Email Marketing

[howard18]

If I have received one missive from a T.A. or direct communication today extolling the fact now is the time to buy - you will never buy a cabin cheaper -only a few cabins left - then I have received enough to cause my laptop to overheat!
To be accurate I have received 23. That's just for today so far. From Fred Olsen to Saga to Royal Caribbean to P&O to Crystal and Azamura. Agents include Planet Cruise, Bolsover Cruises, Vacations to Go etc. Nothing yet directly from Cunard though.
What is your "best" count of emails received in one day and are there so many that they don't register any longer?

[Boris+]

We were innocently chatting to someone who quickly came to the conclusion that we thought that cruising was lovely (well it is!). This person then passed on our comments to another person (together with one of our contact numbers) and now we are getting frequent telephone calls at inconvenient times to advise us of special offers.

We can see the blasted special offers on the website, and furthermore the person who is telephoning us has never been on a cruise and knows diddly squat all about cruising! He refers to front and back, left and right, cabins not staterooms, floors not decks - and then the Cunard system completely has him in a spin!!! - - - and this bod thinks I am going to give him my payment card details - I don't think so! He doesn't understand dress codes, nor the differences between certain ships.

I am just about on the brink of being a bit blunt next time he telephones at an inconvenient time - I have told him our preferred cruise line and type of accommodation, so why oh blasted why does this person keep on telephoning to give me special offers of the wrong cruise line and wrong accommodation type?

As the woman says in the bus stop on the insurance advert - "It's a mystery".

Apologies - rant over.

Em

[Dancing Queen]

Em, you should just tell this person you want your phone number deleting from their telephone contact file as you do not wish to be contacted by phone, it works for me !!

[Manoverboard]

I don't have any junk mail from anybody ... use ' unsubscribe ' else direct it into the Spam Folder.

[Boris+]

Hi Jo,

My problem is that this chap who keeps on telephoning is just starting out in the TA business, additionally he somehow got the number in question from someone who knows us, and then I just don't want to upset him.

However, currently I have said that I only book with one cruiseline, and that I only book one type of accommodation - and he just doesn't seem to understand.

I have mentioned to him the last couple of times that the figures he is telling me about I can see on the screen in front of me - but then he does provide a 'heads up' as to when getaway offers are going to start; so it's sort of useful.

However, I think I might just let my husband deal with this chap next time he rings. He certainly can't better what I can see on screen.

Em

[jay-ell71]

Em, You don't have to " deal" with him you just have to put the phone down without comment. He will soon go away. Jo is right. Jay

[kaymar]

Howard18, 23 in one day? Really? I get a few but rarely more than 2 or three in any one day. As with all other spam emails, if I don't want to receive them, like MoB, I "unsubscribe". It always works, just take a few days sometimes.

[Dancing Queen]

I can see your point Em but if he is becoming a nuisance then he needs telling, why not ask him to just contact you by e-mail and if and when you might require his services "YOU" will telephone him.

I can understand anyone new to the business wanting to promote themselves but I'm afraid if it was me he probably wouldn't get me as a customer, I have only once been contacted by phone by the cruise consultant I use and it was in reply to an e-mail I had sent him asking if he could price match something I had seen elsewhere, the answer was "no" but rather than say that in an e-mail he phoned to apologise and actually encouraged me to go with the other TA ... as it happened the price I had seen was a misprint so when I did book I didn't hesitate to go back to my "usual man"

[Jean W]

Em - Have I understood you correctly? Did you say that someone else has given your telephone number? If there is a next time, I would very politely explain that you had not given your phone number.

I only receive about 5 e-mails from TA's - the ones I have given our e-mail address to, otherwise, like MOB, they've gone to Spam.

I must admit unsolicited phone calls are a nuisance - fortunately I rarely get them - when I do I adopt the advice given by Jo, Jay and Kaymar.

My Hubby tends to get them on his Mobile - he has stopped answering calls that are not identified. If one slips through (whilst he is working on site), he tells them that he does not have the time to speak to them and asks them to put the information in writing to our Office. They don't, of course.

[Boris+]

Hi Jean,

Yes you are absolutely correct - it's a bit complicated but ...... someone who is senior in a company which provides me with a service has a relative who has got into the travel trade. This came up in conversation and I said well good luck etc. Next thing I know the telephone rings, and the caller admitted where he got the telephone number from.

Ok, I know it's naughty and it shouldn't have happened, but I didn't want to make a fuss or complain. Anyway, I think that I might just start monitoring inbound phone calls and leave this bloke to talk to the answerphone machine; alternatively I think I will stress the fact that 2013 is now completely booked as far as we are concerned, and that we are making our 2014 bookings with our usual cruise person.

I just haven't had the heart to tell this chap, but at the end of the day perhaps it is very wrong of me to allow him to run up telephone bills when I have no intention of booking with him.

Meanwhile, a new dress for the next cruise has just arrived, so full of glee I'm off to try it on!!!

Em

[lioness]

Nothing wrong with the word "cabin" - that's what they have always been called. I always think stateroom sounds a bit pretentious. however, I do get a bit upset when they refer to a bedroom!!

[GillD46]

Nothing wrong with the word "cabin" - that's what they have always been called. I always think stateroom sounds a bit pretentious. however, I do get a bit upset when they refer to a bedroom!!

The sleeping accomodation was always called a cabin wasn't it? i don't remember Jim Hawkins being a Stateroom Attendant.

[Meg 50]

Em, could you offer to be his cruise info specialist? You clearly know far more than he does and what you don't know we can tell you......

he'll either agree or leave you alone!