I Hate an Incompetent Lie

Got a piece of direct mail the other day from an outfit called Listingcorp.com. It looked like a bill — $65.00 for “Annual Website Search Engine Listing”. My blog address was listed at the top. For a moment, I figured I must have signed up for it and forgot. Maybe some kind of free trial?

Then I looked at the bottom, where it said, “THIS IS NOT A BILL. THIS IS A SOLICITATION. YOU ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO PAY THE AMOUNT STATED ABOVE UNLESS YOU ACCEPT THE OFFER.”

At which point I got pissed. The “Invoice” approach got me to open the envelope, it’s true. But as soon as I saw the disclaimer, I realized that they’d put one over on me. And I had no interest in considering their offer. In fact, I’m shredding it as soon as I’m done with this post.

If you have to admit the deception on the same document as the deception itself, maybe you shouldn’t try to deceive. I’m just saying.

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Categories: Advertising, Marketing, Sales
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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