Moments ago I scanned my email inbox and trashed approximately half the contents without even opening the messages. I had not even the slightest interest in their contents.
Harsh?
Nah.
Most of 'em were coupons or special offers from a variety of avenues. Oh, yeah. I mean I receive junk mail from the entire range of retail outlets. High-end, low-end and everything in the middle of the pack.
Each day, I have the opportunity to see what I am missing at Bergdorf's, DSW, JCPenney, Neiman's, Michael's, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Target, Lowe's (you heard me),
Horchow, Cheesecake Factory...well, it is endless. A giant black-hole of retail sales and bargains.
Endless, but it is of my own making. I hand out my email address with abandon. Of course, I hand out a variety of email addresses (and, who doesn't, right?) to merchants and places clamoring for my credit card.
We've discussed coupons and bargains in many past posts, but being inundated with email offers just seems to be growing by leaps-and-bounds. Make a purchase, get on their list (I'm telling you I did NOT give all these people my contact info, I swear).
Even with multiple email addresses, why don't I simply unsubscribe to these nit-wit couponing offers and discounts? Fear of missing the deal of the century (this phrase was spoken to me at Michael's' this week)? Go on, be jealous because the crafting store (I am NO crafter) staffer blurted out that I got the deal of the century! Call me a curmudgeon, but I don't consider a slightly discounted fake plant exactly that. Perhaps if she had tossed in some custom framing, okay.
But, back to my quandary. Why allow my email to be flooded with junk I have no intention of acting upon? Ever.
While I ponder my own situation, I also wonder if email advertising/promotion works well for retailers. It must, they seem to pour loads of resources into this type of marketing.
These folks are cagey as Barnum & Bailey. They reel us (well, me) in by giving us little monikers like...Premium Status, InCircle (well, I do love that one), VIP and anything else that sounds high-falutin'.
I think I must admit to being a sucker, but do you kids allow this stuff into your email? And, more importantly, do you act upon these offers? Does it happen with regularity? I'm just curious about the whole business.
For today, I reach no resolution, but I have deleted myself from the distribution list of some. Some. I'm easing myself out gently.
After all, next time it really COULD be the deal-of-the-century. You just never know what could be dropped into your email inbox.
Gotta go, looks like Sephora has something really special going on just for me because I AM a VIB.
See ya 'round the beaches-real or virtual!
Read me fictionally, The Bainbridges of the Palm Beaches, Barnes & Noble, eBooks.
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