DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 

DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> because dpc'ers know everything . .
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 17 of 17, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 08/23/2005 06:06:11 PM · #1
Okay, I have a theory that dpc'ers know everything about everything, let's see. .

I want to do a special mailing as a promotional for one of my businesses. It works like this -- I send a special card to a current customer. They can visit my website or call me and order something at a special rate (cosmetics/skin care products if it makes any difference) or not. The choice is theirs. (This is only in the US, I am not authorized to sell out of the country).

Then, they mail the card to one of their friends, who can do the same thing.

And so on

And so on

And so on

As each person gets the card, they fill in a space on a accompanying piece of paper with their name/address/phone number. After the last person, it gets sent back to me.

My benefit -- sales, new contacts, geography lesson, etc.

Their benefit -- Great product at a discounted price.

Of course, I want to be completely up front that providing personal information is for me only and would/will never be sold, loaned, distributed, etc.

Question? To the best of your knowledge, does this violate any United States Postal Service regulations? Does it violate any other type of law?

To me, it seems okay, but before I go and get in trouble for something stupid, I just wanted to ask what ya'lls opinions are.

karmat

PS -- You are not responsible for any outcomes based on your advice or opinions. :)
 08/23/2005 06:14:22 PM · #2
I preface my remark with the disclaimer that I'm not a marketing person of any sort, but:

It sounds to me like what you're suggesting is a pretty long shot, akin to a chain letter. I think there would have to be a lot of standing interest in your work for one of the cards to make it past the first stop, let alone all the way back to you after making several rounds.

Theoretically, it'd be a great way to gain exposure to different social circles all over the place, but think about a few things- how would the cards be mailed? They would have to be in envelopes, which then each person mailing it onward would have to replace. They would have to provide stamps as well. What motivation would they have for providing you with this free publicity?

That's all I can offer--I wish you the best in your enterprise.

Damon
 08/23/2005 06:18:45 PM · #3
its sort of like a chain mail - i dont know about here (USA) but i do seem to recall there being chain mail laws in Australia.

Heres a suggestion for an alterantive. You send your customer 2 cards or a large card that it perforated to rip in 2. Both have the discount information so they get to keep one for themselves and you clearly make the other one as "send/give to a friend". It would probably have to have free postage on it for them to actually mail it. I know i wouldnt without free postage because i would be in the state of mind that why should i pay for someone elsesadvertisement campiagn. Make sure the card is legal postcard size (6x4.25" for 23c)
08/23/2005 06:42:42 PM · #4
I believe the postal regs in the US prohibit chain mail that involves money.

What you are talking about sounds more like a marketing campaign, not chain mail.
 08/23/2005 06:51:00 PM · #5
i do know everything ... and thank you for noticing

:)
 08/23/2005 06:54:17 PM · #6
According to the USPS, what I'm doing is not a chain letter because
a) it is not a get rich quick scheme, nothing is promised to the respondee except product that may choose or not choose to order

b) they send nothing to the person "above" them, and only send the letter/card to one other person

c) it's not requesting money of an item of value

d) it doesn't offer a substantial gain to the participant

The postage stuff -- I thought of that, and am currently trying to figure out the best/easiest/most manageable way of doing that.

Thanks for the input. I may resketch it because if it sounds like chain mail, looks like chain mail, smells like chain mail to enough people, it will flop. :)

Another question -- would that be the only "illegal" part of this venture?
 08/23/2005 06:54:52 PM · #7
Originally posted by hopper:
i do know everything ... and thank you for noticing

:)


you are more than welcome. ;)
 08/23/2005 06:56:00 PM · #8
Why have them fill in the info on the card? You could set up a "survey" type form online for folks to fill in. It seems to me as the card passed from one hand to another to a third, the first person's information may be going to people who they would rather not have see it. (Unless I misunderstood your scheme.)

Godforbid one of your cards ended up in "my" hands--full of good intentions and always late to get done/pass on stuff.
08/23/2005 06:58:00 PM · #9
About chain mail--I don't think this idea is chain mail.
Chain mail works like a pyramid scheme: 1 sends to 10, each 1 of 10 sends to 10 more (100), each 1 of 100 sends to 10 (1,000), and so on....really pisses off the postal service.
 08/23/2005 07:05:31 PM · #10
Originally posted by KaDi:
Why have them fill in the info on the card? You could set up a "survey" type form online for folks to fill in. It seems to me as the card passed from one hand to another to a third, the first person's information may be going to people who they would rather not have see it. (Unless I misunderstood your scheme.)

