Am I just too jaded or…is everyone, including your consignment and resale customers? With retail looking bankruptcy in the face, their desperation is showing. How can we get people in? I know, let’s offer 10% off.
With a spate of 10% off offers in my e- and real-life galvanized mailbox, I find myself yawning. Ho-hum. Ten big-deal percent off? Ain’t worth my time to shop. And, as an observer of the mercantile industry and a fervent eco-nut, I am left wondering: Was it worth the paper/ electrons the offer was printed on? And here’s something I don’t wonder about, that I know: interrupting my life to offer a 10% reduction is just plain rude.
Am I jaded, or dare I think that grabbing me, metaphorically, by the sleeve in order to shout in my ear 10% off... is intrusive and downright impolite? Dare I think that if a merchant wants me to pay attention to him/her, the offer has to be a lot more tempting than that? Otherwise, the interruption is just clutter, and I resent clutter.
Now, I understand, I really do, that maybe 10% off is all the merchant can offer. Okay, I’m cool with that. But at least, offer me that in an entertaining and amusing manner so the communication is interesting and intriguing. I suggest:
FREE $10 BILL this week at MyShop…just spend $100, and we’ll GIVE you a nice crisp new $10 bill for free. We’ll even stick it in a holiday card…for you to send yourself, your favorite relative, or a cherished charity.*
Now something like that, I might respond to. Even if I don’t, the shop’s image and personality come alive for me, and become memorable. Heck, I might even tell a friend, who’ll tell a friend…
* Yes, I know that not everyone will spend $100 and you want to give them 10% off every purchase. That’s what fine print is for. Or, alternatively, if your shop price range is modest, you could change the offer to a free $5 bill, or even a free $1 bill. Maybe there’s even a bunch of dollar coins around somewhere? (That’s another blog entry, isn’t it? Where have all the Susan B. Anthonys and Sacagaweas gone and is that a sexist plot?)
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
[…] 30, 2010 by Auntie Kate The most popular post on my blog recently has been this one, which I had almost […]
So true Kate! It’s all in the presentation isn’t it? One of my favorite shops sends me coupons for $25 off $75, $50 off $150 $75 off $225 Now isn’t that more tempting than 30% off your entire purchase, and it encourages me to spend the $225 because there it is in black and white, math done for me, save $75… wow!