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I know this isn't the biggest issue in the world. The planet won't stop turning. But...
I joined one of those neighborhood sites, mainly to help other people locate their lost pets. I saw a notice from a woman who wanted to know if anyone had a toilet booster seat as her DH was about to undergo double knee replacement surgery.
As it happened, I did have one, never used. I offered it to her for free. She texted me she was about to come by and pick it up, so I cleaned it off (it had accumulated dust) and put it on the front porch. I looked later and the seat was gone. In its place were three Avon catalogues.
I didn't expect to get anything in return; that's what "free" means. But this is kind of a negative thank-you. I am a merchant myself. I sell online. But I would never reciprocate anyone's kind thought by trying to sell them something or leaving a flyer on their front porch they'd have to deal with. Now I feel like a chump.
She followed up later by mail to make sure I'd gotten the Avon catalogues. Sigh.
Is it tacky to reciprocate generosity with advertising?
Yes, I agree it seems really tacky to me; the universe has all sorts of wonderful 'varieties' of our kind.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bellakin123
WOW!! She could have left free samples instead
Yes, one would think it was the absolute least reciprocation/thank you. Literally, lol!
Tacky is the kinder of words to describe this person's self serving gimmick.
I still internally cringe in the business world as I see this behavior.
My boss would boast how we gave back to the community..Donating food to charity. Then he'd have the chairman of the food pantry arrive for some photo shoots. Once at the office...The chairman would be pestered to use us for their network system . He seriously couldn't donate with no strings attached. He'd sell a lamp to a blind man if he felt his donation warranted a sale. I hated that mentality in business...
I know this isn't the biggest issue in the world. The planet won't stop turning. But...
I joined one of those neighborhood sites, mainly to help other people locate their lost pets. I saw a notice from a woman who wanted to know if anyone had a toilet booster seat as her DH was about to undergo double knee replacement surgery.
As it happened, I did have one, never used. I offered it to her for free. She texted me she was about to come by and pick it up, so I cleaned it off (it had accumulated dust) and put it on the front porch. I looked later and the seat was gone. In its place were three Avon catalogues.
I didn't expect to get anything in return; that's what "free" means. But this is kind of a negative thank-you. I am a merchant myself. I sell online. But I would never reciprocate anyone's kind thought by trying to sell them something or leaving a flyer on their front porch they'd have to deal with. Now I feel like a chump.
She followed up later by mail to make sure I'd gotten the Avon catalogues. Sigh.
Why would you feel like a chump? I highly doubt she lied about needing it just to have an excuse to leave Avon catalogs. Just say not interested, no reason to think ill of her just for leaving them.
You weren't expecting ANYTHING back, were you? Were you expecting a thank you note? If not, than I see it as no big deal at all.
Where I live, people leave flyers and brochures all the time. I honestly wouldn't have thought twice about the catalogues.
I think a "thank you" would be appropriate, whether written or verbal.
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