BackupBox

Stardock e-mail that's almost like spam

from GalCiv2 Forums
Did everyone else also get the e-mail about the BackupBox, some backup device that Stardock are advertising? I've no complaints about them sending that kind of e-mail occasionally, so long as they pick things very carefully to make sure they're good - but the style was horrible! It was really like bad hard-selling spam. It was really poorly laid out, and just kept repeating that the thing was awesome and we should buy it, but with no proper details at all (as far as I could see it didn't even say what the capacity of the thing was!). Did other people think the same?

I hope you read this FrogBoy, it really wasn't up to your company's usual very high standards.
off-topic
14,057 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Yeah, I did too. Wasn't too impressed by getting that e-mail. The layout and presentation did seem a little too spamish.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I've never heard of any such thing (though a quick google does tell that a product by that name does exist already from another company). If one of you can forward it to me I'll check it out. My address is my screen name @stardock.com.
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Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

That is in fact a valid email.  We're partnering with RedPaw on this and helping them out by sending the notice to our members who have indicated they'd like to receive emails from us.  Your address was not given to RedPaw, or any other company, we did the mailer internally.

Hope this clears up any confusion on the matter.

 

Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Yeah, I wasn't suggesting that it wasn't an authorised e-mail, I was just suggesting that Stardock should try to maintain their normally very high standards of communication. It might be a great product, but the e-mail falls a long way short of your usual standards.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
alex: I dropped my own email to Brad. I agree with you that we need to do better. I think that this should be specifically opt-in, and a little more succinct and to the point, if we do it at all.

My own first reaction was to unsubscribe, and the only unsubscribe option was for all Stardock email. Not good, since I still want to get our email newsletters.

Edit: Brad just mentioned that he has stopped further distribution of that email. So, for all you people who got it, it's now a rare once-in-a-lifetime promotional distribution, guaranteed* to increase in value!

* Not a guarantee
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
GR, glad to hear that. I was >< close to going off on a rant, but I see you already have this well in hand. Too bad, I had a lot of choice words cooked up.

This kind of thing happens sometimes. It's always embarrassing when someone reports spam to your tech desk and it really did come from your coworkers. It's happened to me twice at one place I worked...the first time, we all went down to the marketeer's desk, carrying knives. You ever have 10 geeks in ragged dress show up in your office with long knives and grim faces, chewing you out using terms you don't fully recognize? He quit soon after. Something about a 'hostile work environment'. I dunno what his beef was, the work environment was great, nice and tranquil. Our break room even had an electric guitar amplifier. The back garden was zen stone garden style. It was us that were hostile. The second time, the marketeer was in another state in a parent company's office, so we had no choice but to do something far more insidious...we talked with his manager, and he got fired. I don't know how those kinds of corporate people live with themselves, that's just cold. At least doing it our way we were personal with the guy, and he didn't have to explain getting fired to his next employer...plus he kept his stock options. Even if he did have nightmares about joeboy with his Batth'lev (or however you spell that Klingon thing).

Marketing people go and do stuff they think is a totally great new idea without asking the techies for permission (or realizing they should). The best thing to do is to be kind. Send Cari down there with a katana and full Kill Bill regalia.


Also, it might win some community goodwill back if you put up a big picture of a Yor Collective guy holding out some flowers and a teddy bear saying "We're Sorry" on the opt-out landing page.
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
The best thing to do is to be kind. Send Cari down there with a katana and full Kill Bill regalia.

Now that would make a great screenshot....