Holiday email spam getting out of hand

not just spammers anymore

[ogletree]

Big box companies are getting desperate this year. I have never seen so much email spam. I'm talking big retailers that we all know. I have had people tell me that are having hard times getting off some of these email lists. These companies have to understand they are causing harm by doing this. Getting several emails a day from the same retailer is just making people mad.

[jsinger]

Yes, I've noticed a tendency in the last year or two for large "reputable" firms to step up the frequency of email advertising. Once a month used to be considered the maximum. Some are now emailing every three or four days. Intolerable!

Big box companies are getting desperate this year

That's it.

[incrediBILL]

If you don't like their emails, don't shop there, tell them email frequency is why you're no longer shopping there, easy as that.

[jsinger]

If you don't like their emails, don't shop there,

Hey I'll drink a toast to that idea with any brand of coffee except Gevalia "Kaffe."

I must have gotten several hundred unrequested emails from that Kraft division between 2000 and 2005.

(Oh that's right, affiliates not Kraft sent them all)

[piatkow]

When blocking the domain isn't an option then you have a problem.

I think the answer is probably to name and shame them to a consumer advice column/program in print or broadcast media.

[dertyfern]

Last night I realized that a company I've bought from on occasion and actually like had upped it's email from once a month to twice per week during the second half of November.

It is a huge turn off, the consumer side of me hates it, while the business side understands the need and timing.

[LifeinAsia]

Hey I'll drink a toast to that idea with any brand of coffee except Gevalia "Kaffe."

I must have gotten several hundred unrequested emails from that Kraft division between 2000 and 2005.

I used to get a lot too. And I was a Gevalia customer at the time. I forwarded every message I received to the company. Some were from an outside marketing firm, that was subsequently canned. Others were from unscrupulous affiliates (who I assume were terminated).

[BillyS]

I see it too. Emails every day from some very large companies. Free Shipping, 20% Off, 50% Off...

[jsinger]

from an outside marketing firm, that was subsequently canned.

So convenient for Kraft to blame the spam on third parties. As I recall several states went after them for spamming. Of course EVERYONE at Kraft knew about it almost from Day One.

Gevalia almost ranked with X10. (the "security" camera popup jerks) You couldn't get email around 2002 without an in-box full of Gevalia crap. I thought Kraft sold it off a few years ago but I'm not sure.

Wonder if anyone (like Michael Moore holding a camera) ever mentioned Gevalia at a Kraft shareholders meeting?

[dpd1]

I noticed the big A has been hitting me pretty hard this year... Pretty much once a day at least. Same with a lot of others. I did buy an expensive tool the other day due to the fact that the vendor sent me a 30% off/free shipping offer. So I guess you can't blame them, it does work... But it's kind of like killing an ant with a shotgun.

[MrHard]

I'm sure they are legally covered and can point to an opt in somewhere. Anything you do or fill out can be used against you, even years later.

[jsinger]

What's remarkable is the DECREASE in junk email the last year or two. Body "enhancement", penny stocks, other junk products. Almost gone.

Only increase I see are Africans willing to share millions, sometimes billions with me.

Got four emails in a row last week telling me I've won different lotteries or such. What are the odds of winning four $50 million lotteries in an hour?

[iambic9]

Got four emails in a row last week telling me I've won different lotteries or such. What are the odds of winning four $50 million lotteries in an hour?

Quite good actually, in total last week, I made just shy of half a billion dollars in various lotteries, competitions and generous offers from unfortunate wealthy Nigerians.

Not bad work if you can get it. I'm thinking of getting one of those "Rolrex" watches I keep hearing all about.

[jsinger]

I'm actually am a fan of clever scams. Some rank with the best stage magic. ie. The guy who pulled off the first "Spanish prisoner" scam in the 1930s was brilliant. More so, the one who sold the Eiffel Tower... twice in the 1800s

But there's nothing clever about a copy/paste email from the 50th widow with esophageal cancer. (it's always the same kind of cancer)

[jsinger]

Latest spam barrage is coming to me from sweet little Mrs. Fields, the cookie lady. Get something every few days. Just started a few months ago. Never signed up for 'em or even bought their products.