Fun With Marketing

I'll admit it: there's a big part of my heart that wants to be in marketing. 

I've always been a sucker for a clever commercial or enjoyable way to draw attention to a business. From time to time on this blog, I'll bring those kinds of things to you. You might think they're fun too.

I stumbled on this today on YouTube and thought it was a happy way for Honda to get its name out there in a fun way. Enjoy. (And yes, I checked it out and it's legit.)

No, You Can't See My Card

I hate loyalty cards.

You know the ones. They either fatten your wallet or crowd your key ring. They're those little cards cashiers are forever pestering you to swipe before you check out.

I don't hate them because they chunk up my wallet or whack against my knees when I'm driving. I hate them because they creep me out.

Giant, CVS, Ritz Camera, and all of the other stores that offer these things--and there are lots of them now--make something of a deal with the devil when they hand you one. They give you better prices, and you let them track everything you buy.

You knew they were doing that, right? It's like those contests that give away Fabulous Cash and Prizes if you put your card in the slot. It has nothing to do with the prize, boys and girls, but it's all about collecting your information to solicit you down the road. Over and over and over.

Anyway, I don't particularly like having my purchases tracked. Not that I buy anything particularly interesting. It's all about groceries around here, and we're pretty boring in that department. But the whole concept is too Big Brother for me. Icky sticky yuck.

Count me among the growing number of consumers who fill out those loyalty card forms with bogus names, addresses, and phone numbers. Yes, it's obnoxious to Big Brother. Ask me if I care. 

Better yet, just give me good prices without tracking what I do with them. You'll have a customer for life.

The Clock Guy

We're getting ready to move to another house in the neighborhood. One of the things we'll need to move is our grandfather clock, which is fragile and temperamental, and not something most movers are thrilled to deal with.

About three weeks ago, I called the clock shop who sold it to us. The guy there said they wouldn't move the clock, but for $280, they'd take the guts out of it, wait for us to haul it down the street, and then put it all back together. Call back with a date.

Yesterday, I did that. Only this time, he said the price would be $390. 

I paused. Explained that I'd been quoted $280 a few weeks ago. Explained further that the new house is exactly six doors away from the old one and it will take no more than 10 minutes to move the clock case from one place to the other. We're not talking about an all-day process here. 

He didn't budge. $390. Couldn't explain why we'd been given the lower price before, but there was nothing he could do about that.

Know what? There's something I can do about that. I called another clock place. And they're going to disassemble the clock, wait for me to move it, and reassemble it for $255. 

Grandfather clocks are supposed to be serviced every two years; much like pianos, they need tuning. Since buying our clock in 1998, we've done that through the first clock store. 

As of yesterday, I have a new clock servicer. The people who are helping me move the beast couldn't have been more flexible, accommodating, or nice. And they have a long and great reputation for their work.

Farewell, old clock shop. Seems awfully short-sighted of you to lose a customer over $110, especially in the current economy, but that's your choice. Mine is to wave good-bye and move along.