It's a bitch working in Marketing and being on the recieving end of marketing.
A couple of weeks ago I needed a new Discover card. No problem. I jumped on the website, requested a new card, and bingo-- a couple days later there it is.
I called to activate it. And presto up and running with a new card. The point should be made that I have been an avid Discover card user for over four years now. So the whole card requesting/activating process is nothing new to me as I burn through cards at a pretty good clip.
Then the calls started. (866) 402-1044- missed call.
I ignored it.
Then the next day. (866) 402-1044- missed call.
I ignored it.
Then the following day. (866) 402-1044- missed call.
Now, I called back. They said it was Discover with an offer. I told them I was not interested, thanked them politely for calling. But to not call me.
Wanna quess what happened next? Yeah, the next day-- two missed calls from that number. I called them back, told them I wasn't interested and to not call me.
Well, this went on for more than a week and a half. Two calls a day, at very predictable times--9:45 and 6:30. You could almost set your clock by it.
I got fed up. Last night I called them back and gave them the ultimatum. You call me one more time, and you lose my business--forever. The lady on the other end (who I have no beef with) said it takes two to three weeks to be removed from a call list.
Umm. Why? I asked. It didn't take two to three weeks to add me. Its not like you have some tired soul trapped in a dungeon with a quill pen writing these call lists.
So here is my wake up call for us Marketers. If you are going to conduct a marketing campaign in this highly digital, highly permissive based age--make sure your database is updated HOURLY.
I know. I hear the complaints already. --Oh, thats difficult--oh, thats expensive.
Is it? Or are we just complacent to build lists and pound them into submission?
