Marketing ploys that give you fits...

[max venable]

I was getting gas today...btw, gas prices are OUTRAGEOUS--$2.799.

What ever happened to $1.79? I'd be happy to pay $1.79...although 2 years ago I'da been ticked to have to pay even $1.79...but I'm off topic.

So as I'm getting gas, I'm looking at the sign with the prices on it...And I'm thinkin' a couple of things...1. Why do they stick the signs way up in the air for interstate traffic to see, boasting their price (which, btw, is the same as everyone else's)? And they do this even if the price is too high. Puzzles me.

But even more...who is the stinkin' guy that came up with the little "9" that get tagged on to the end of all the prices (as in $2.799)? I HATE that.

Why can't it just be $2.80? And the crazy thing of it is...every gas station does it...so nobody's gaining any advantage by using the little nine...but they all have to because everyone else does it. What's up with that?

So...what marketing ploys get under your skin?

[RFS62]

A few years ago, I got a package in the mail. It was a memory course, tapes and book, with an invoice for about $75.

Problem was, I couldn't remember ordering it. I asked around the office, and nobody else knew anything about it either.

So, I figured that either I REALLY needed this course, or it was the greatest marketing scam in history.

Either I ordered it and forgot that I did, or they sent it out randomly, knowing that a certain percentage of people would go ahead and pay for it, thinking they really, really needed it.

I sent it back, I think.

[Caveat Emperor]

A few years ago, I got a package in the mail. It was a memory course, tapes and book, with an invoice for about $75.

Problem was, I couldn't remember ordering it. I asked around the office, and nobody else knew anything about it either.

So, I figured that either I REALLY needed this course, or it was the greatest marketing scam in history.

Either I ordered it and forgot that I did, or they sent it out randomly, knowing that a certain percentage of people would go ahead and pay for it, thinking they really, really needed it.

I sent it back, I think.

This story is going to be part of my stand-up act if I ever go to open mic night again!

[max venable]

Two or three days ago, my computer got hijacked. Ever happen to any of you? My homepage was changed and I COULD NOT fix it. I kept getting message alerts telling me I had to buy software that would fix the problem...the problem started by the company trying to sell me the software. It's like online extortion. They wanted $49.95 to fix the problem they created. Unbelivable.

I finally fixed the problem for free...but it took me about 2.5 hours to figure out how to do it.

[macro]

A few years ago, I got a package in the mail. It was a memory course, tapes and book, with an invoice for about $75.

Problem was, I couldn't remember ordering it. I asked around the office, and nobody else knew anything about it either.

So, I figured that either I REALLY needed this course, or it was the greatest marketing scam in history.

Either I ordered it and forgot that I did, or they sent it out randomly, knowing that a certain percentage of people would go ahead and pay for it, thinking they really, really needed it.

I sent it back, I think.

How did you remember that?

As for annoying marketing ploys, I would have to say it's the whole "On Sale" thing. I am convinced that clothing stores never, ever actually sell anything at the price listed on the tag...ever. One week it's 25% off storewide, the next week it's Buy One and Get One Half Off. They follow that up with The Lowest Prices Of the Season sale, etc. etc.

The only true sales are when things end up on the clearance rack.

The other gimmick I hate is that pizza places have FREE DELIVERY, but they'll give you a $3 discount if you pick it up yourself. Mmmm...okay.

[RedFanAlways1966]

Time Inc. got in big trouble for their bull... I got another year added to my Sports Illustrated last year by this little scam. I am not too bothered b/c I like the mag, but they sent me all kinds of threatening letters and threatened to send me to a credit agency if I did not pay immediately. I knew the whole time that I hadn't renewed my subscription. I doubt that I'll see any of that $4.3 million they have to pay to consumers though.

States Halt Time's Automatic Subscription Renewals
Time after time, I've gotten complaints from readers who said they were billed for subscription renewals they didn't order. And many of the complaints were about Time Inc., which owns Time, Sports Illustrated, People, Fortune and a raft of other magazines.

23 of the nation's attorneys general cracked down on these automatic renewals. Time will pay $4.3 million to consumers and another $4.5 million to cover the costs of the investigation. More than 100,000 consumers -- about 3,400 in Maryland and 4,400 in Virginia--will be eligible for refunds on subscriptions that were automatically renewed between January 1998 and May 2004.

Perhaps even more significant, the settlement requires Time to clearly inform customers of the terms of automatic renewal and notify them before a subscription's expiration so they can opt out if they prefer.

[RedFanAlways1966]

As for annoying marketing ploys, I would have to say it's the whole "On Sale" thing.

Rex Electronics and Appliances has always made me chuckle. They have invented more "sale names" than there are fish in the sea. Today they will probably be advertising their "the week after Easter sale or the 3 days after Good Friday sale". They have a sale everyday and always have a good reason for the sale... "the one miner survived in the WV mine collapse sale" or "the Angelina and Brad baby-making sale".

[TeamCasey]

I've never subscribed to Sports Illustrated before.

They've sent me issues and tried to bill me about 4 times now, over the years. They say it's up to me to cancel. I've never subscribed! Stop sending them to me!

I had a local newspaper do that to me once too. They started delivering a newspaper that I never signed up for. Gave me a hard time for refusing to pay them.

[registerthis]

In a very general sense, I hate commercials that insult your intelligence with overt stupidity. I'm not talking about the local cheeseball used car ads that are MEANT to be ridiculous, I'm talking about ads with "plots" and dialogue so silly and preposterous NO ONE could possibly buy into them. Yet I see these types of ads, over and over again. Think "Enterprise Rental Car" ads.

There's clever, and then there's insulting. "Insulting" really tees me off.

[registerthis]

I had a local newspaper do that to me once too. They started delivering a newspaper that I never signed up for. Gave me a hard time for refusing to pay them.

My fiancee's stepmom had the opposite happen to her--a local magazine tried to sign her up for a yearly subscription. The price was great, and she said fine, but refused to give her CC # over the phone, requesting a bill instead. Well, the magazine started coming, but the bill never did. That was over 2 years ago.

[westofyou]

Re: Marketing ploys that give you fits...

If the Reds have "Average" pitching then they will compete

50 years and counting.

[StillFunkyB]

I hate all the "clever" UDF ads when they have a "special" each month on some certain ICE CREAM treat.

They do it with other things as well, but mainly the i.c.

[RichRed]

Not exactly a new one, but used cars are apparently more desirable now that they are referred to as "pre-owned."