Walmart breaks a PR rule

“Consistent starting pay results in consistent staffing and better customer service while also creating new opportunities for associates to gain new skills from experience across the store and lay the groundwork for their career.”

More on lying in marketing

Dear Prospective Vendor: Lying isn’t a good look

Beware when “How much do you have?” is the answer to “How much will it cost?”

How to blow a great opener

Dear Beko: I don’t envy anyone who writes ads for dishwashers. There just aren’t that many ways to say “this thing will clean your dishes.” Thus my hat is off to your copywriter for coming up with the first line in the attached ad: Our new dishwashers perform flawlessly using 50% less water and 25% less energy than U.S. standards for dishwashers, saving money and the planet too. That’s killer copy. The photo rocks, too, with a view through a window that subtlety reinforces “uses 50% less water.” But the writer blew it with the second and final line: Did we just sell you a new dishwasher with a single sentence? Um, no, you didn’t. You intrigued me. And then you promptly un-intrigued me with presumptuous gloating. If you were smart, you would have told me to call or visit one of the dealers that you’d listed below the ad or directed me to a website. Then, one of your dealers could have closed the sale. The writer who penned the ad, the creative director who signed off on it, and the client who approved it should be pilloried. The art director, however, deserves praise. Sincerely, Steve Cuno

Click image to enlarge.

If evasion pays, it didn’t this time.

Hi Steve,

I figured out that your company might be spending a lot of time and human resources in hiring more and more resources to meet the demands.

So, do you need more bright young talents to help you grow your agency?

Harvey

* * *

Harvey,

This is fascinating to me. How did you figure that out?

Steve Cuno

* * *

Hello Steve,

Thank you for your interest in replying. I’d be happy to jump in on a call to give you an in-depth review of our process.

We can have a quick chat to discuss all your requirements in depth.

Here is a link to My Calendar to set up a Virtual Coffee.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Harvey

* * *

Thanks for the reply, Harvey.

Your initial note makes quite the claim: “I figured out that your company might be spending a lot of time and human resources in hiring more and more resources to meet the demands.” That’s impressive. Hence my question, namely, how you figured that out. Your follow-up note doesn’t address that, and I’d really like to know before we move on to next steps.

That was Question 1. Your reply, however, has introduced two more questions:

(2) You suggest a “quick chat” for an in-depth review of your process and an in-depth discussion of all my requirements. How do you propose to pull off two in-depth conversations in a quick chat?

(3) Why not skip the in-depth conversation about my requirements, since you have, apparently, already figured them out, and cut straight to your proposed solutions?

Before I consider virtual coffee, I really need you to answer all three questions. Speaking of which, do you serve virtual decaf? Doctor’s orders, you know.

Steve Cuno

* * *

Hello Steve,

First of all, accept my apologies for the delay in getting back to you.

I was really overwhelmed with the usual overflow of work that's why I would like to answer your questions over a "virtual decaf" 😉

Just kidding, I really understand your concerns over the questions you asked.  My idea of in-depth discussion of your requirements is to collect the gist of information initially and then I can add my value to it. In our quick chat or virtual decaf, we can discuss things with more clarity and transparency.

After our conversation, I can provide personalised solutions which would be of greater value.

Let's Connect and see if we are a good fit to work together.

Here is a link to My Calendar to find time easier.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Harvey

* * *

Hi Harvey,

I’m still confused. Your initial email said you’d figured out that my company might be spending a lot of time and human resources in hiring more and more resources to meet the demands. My question, still unanswered, was, how did you figure that out?

Steve

Freedom to worship a cruel god shouldn’t be free

How not to advertise reverse mortgages

What’s in a name? Sadly, a lot.

two economists conducted a simple study that found striking evidence of the pervasive reach of racism. They sent more than 5,000 resumes to companies in Chicago and Boston, all identical except for the name on top. Some of the resumes had the stereotypically white names Emily or Greg, and some had the stereotypically African-American names Lakisha or Jamal. The researchers found that the "white" names received 50 percent more calls from hiring managers than the "black" names did.

--from the American Psychological Association website