In one form or another, I’ve been in the marketing industry for quite a while so I get the goal of getting a product or service in front of as many eyeballs as possible. But it’s not just about exposure – the vibe people feel about your particular offering is an important part of the mix. Generally speaking, advertising is supposed to give an audience a ‘warm and fuzzy’ about your company, service or product, (in fact, creating logos for those advertisements is why our humble shop is around). But what about when your advertising annoys the hell out of anyone that might remotely be interested in what you’re pitching? Wouldn’t that be the polar opposite of effective marketing and advertising? Which brings us to the Friday afternoon rant -
E-mail spam is bad enough (one of our old studio accounts receives over 40,000 spams a month) but my cause de jour is an increasing amount of FAX spam (euphimistically referred to as FAX Broadcasting) – unsolicited advertisements sent to FAX machines – pitching everything from insurance and accounting services, mortgage scams, landscaping companies and (irony warning) discount FAX Toner and Paper. While The USA made Junk Fax sorta illegal in 1991 and then overhauled the laws in 2005 (some might argue loosened), Canadian law is a lot less restrictive (an attempt to tighten up the laws died on the vine a few years ago thanks to lobbying by Canadian marketing company organizations and telelmarketers). So, what’s a FAX spammer to do when spamming the USA market can net hefty fines – hey, why not move north and pester folks from the relative safety of the 49th parallel. Lovely. So now our tired Brother machine is bombarded with unwanted FAXes on a regular basis from Canadian based FAX spammers who think it’s just peachy to use our phone line (including a 1-800 number), our FAX machine, paper and toner to advertise companies that we have no interest in engaging.
I’ve called the automated cancel numbers numerous times (as per CRTC regulations, FAX spammers get a free 7 day window where they are legally allowed to continue sending FAX spams for seven days AFTER you’ve requested to be removed), sent nastigrams via e-mail, and tried to get a hold of a live body by phone (despite touting that telecommunication is the best thing since sliced bread, these folks make it really difficult to telecommunicate with them). One company I’m having a helluva time with is FaxTarget Communications, a Toronto based FAX ‘Broadcaster’ who’s been flooding my FAX line for weeks now. Let’s take a look at the sarcasm-drenched disclaimer on their website -
Apparently some conspiracy theorists believe that we do not wish to remove numbers that are called in for removal. This is not true. Our clients wish to reach profitable, successful businesses that are not concerned about a few pennies of paper and ink. If your business cannot afford a few pennies, it is unlikely that our clients will be able to sell you anything. Therefore, those that wish to be removed need only ask once. We do not need an involved explanation. All we need is the number.
Love the snark – if I don’t want this lot tying up my FAX machine, using my paper and my toner, then I’m some sort of conspiracy-embracing vagrant who shouldn’t be in business anyway? Okay, I’m paranoid and penniless – so take my number off your list. Alas, that part of the equation ain’t so easy. I’ve called their removal number (4 times now) and even after the seven day window, FAXes still keep pouring in. I’ve pretended to be a client interested in their services, in order to get a call back, and wrangled a promise out of the ‘customer care’ rep that my number would be removed immediately and that I’d never, ever get another FAX. And still they come. I’ve complained to Bell Canada, who are limited in what they can do, but who helpfully called the good folks at FaxTarget Communications and requested that they remove my number. All to no avail (in fact, 1 hour after Bell had gone to bat on my behalf, more FAXes hit our machine, apparently a ’screw you’ for having the audacity to complain in the first place).
So now, it’s war. Every time anyone of these FAX spammers sends my studio machine an unwanted FAX, I’m going to send the very same FAX, plus all the FAXes from whatever company is responsible, back to the originating machine. I’ll also contact whatever company is being advertised and tell them exactly what I think of their lovely marketing campaign and the chances of me ‘buying’ their services. Exactly nil. Zero Zilch. This isn’t targeted marketing. It ain’t cool advertising. It’s spam using telephone lines as opposed to internet pipes. While I may sound like the crazy old dude at the end of the lane who’s always telling the kiddies to “get offa me lawn”, this stuff really gets under my skin.
