Asheville News

The pitiful pitch

Jason Sandford December 14, 2005

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

The pink envelope sat in the mail box, its fleshy color inviting me to pull it close. I gently withdrew it, figuring it was an invitation or holiday card of some sort. I noted the return address, Birmingham, Ala. Who did I know in Birmingham?

I felt the firmness of the card inside the classy envelope. Surely, this was some wedding invitation of a long forgotten cousin. I opened it. Yes, I was right. The perfect roses on the card cover, the diffused lighting, all pointed to it.

But when I opened the card, I got a different message. One one side: Maybe we didn’t say “we care” as much as we should have. On the other: Maybe you were right about everything.

Suddenly, the card was an apology. A make-up. A love letter. Who would be so affectionate, so down-on-their-knees sorry? I opened the tri-fold all the way up.

O, yes. Of course. Only a giant corporation could grovel like this. Bellsouth. Begging for my business. It’s been about a month since I severed my telephone line, a tether I rarely used, in favor of going mobile. Cellular, baby. It is the 21st century, after all.

More and more people I know have eschewed the traditional land line in favor of mobile phones. It must be getting bad if Bellsouth has resorted to such blatant sucking up. But I sure did savor it.

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

Grass is good

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4 Comments

Edgy Mama December 15, 2005

Maybe you are right about everything!

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Sweet Tea December 14, 2005

Well, darn it. That tops my holiday card…

http://bmf-st.blogspot.com/2005/12/thats-so-sneaky.html

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Dad December 14, 2005

I spent years working for a phone company so I can’t complain too much, it was a good living. On the other hand I have seen the marketing/sales folks kick in and waste tons of money on campaigns like this. And then there’s my friend in California, whose wife makes a living supplying a fat old tel co. with all kinds of marketing paraphernalia.

It’s the American way.

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syntax December 14, 2005

yeah, it makes me feel all warm inside knowing that bellsouth is spending all this money trying to woo back dissatisfied customers now that they have a choice, with fancy cards and reasonable calling plans, all the while passing the cost of this promotion/pr effort on to the existing subscribers. what a bunch of assholes.

that reminds me; i need to buy more minutes before the 18th…

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