Tag Archives: Password

Email Etiquette 101: Pay Attention

Posted on by

Years from now, Michelle will track back the beginning of her spiraling low self esteem to the family photo where she was put in an apple basket.

For starters, this photo just popped up when I searched google images with the key words “email grandma” in the hopes of finding a photo to add to the post.  I am not sure if it was serious or if they were making fun of the photo, but I loved it so much, I decided to use it anyway, even though it really doesn’t make any sense. Here is an example. I received this email yesterday. It is clearly not for me. I have had troubles with this specific email mistake before, they have a very similar email address to mine. It took me forever to get off large group email addresses about designing an ice skating rink somewhere near Long Beach. They would send me direct questions and I would respond that they had the wrong email, but since there were so many people on the email, they would keep getting it wrong when they just copied the email list.

On Jun 18, 2012, at 3:30 PM, “ALVAREZ, JEVI” <JeviAlvarez@allstate.com> wrote:

Hi Mary,

I just wanted to follow up with you regarding the home insurance quotes. I am still working on finding you the best rate. I am waiting to hear if the other carriers to find out if they also insure you with the exclusion of the roof water damage. As soon as I hear back for the other carriers, I will call you.

Thank you!

Jevi Alvarez

Allstate Insurance
Blaine Davis Agency
188 Pomona Ave
Long Beach, CA 90803
Bus. 562-987-1090
Fax. 562-987-0319
jevialvarez@allstate.com

You’re in Good Hands!

I wrote back:

On Mon, Jun 18, 2012 at 3:34 PM, Scott Parker-Anderson <parkeranderson@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello,
You have the wrong email address. Please remove.

Since I sent the email to everyone, Mary wrote back this morning, but she only replied to me, again, the email did not get to the right person:

On Jun 19, 2012, at 7:43 AM, Mary Ann Anderson <maryannander@gmail.com> wrote:

Parker Anderson’s e-mail is parkeranderson1@gmail.com .. don’t know who that other creepy looking guy is you e-mailed. I need to discuss a few things my friend concerned me about with this homeowner’s coverage ..I would like to talk to you at 8:30 when you get in.Thanks.

I know, right? How. Dare. She. Obviously, I replied to everyone and even included the email address she provided in her response:

On Tue, Jun 19, 2012 at 8:12 AM, Scott Parker-Anderson <parkeranderson@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello,

First, I am not “creepy looking.” And second, learn how to use email. You replied only to me with your message.

It is not my fault that I received the wrong email.

Have a good day.

Scott Parker-Anderson

Since then, crickets…. Noting. No email from Mary apologizing for her sloppy email, no response from the right guy explaining that Mary is his really old and rude grandmother, and no response from the Allstate Insurance agent who started this mess. With all fairness, everyone knows that you should never (I repeat NEVER) have insurance from any of the agencies with “State” or “Farm” in the name. They are the Chase Banks of the insurance industry.

How To Launch An Executive Email Carpet Bomb

Posted on by


Feel like you are not getting anyone to take you seriously at the bank/cell phone company/elected officials/school district/major retailer or all of the above?  Follow these simple steps to let everyone in the organization know exactly what is happening.  My only advice is to not threaten, swear, or demand.  I think that this sort of tactic worked pretty well when the Susan G. Komen Foundation pulled their funding to Planned Parenthood:  lots of emails from lots of people have power [speaking of, their big fundraiser is coming up in Seattle, I need to email them and let them know I made a donation to Planned Parenthood instead].  It is pretty easy to feel invisible and powerless when it comes to dealing with large organizations.  I hope it does not happen to you, but if it does, I hope the Email Carpet Bomb helps (or at least makes you feel better).

1. Exhaust normal channels
Have you called customer service? Asked for a supervisor? Hung up and tried again? Give regular customer service a chance to fix the problem before you go nuclear.

2. Write a really good complaint letter.
Be clear, concise, polite, and professional. State exactly what you want. See this post for complaint letter writing tips. Pitch your issue in a way that affects their bottom line. Spellcheck and include contact information.

3. Determine the corporate email address format.
Look through their website or Google for press releases. Examine the PR flack’s email address. What’s the format? Is it firstname.lastname@company.com? FirstletteroffirstnameLastname@companyname.com? Figure it out and write it down.

4. Compile a list of the company’s top executives
This is often available on the company website, under sections like “corporate officers” or “corporate governance.” You can also look the company up on Google Finance and look under management, although this list tends to only be partial.

5. Combine the names from step 4 with the format from step 3 to create an email list

6. Send your complaint to the list from step 5.

7. Sit back and wait.

via How To Launch An Executive Email Carpet Bomb – The Consumerist.

Related articles

You Say You Want A Resolution?

Posted on by

That photo is a screen shot from a website that will give you inspiration for your own New Year’s Resolutions:  http://www.moninavelarde.com/newyears/

New Year’s resolutions do seem to be a bit pointless to me, I usually change whatever needs to be changed when I recognize it instead of waiting for a specific date.

I do thank all of you that get gym memberships and then give up mid-february and subsidize my membership for the rest of your contract.  I figure it all evens out when I pay $25 at an all-you-can-eat buffet and only have one plate.

Oh yes, I just did.

Here are my suggestions for New Year’s resolutions that everyone can easily keep:

1.  Change batteries in smoke detectors and flashlights.  Just buy a pack of 9-volt and D batteries and swap them out on New Year’s Day and presto!  You kept a resolution.

2.  Organize your passwords into one password or master-password with slight variations, I have chosen one that has a capital letter, a number, and a symbol and is eight characters long.  If I hadn’t already chosen a different one, I am pretty sure I would have changed all mine to:  F*ckYou2! (without the asterisk).  I kind of love it.

3.  Figure out what change you can easily make that can reduce waste and pollution, conserve resources, and reuse or recycle what you do use.  It could be as easy as carrying a reusable water bottle and grocery bags, organizing/combining your errands into one car trip (or walking), buying locally made produce, switching to paperless bills/statements, and not showering alone.

4.  Pick one day and “Like” everyone’s blog post or Facebook status updates, even if you have no real feeling about it either way.  Everyone likes to have recognition and it takes minimal effort to “Like” that so-and-so is at Home Depot “buying nails.”  Without naming names, that was a true-life example from my friends feed.

5.  Get into the habit of texting/emailing/calling/tweeting/mind-melding people when you think about them throughout the day.  It takes just a second to send a text to someone to tell them you were reminded of them.

5.  Moisturize.

 

Related articles