I got an email from Office Depot this afternoon. The title of the email was "Amazing Tech Deals PLUS Coupon" (this is exactly how it looked). I'm thinking, wow, I might actually get to shop at Office Depot because everytime they offer a coupon it always excludes technology. This means that anything I would care to buy at a savings is off limits - software, printers and other hardware, HP toner, telephones, and anything at all to do with computers (including accessories).
Then I open the email and right there in the banner is "Excludes Technology." This is followed by "Restrictions Apply." Oh, goody more things excluded.
Now I know that any email, flyer, or ad with the word "coupon" in it that comes from Office Depot only applies to pens, copy paper, and paperclips.
Boy, do I feel silly for falling for their email subject line.
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Steve, I feel the same way. I get their stuff in the mail and it's usually not worth the paper it's printed on. Enjoy your weekend!
What kind of things can you buy with that coupon? Very creative advertising. Hhhmmmm.
Silvia,
I guess their tricky advertising is to get you into the store before you figure out that you can't use the coupon. :)
Steve
Melissa,
All you can buy is anything you don't absolutely need to buy when it's on sale - paper, pens, paperclips. Such a deal. :)
Steve
Took me a minute to figure it out. I would've assumed it included tech stuff, but now I see they have Deals and then they have the coupon...
Chanda panda
Chanda,
Real cute, isn't it? You're supposed to think what we thought. That the sad part. :)
Steve
Steve...
Well, I guess the way they worded it they got you! It doesn't make you want to shop there, though.
Richard,
Let's put it this way. I will intentionally go out of my way to shop someplace else. This would have been an exception. :)
Steve
Hi Steve - I hate those exclusions. Obviously Office Depot just doesn't get the idea that they might just increase sales if they did not exclude technology from their offerings.
Jon,
There's a lot of things they don't get - including my patronage and goodwill. :)
Steve
Maybe it would take less work for them if they just advertised what is included!! Frustrating!!
Yeah that would be foolish of them actually catering to their customers needs.
Judy,
Personally I think they are intentionally creating the confusion to generate foot traffic. :)
Steve
Aaron,
Spoken like a true entrepreneur. Thank you. :)
Steve
Staples is having a technology sale! I have a Staples near my office, so I tend to shop there. I love their rewards... By the way I do not work for or have significant shares of stock in Staples (lol)!
Joan,
I have found the employees at Staples to be very helpful, and that is where I tend to shop for office supplies. :)
Steve
Steve,
Sometimes I think these big merchants think we are dumb as posts.
Steve,
If a coupon is supposed to increase traffic, boost sales, and generate tertiary sales aside from the coupon, then I don't understand why they would consistently limit the coupon to almost no value. :)
Steve
Shucks Steve.....sorry they got you again. But look at it this way, WHAT IF....LOL, and it only took 10 seconds of your time. I can hit that delete button in 1 second flat. Remember Name that Tune?
Gail,
Name That Tune - love it. I'll think of that the next time I get one of their zingers. :)
Steve
Steve - I share your same frustrations with Office Depot promotions. They have closed their doors on a few locations in my area. Perhaps they need a little better marketing plan.
Myrl,
All I can say is thay have dug a hole for themselves and seem content to turn away people like us. :)
Steve
Paperclips are high tech to some people
Ross,
Do you want to try winning that argument to use the coupon. :)
Steve
Steve - For what it's worth, we shop at OfficeMax... They actually have tech sales - just got flash drive marked down from $140 to $60. I was pretty pleased.
Ryan,
I think Office Depot has sales occasionally, too, but I really don't follow them. The whole point is the coupon. Either have one or don't. Don't pretend to have one. :)
Steve
Misleading in my book...
Ryan,
I agree, but someone on their side must have thought it was clever. :)
Steve
Steve - Companies will try almost anything to make a buck! I really like your post and it has been featured at ......
CUSTOMER SERVICE
Robert,
Thank you. I appreciate the nod, and the feature. :)
Steve
Steve - Your very welcome my friend and I believe that me and you think alike when it comes to customer service!
VB
Robert,
You might want to check out my latest post and podcast from yesterday: "Customer Relations Is A Paradigm." :)
Steve