Annoying

I’d prefer to opt in, thanks

In Annoying, Email on 13 June 2010 tagged newsletter, spam with 1 comment

Why did you add me to your email newsletter without my permission? (Strike 1.) Where’s the unsubscribe link? (Strike 2.) Why did you paste everybody’s email address in the To field? BCC Please. (Strike 3.)

Please read “Stop adding me to your email newsletter” by Chris Brogan.

When you’re done, setup an account with MailChimp. Then, you’ll have a legitimate email newsletter with a subscribe form for your website, an unsubscribe link in your emails, and keep your recipients’ email addresses safe.

Office Depot killed a tree for me

In Annoying, Business on 8 January 2010 tagged environment, marketing, Office Depot with 1 comment

I got to the office this morning to find a package in my box from Office Depot.

I didn’t order anything. The last two things I ordered the past couple months was a 8GB CompactFlash card and a 4GB USB flash drive.

When I opened the box, an Office Depot catalog is staring at me. I didn’t request it.

On the back of the catalog cover, small text says:

This 4-page cover is printed on paper containing 10% postconsumer fibers.

What about the rest of the catalog?

Ooh, and there’s a $20 off coupon (with an order of $100 or more). Office Depot murdered a tree to thank me and send a coupon.

To make matters worse, I don’t see any way to opt out of this catalog.

At the bottom of the enclosed thank you letter, it was signed by Christine Buscarino, Sr. Director of Marketing.

Until your website includes a check box to opt in requesting a catalog (read: Don’t just send me one for kicks!), you won’t see me again.

Update (seconds after I posted this) — In small text on the back of the catalog, it states:

To update or remove your contact information from our mailing list, please call 800.915.4624, send an email to mailoptout@officedepot.com or send a copy of the address panel to: Office Depot Mailing List, P.O. Box 5009, Boca Raton, FL 33431-0809.

I still shouldn’t have to opt out of a catalog just because I ordered something and had it delivered to my place of work.

Behind on viewing Flickr contacts

In Annoying, Flickr, Photos on 15 November 2008 with 7 comments

I’m overwhelmed with so many awesome Flickr friends and contacts. If you don’t upload photos on a regular basis, you’ll get shoved into page two.

I wish Flickr had a RSS feed for all your contacts. Can’t they integrate Yahoo Pipes with Flickr somehow?

It’s tedious to create imaginary friends on FriendFeed.

I guess I need to open each of my contacts’ photostreams, click the “Latest feed” RSS link, then organize it in Google Reader.

You can slap me for whining if there’s no other way. But, do you know something about this that I don’t?

FedEx is garbage to me

In Annoying, Business, Review on 13 March 2008 with 2 comments

I’m expecting a package that was supposed to be delivered by FedEx yesterday, March 12th. They “tried”, but nobody was here. “Customer not available or business closed.” Lies! My mom was home at 4:47pm and she didn’t hear anything.

Today, March 13th at 3:52pm, I’m home. I check the FedEx tracking number a little after 4pm, and I get the same message.

Erroneous!

I called customer support and told them what happened. The address was verified correctly, so that wasn’t the problem. She notated the complaint, which doesn’t help the situation at all. I want justice.

Since they can’t deliver in a timely manner, I offered to drive to Hacienda Heights to pick it up. Nope, they closed at 4pm. Plus, if I wanted to pick it up, they’d have to notate it to the terminal, which would take 24-48 hours. Wait a minute – are they using pigeons to send messages back and forth?

Ridiculous. FedEx, stop giving me problems and do your job.