have your phone number, and cold call you trying to sell home insurance. My reaction tends to be not only to not buy the home insurance, but change to someone else for the car.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Everyone should do that, on principle.

[fred]

Thereby assisting him in masking his unscrupulous trading behaviour. I'd be happier leaving him pissing off prospective future clients and reducing his repeat trade.

[Owain]

Does obliterating the instructions mean the boiler no longer complies with manufacturer's instructions or gas safety regs and could be considered unsafe?

Owain

[Brian Gaff]

Yes, I'd like to know how some of these idiots know things about you? For example, in the last few years I've taken advantage of some Gov grants to do loft insulation and get extra heating fitted. About six months after this I started getting calls from allied companies, ie, say companies selling cavity wall insulation, or solar water heating etc. Now in all cases on forms I'd specifically said they could not pass my details on. so either these companies are ignoring this, or somoene has a very efficient crystal ball. I suspect the former, even though the direct questions were asked and denials given. I have no cavity walls, so maybe next time I'll make them do a free survey and actu thick. Brian

[mogga]

It's appeared on the planning lists at the council though. I think we had about 4 letters when our PP went in.

[grimly4]

Sometimes, it's done deliberately to obscure owner-friendly instructions; guess why.

There are some right thick bastards around. It's a source of wonderment to me they never stop to think about how transparent their lies are.

[geoff]

In message , David WE Roberts writes

I've noticed a lot of TV adverts that fall into that category of late (e.g. I bought this product because I'm a moron)

[geoff]

In message , David WE Roberts writes

Just reminded me of the firm of accountants who phoned up saying

"You asked us to ring you back after three months"

"No I didn't, you didn't take the hint and asked if you could phone back at a later date - f*ck off, you lying bastard"

[David in Normandy]

I've had calls like that from charities. "You asked us to phone you back after a couple of months." The short and forceful reply "Liar!" stops them dead in their tracks and breaks their script leaving em fumbling around what to say next. I hate when they try to con me like this.

Almost as bad as those "Hello David, This is Jonathan from xyz how are you today?" putting on an sickly-sweet, over-friendly and over-familiar tone, trying to sound like someone I know and am friends with. This tactic just annoys the hell out of me and such calls always end very quickly with "I'm not interested goodbye" and hanging up the phone. If they phone me straight back it immediately escalates to "Fuck off!" and hanging up the phone again. Rare they phone back a third time.

[Another Dave]

I did that with BT. Constant phone calls trying to sell me stuff. I just switched the line rental to someone cheaper. No more calls.

Another Dave

[The Natural Philosopher]

Although VERY hard to track down.

[Tony Bryer]

No need for corruption - all planning applications are in the public domain.