Yesterday, I commented about one of the silly things that companies occassionally do in their mailed corresponence. Now, that aside, the enclosed letter said I’d soon be receiving a packet with a survey and a “$CASH$ incentive” (and yes, that’s verbatim, bold and all). Of course, I took that to mean some coupon or discount that I’d never need or use.
I got the packet today (that was fast! — and again with the “handwriting” font, though amusingly enough, my [maiden] last name was scratched through and my current last name [actually] written in *rolls eyes*) and lo and behold, here’s the survey…and a crisp new $5 bill! Color me surprised! And wondering if it’s my time, or their survey that’s apparently only worth a five-buck bribe. *lol* It makes me wonder how much money they go through, just in the hope that the people receiving this thing will feel obligated to fill it out and send it in. It’s a “new vehicle survey,” from a large enough company that I immediately recognized the name, so I’ve gotta assume that it’s not a small number of these things going out.
And now, a tangent.
Reading over the cover letter that came in the packet, I’m struck by this paragraph:
“In the enclosed survey, we are interested in your preferences in magazines and television programs, as well as other interests. This information allows auto manufacturers to spend their marketing dollars more effectively, which helps keep vehicle prices down.”
Maybe it’s just me, but I’m not sure what the correlation is between vehicle manufacturing and what kind of magazines I read, or tv shows I watch, or whether I like stamp collecting or gardening (neither, particularly, thanks). I’m just not sure I can take this survey seriously after reading the cover letter. :/ I did actually look through the survey, and here is a list of what it contained:
• 2 pages asking about general anonymous statistical junk: gender, marital status, employment status, age range, income range, etc.
• 1 page of agree/disagree questions on financial, technological, and consumer topics, among other things
• 1 page of agree/disagree questions on automotive topics
• 2 pages about the new car in question, and my driving habits
• 10 pages of yes/no/n/a bubbles and various other “choose your level of…” type questions regarding my magazine and tv habits, and hobbies.
So out of a sixteen-page “new car survey,” there are three pages that ask anything about the actual car or its use, or even general automotives.
Yeah…no thanks.
But I appreciate the free frakkalaka, guys! Cuz you know that’s where your money’s going, right? :)