Arriving at my van this afternoon after grocery shopping, and finding not one but two advertisements shoved under my windshield wiper really got under my skin. They must have worked hard to get those papers seated; my wipers, when inactive, nest deeply down into the window well.
This annoys me to no end, and without exception, the wasted paper is torn up and discarded in the closest garbage can without even getting a glance. Parking lot spammers are among the kinds of businesses and people I would never, ever do business with, regardless of what sort of business they’re in.
“What other kinds of advertisements irk you?” you ask.
Well, since you asked, I’ll lay it out for you. I would never do business with any company or individual who would resort to:
- Parking Lot Spam: as above
- Telemarketer/Phone Sales: We all get these calls – they wait until they’re sure you’re sitting down enjoying dinner with your family, and then they call. It’s unfortunate that these people aren’t intelligent enough to get a real job, but then again, it’s not my problem. You call and disturb my family dinner, and you can expect to deal with my wrath.
- Phone Donation Requests: Telemarketers with a cause. Blech. Really, there are so many good, worthwhile charities and causes out there, as we all know. However, it’s my choice when and where I donate my money, and I find these calls every bit as intrusive as telemarketers. If I’m going to give you money, it’s on my terms, and my time line.
- Door to Door Sales/Donation Requests: These days you never know who is coming to your door, and if they’re legit or not. Better that you contact these places of your own volition via channels you can verify than hand out money to someone coming to your door. The exceptions to this, for me, are Unicef boxes at Hallowe’en, and Girl guide cookies – and I don’t think the guides even go door to door anymore, do they? Not in this area anyway.
Last but not least:
- Email Spam: Just as a rule of thumb, unless you asked for and are expecting their email offers and can trace the email back to the actual company, you don’t deal with anyone who sends you email advertisements. Period.
There are other ways to advertise your business. Other legitimate, honest, non-invasive techniques you can use.
Oh, and while it’s a cult, and not a valid business, there is one type of invasive caller that I’d love to sic my dog on… the dreaded, invasive, JW. They show up in pairs, dressed in dull, somber suits. They smile as though they’re on crack, and ask the inevitable “have you heard the word” questions. The worst thing about these people is that they often drag their children along, and make them stand in front of you and recite garbage they can’t possibly know the meaning of. I wish it were illegal to do this sort of thing to children. Surely brainwashing is a form of abuse. My heart goes out to these kids. My growling dog goes out to their parents. Well, not really, she’s a good dog and wouldn’t really bite them… probably.
Rant over. I feel better now. But, my friends – how do you feel about it?
