Seduction by Mail Order
Another light subject for the day, one in which many can identify, I am certain. For those who have stayed away from posting because some of the subjects appear to generate controversary, here is your chance to weigh in on something that perhaps affects many of us.
Yesterday, I received a package in the mail that I had ordered. While on the tred-mill, that never-ending hotbed of stimulation for thinking, I saw an informercial on a product that was guaranteed to make one's face look younger, and diminish the appearance of wrinkles. After seeing this product pumped up and advertised, I decided to call in an order. When the order was placed, I was told a couple of things about it: one, the shipping would be $12.95 for UPS, and second, that I would automatically be placed in their 'club', which entitled me to purchase the product at a discount every month. What this meant, I subsequently found out, was that my credit card would automatically be billed for $40.00 plus shipping.
The product arrived yesterday. Instead of coming by UPS, it arrived in a dinky white box by USPS, and came from the city right next to mine. "For this I paid $12.95, I was lamenting," as I scurried to call the company demanding an appropriate explanation for this mishap. To make a long story short, I was told that this was how the package was mailed, and whoever told me otherwise was mistaken. So I sat, and pondered, and informed them that I did not intend to participate in the monthly club membership to please cancel it.
Which brings me to the question of the day: how often do products seen seductive to us on T.V. or in advertisements, only to arrive and be so simple or unappealing when we see them in person? Has the marketing from television, computer, or catalogue given products, (or even people for that matter), a certain elevated sense, so that when they arrive they are disappointments to us in the end? Tell me about something you have ordered and that it was not what it purported to be for you.
Thank you for your minds.
Yesterday, I received a package in the mail that I had ordered. While on the tred-mill, that never-ending hotbed of stimulation for thinking, I saw an informercial on a product that was guaranteed to make one's face look younger, and diminish the appearance of wrinkles. After seeing this product pumped up and advertised, I decided to call in an order. When the order was placed, I was told a couple of things about it: one, the shipping would be $12.95 for UPS, and second, that I would automatically be placed in their 'club', which entitled me to purchase the product at a discount every month. What this meant, I subsequently found out, was that my credit card would automatically be billed for $40.00 plus shipping.
The product arrived yesterday. Instead of coming by UPS, it arrived in a dinky white box by USPS, and came from the city right next to mine. "For this I paid $12.95, I was lamenting," as I scurried to call the company demanding an appropriate explanation for this mishap. To make a long story short, I was told that this was how the package was mailed, and whoever told me otherwise was mistaken. So I sat, and pondered, and informed them that I did not intend to participate in the monthly club membership to please cancel it.
Which brings me to the question of the day: how often do products seen seductive to us on T.V. or in advertisements, only to arrive and be so simple or unappealing when we see them in person? Has the marketing from television, computer, or catalogue given products, (or even people for that matter), a certain elevated sense, so that when they arrive they are disappointments to us in the end? Tell me about something you have ordered and that it was not what it purported to be for you.
Thank you for your minds.
9 Comments:
I love Ebay but every once in a while the items I purchase are just not what I expected. I bought matching mother/daughter dresses once that looked so cute on my computer screen yet were totally atrocious when they arrived. I've had more good experiences than bad though, so I keep going back.
I must admit to being forever skeptical about ads I see on TV. Honestly, between my natural skepticism and Tivo, I never watch commercials at all.
Welcome to the wonderful world of marketing! Once you buy the junk, the telemarketers do not care if you are happy with it or not. They know you will not take the time to go to tjhe post office and mail the junk back for a refund.
And call your credit card company! Tell them yourself to not allow automatic charges from the wrinkle cream people. The telemarketers might have said "we will cancel your club membership", but they already lied to you once.
If the credit card company tells you they can not do what you ask, cancel that card. Then call back in 5 minutes and open another account.
i tend to usually check things out first, but last month i really thought about buying this "lip enhancer" (i didn't, and normally i wouldn't be interested, but it did "seduce" me). if i had extra money i would have bought it. the other day i did find that a bunch of these were tested and really none "worked". i felt good that i didn't spend the money, i felt stupid that i even had the thought of buying something like that ... but it was all about the seduction.
This past spring I ordered a pair of gold hoop earrings that were supposed to be 3mm thick. They were only 2mm thick. That extra mm makes a big difference!
Be careful about impulse purchasing!
I came across THIS yesterday.
It's very comforting for those of us that are generally messy but not out of control. But I'm afraid she'll wind up on Oprah with a total makeover...
Kurt,
I feel completely sane by comparison!
Thanks for that.
I bought waxing stuff. You know, instead of shaving your legs, you wax them. It was way too messy to bother with, but I can't say that it didn't work. Oh, besides being messy, you needed to buy their cloths to use with it. They didn't mention that in the TV ad. They "gave" you a couple of cloths, and you were expected to reorder them.
I've collected Teddy Bears since I was little and I once bought this Teddy Bear that was adorable and very expensive because of the pictures. The seller convinced me to buy another bear which went with the first one, I wasn't crazy about it but bought it as well.
When they arrived they were so different from the picturs. I was incredibly bummed and I never displayed them in my collection.
The moral of the story:
Kill your TV
Cut up your credit cards.
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