Godforbid one of your cards ended up in "my" hands--full of good intentions and always late to get done/pass on stuff.


You and me both!

Good point, as well. I also like the idea. So, the people would be mailing the card, not the info. I can work with that.

08/23/2005 07:17:30 PM · #11
why not send a card with ten unique discount codes on tear tags (limit one per customer)
with instructions to remove one tag and hand the card onto a friend
don't put the details on the tag to stop people just sending out the tags to friends
make the discount is a good one (+ free shipping) and you should get 5-6 orders and when they order you get their details
this way you only get leads from people who are interested in your products and you haven't added people to the list who won't buy, this saves you in mailing costs in the future

don't forget to include details of other products that are not on special on the card

ps. people are more likely to read sales card that is handed to them by a friend than one recieved in the mail so pick the first person on the list well

Message edited by author 2005-08-23 19:20:22.
 08/23/2005 08:53:12 PM · #12
Originally posted by karmat:
Originally posted by KaDi:

Godforbid one of your cards ended up in "my" hands--full of good intentions and always late to get done/pass on stuff.


You and me both!



Procrastinators With Good Intentions Unite!



Firsty had some good ideas, too! I think (collectively) we can help you with your marketing plan.
:-)
 08/23/2005 10:24:25 PM · #13
I believe it would be considered a "chain letter" in the sense of Postal Service regulations if recepients are asked/instructed to send it on to another person; and if each sucessive person-- a) supposedly derives some benefit (monetary or otherwise) for passing it along, and/or b) is threatened with some loss or disadvantage for failure to send it on.

If you want to wade thru the legalese you can probabply find more than you want to know at the USPS site. Or, for a more definitive answer, you could send an inquiring e-mail to the Inspection Service.
 08/23/2005 10:32:15 PM · #14
This is probably not an illegal chain letter for the reasons already stated, but I don't think passing a card from person to person (like having them sign a mailing list) is a good idea.

A lot of trade magazines come with a subscription/renewal card, and one or more cards to pass along to friends/colleagues. I think that approach would be better. You'll have to decide (based on the number of pieces mailed and expected rate of return) whether to use Business Reply Mail (permits required) or just pre-stamp the cards.
 08/23/2005 10:34:00 PM · #15
It sord of sounds like the same thing magazines do. They always include a card for a friend to fill out. You could send them like that. Then a friend has the right to say yes or no. its like a referral program. I dont see why its against the law. Chain letters arent or are they? ( times change)
A good idea there for marketing.

08/23/2005 10:45:36 PM · #16
Expanding on what Elli said. You could send 2 cards to start off to one person (postage paid on the second), then on KaDi's idea...People who receive it can go to your website, fill in a form and get the special deal code. Along with that you could have a "send a recommendation" area to email it to a friend or two. Of course they have to fill out the form also.
 08/23/2005 10:51:59 PM · #17
You might be better off patterning this after the 'friends and family' type scheme which several phone companies tried a few years back. Adapted to your purpose it would work something like this:
1. Send out promotional cards to people already on your mailing list.
2. In order to receive the discount, each customer must provide you with the name and address of a friend who they think would be interested in receiving the offer. If the friend places an order with you, the referrer will receive a gift certificate good for $x off their next order.
3. Send out a similar promotional card to the new referral, dropping the name of the friend who referred them.

This would eliminate most of the risks and problems involved in having a single piece of paper circulating through the market, while still allowing you to make use of people's existing social network. The gift certificate for a successful referral should increase the likelihood of you getting good referrals. Be sure that the referrer is aware that their name will be mentioned in the advertisement that is sent to their friend.

There may be better options, but this is what sprang to mind when I first read your post.

Disclaimer: I have no qualifications as a marketing or legal expert; caveat venditor.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 05/10/2026 04:07:19 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2026 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 05/10/2026 04:07:19 PM EDT.