Marketing Fatigue
Image by Macarena Carrasco
I made my annual trek to the local Post Office to mail our taxes recently. You might think ‘annual’ is an exaggeration - let’s just say that the Post Office is up there with the DMV as one of my least favorite places to frequent.
After a long line (which it seems there always is), I finally got the counter. I should have been a quick appointment - mail two envelopes. But before I could accomplish this one, simple task, I had to endure a deluge of other “would you like…” questions.
... Would you like to buy a PO Box? No.
... Would you like any insurance on these envelopes? No.
... Would you like to send them overnight? No.
... Would you like to buy stamps? No.
... and on and on.
I’m not exaggerating - the semi-friendly clerk easily asked me 8 of these types of questions. By the time she was finished, she looked as worn out as I felt.
My response? “No, I just want to mail these envelopes.”
I don’t blame her - it’s her job. I’m sure there is a training sheet somewhere underneath the counter that instructs her exactly what questions to ask each customer. Let’s be logical, though… Is it really crucial that they ask everyone the same eight questions?
Context should be king when it comes to marketing.
Everyone who walks through the door of the post office has some kind of business to do with the United States Postal Service. That’s where the commonality of those individuals ends, though.
- Some are there to pick up their mail after being on vacation.
- Some are there to get a passport.
- Some are there to buy/send greeting cards (yes, the USPS now sells birthday cards).
- Some are there to send packages to loved ones.
- Some are there to send packages to business associates.
- Some are there to mail their taxes.
I’m not opposed to the question, as long as it is relevant & in context with what I’m there to do.
- Picking up my mail? Offer me a PO Box.
- Sending packages to loved ones? Offer me insurance, or gift stamps.
- Sending packages to business associates? Offer me some of your business services.
- Mailing my taxes? Let me simply mail them and get on with my day.
Share this post on... 
Conversation About This Post...
Add Your Voice...
Sorry. Commenting is no longer available for this post. In most cases, you may leave comments up to 30 days from the time a post is published.
What Are Thin Places?
"Thin Places" are rich in Celtic tradition. They are the places in our lives where the divine and the natural worlds come so close together that we can catch a glimpse of God. For the Celtics these places were very real - places within creation where we could physically go. The Thin Places in our own lives are those moments where the space between us & the Kingdom is thin, when we are introduced to a greater glimpse of Who He is through our experiences and through the stories of others.
Where From Here?
This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on 03.08.2010.
The previous post in this blog was
"Intentional Fathering"
The next post in this blog is
"Your Part in Others' Reflections"
More can be found on the home page, by using the search box at the top of the screen, or by looking through the archives below.
The Whole Shebang
- July 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
Need something older than a year?
There's a lot here (539 posts, to be exact, dating all the way back to 08.30.2003). Try using the search box at the top of the screen.
Latest Life...
Follow me on Twitter
Jennifer Jones shared their voice on 03.08.2010:
You sure drove a long way to go to my local post office in Cabot, AR! I have complained and griped about this one particular lady that works at ours for the past six months. She asks the same questions to EVERY customer. Some people just walk away and as they are heading out the door, she is yelling at them trying to get all of her questions in before they get out the door!! Yes, ask me what is appropriate or listen to me when I tell you, “I just need to buy a roll of stamps. Nothing else.” Maybe we’ll see this as a SNL skit one day…