And a boy’s gotta have some hobbies…
Related posts:
- Another 539 reasons why I hate spam…
- G-Mail makes an awesome Spam filter – part deux
- Spam blocker – why have you forsaken me
- G-mail makes an awesome Spam filter
- Damn logo spam!!!
Tags: business, industry, rants, social media
I hope you do not treat your customer the way you utter lies, but obviously you are not overly busy to have the time to do what you do.
If you have a grief with someone, at least be accurate as to the facts. You have called only ONCE to our office and left your number verbally. Than you went to our website and use a foul language with our web attendants.
There is actually no registry on the automated deletion file to any other input on your part albeit the fact you claim you tried to delete your number on several occasions – IT’S A LIE. We never receive any request from either Bell or the CRTC concerning your number as well. Obviously you are unaware that all entries to our automated deletion system have a time and date stamp on them. You called on Friday 29 Feb expecting us to delete your number the same moments. Things do not work this way and that is why CRTC allow fax service bureau 7 days to delete a number from their list, regardless – we will do our best to make sure your number is deleted the same day.
Also – you might not be fond of Fax advertising, however, many small and medium businesses livelihood depends on such a service. I suggest instead of wasting your time on fruitless and unproductive activities that perhaps you look deeper into the power that proper Fax Advertising campaign can offer your company – you will not be disappointed.
Hi Eric. Thanks for dropping by The Factor and adding your two cents.
While I certainly appreciate your advice on how to spend my time around The Logo Factory, I might be cheeky and point out that blogging is part of my day-to-day activities and it was you who took the time from your busy schedule to comment on same. I’m also tempted to argue your claims regarding my interaction with your company, but I’ve already covered that in my post up-page, there’s a winter storm brewing outside and I’m about to head out. Accordingly, we’ll have to leave the jousting for another time.
I do find it amusing that you try to pitch me that FAX Spamming is something The Logo Factory might be interested in, especially in a comment to a post entitled FAX Spam – Most Annoying Thing in the Universe? Others might call that chutzpah. I’d call it something else, but we’re in polite company so I won’t.
In any case, I’m gonna have to pass on your offer, and once again make the same request I’ve always made – no more Faxes. Please.
I was receiving faxes from FaxTarget as well. I did a web search for ‘annoying faxes’ and found this blog entry – referring to the very same company. I couldn’t believe the tone of the disclaimer, above, so I had to check it out myself. It’s there. You can’t make this stuff up. Do their clients know they hold these kinds of attitudes? Someone sat down and thoughtfully crafted this. They had time to consider the implicit messages and repercussions. It may have even been approved by senior management. My business can certainly afford the ink and paper. It’s the general principle. Imagine: Someone breaks into your home, grabs a brush and a can of paint, and writes “Do you want to buy a duck?” on your white sofa. An extreme example, but the same principle.
I’ve come across this blog as I too have been getting unwanted faxes from Faxtarget. Right now I have about 50 sheets of paper with their stupid advertisements that I have no use for.
I’ve requested that they remove my number from their calling list and I’ll know in a few days if that’s been effective.
I would recommend the following course of action:
1. Send a demand letter to Faxtarget for re-imbursement of costs for supplies plus your time in handling the matter. Send it as registered mail and keep a copy as well as the receipt for the registered mail (yes, you can make that cost part of your claim)
2. File a formal complaint with the CRTC as they regulate communications in Canada. The more people that file a complaint, the more likely the CRTC will take action against Faxtarget.
3. File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau . There’s not much teeth here, but at least its members will know about Faxtarget’s practices and hopefully avoid doing business with them.
Thank you for your articulate and pro-active fax spam attack. I am with you all the way. Once I received an 11-pager so I promptly sent it back four times to the source! I’m not convinced the fax removal numbers actually work. I think there is just a taped message and no humans or number removal technology to back it up. I started tracked these faxes and most of them continued to pour out of my machine long after my fax number had, supposedly, been removed.