Theatre lovers! Pay attetion! Theatre likers! Pay Attention! Hell, EVERYONE! Pay attention. I am here to inform you of new production soon to hit the stage. Marquette University's Helfaer theatre will open its rendition of William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" tonight at 7:30!
Student actors and techies will bring Shakespeare's masterpiece to life. Veteran director Maureen Kilmurray is directing. Deb O. a graduate of Yale's world renowned theatre program will be taking care of the scenic and costume design. Deb O. is famous for her work with "found items" that will be sure to bring a contempary twist to the 400 year old play.
There will be shows at 7:30 PM this Thursday-Saturday and again the following weekend. There will also be a 2:30 show during the two sundays. With tickets at only $8, you are definately getting some bang for your buck. Pick up your tickets at the door or on the helfaer's website http://diederich.marquette.edu/COC/Box-Office.aspx
Take a look at what the Helfaer has said about its production: "Spells are cast, lovers are fooled and revelry abounds as worlds collide in Shakespeare's imaginative comedy. On a night when anything can happen, young lovers rouse the mischievous curiosity of fairies, who use their charms to lead them into a playful midnight frolic through the forest. In the midst of it all, a local acting troupe gets caught up in the chaos when a magic spell turns its leading man into a donkey. One of Shakespeare's best known comedies, A Midsummer Night's Dream blurs the line between magic and reality, leading to a night so fantastical that you'll have to dream it to believe it."
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
How To Lose a Potential Customer in 10 minutes
I like looking good. In a professional environment, that mean wearing a tie. Some men hate em', I love wearing ties. I have a pretty good collection and am always looking for new additions.
So when I saw a Facebook ad that read "Four quality ties for a buck! No hidden fees" I clicked.
Ten minutes from that click, they would lose me as a customer forever.
The next page is laid out well. There is a photo at the top, a selection of 18 ties that you can choose from, instructions for ordering on the bottom left and testimonials from past customers on the bottom right of the screen. The bottom of the page even has a guarantee and trust-type seals.
Nowhere on the page is there anything about shipping charges, or any other obligations. At first glance it appears that the site is merely a way for potential customers to sample a company's product at a low price, with hopes of making future customers.
I should have known better.
As I was about to make my four selections, I realized that I had to check a box that stated that I had read the terms and conditions...uh oh.
I don't see any terms and conditions. So I wonder if this company would sink so low as to not include the terms and conditions until after you check the box. Turns out they were. As I checked that I had read them, a new box appears on the page that explains all the terms and conditions.
I finally got it. This wasn't a company looking to supply customers with new ties. It was another scam that insulted my intelligence by actually thinking that I would fall for it.
First off, they want $14.95 for shipping and handling. I actually might be able to accept this, even though real shipping is only a fraction of that, because I'm only paying a buck for the ties. Its still less than in a store.
But then I get into the fine print. By buying I'm automatically enrolling in a Wholesale Discount Club for "just $7.49 per month, billed annually." So if I don't tell them within 14 days from my signup date (note, if shipping takes a week, it's only 7 days from receipt,) they're hitting my card for $89.88. For that I get nothing other than the right to buy more ties for $19.99 each (probably plus $14.95 s&h, so they're probably $35 ties.)
Interesting deal - I've gone from an expectation of spending a buck plus some probably outrageous shipping costs to forking over $90 to have the privilege of overpaying for ties for a year. (I'm assuming these ties are of the quality that you would pick up at a Wal*Mart, not a fine men's store - admittedly, I could be wrong.)
But more importantly, they promised me "No hidden fees!" and a relationship I could trust. What I got was clearly not what I had expected.
I'm sure their refund and chargeback rate is astronomical.
Lessons to be learned:
1. Don't lie. Lying is bad.
2. If you want to build an offer for something that will be in addition to your advertised offer, don't slide it in on the sly, tell your customers about it, and sell them on the benefits of your offer. Be explicit, and sell it, don't do the bare minimum to pass a legal challenge.
3. Recognize that in today's world the consumer has a voice and that voice can be VERY effective in driving people away from you. Do you want people talking about how horrible you are to deal with, and how you ripped them off, or singing your praises. It's up to you!
Needless to say, I didn't buy any ties from this company. I wouldn't recommend that you do so either.
So when I saw a Facebook ad that read "Four quality ties for a buck! No hidden fees" I clicked.
Ten minutes from that click, they would lose me as a customer forever.
The next page is laid out well. There is a photo at the top, a selection of 18 ties that you can choose from, instructions for ordering on the bottom left and testimonials from past customers on the bottom right of the screen. The bottom of the page even has a guarantee and trust-type seals.
Nowhere on the page is there anything about shipping charges, or any other obligations. At first glance it appears that the site is merely a way for potential customers to sample a company's product at a low price, with hopes of making future customers.
I should have known better.
As I was about to make my four selections, I realized that I had to check a box that stated that I had read the terms and conditions...uh oh.
I don't see any terms and conditions. So I wonder if this company would sink so low as to not include the terms and conditions until after you check the box. Turns out they were. As I checked that I had read them, a new box appears on the page that explains all the terms and conditions.
I finally got it. This wasn't a company looking to supply customers with new ties. It was another scam that insulted my intelligence by actually thinking that I would fall for it.
First off, they want $14.95 for shipping and handling. I actually might be able to accept this, even though real shipping is only a fraction of that, because I'm only paying a buck for the ties. Its still less than in a store.
But then I get into the fine print. By buying I'm automatically enrolling in a Wholesale Discount Club for "just $7.49 per month, billed annually." So if I don't tell them within 14 days from my signup date (note, if shipping takes a week, it's only 7 days from receipt,) they're hitting my card for $89.88. For that I get nothing other than the right to buy more ties for $19.99 each (probably plus $14.95 s&h, so they're probably $35 ties.)
Interesting deal - I've gone from an expectation of spending a buck plus some probably outrageous shipping costs to forking over $90 to have the privilege of overpaying for ties for a year. (I'm assuming these ties are of the quality that you would pick up at a Wal*Mart, not a fine men's store - admittedly, I could be wrong.)
But more importantly, they promised me "No hidden fees!" and a relationship I could trust. What I got was clearly not what I had expected.
I'm sure their refund and chargeback rate is astronomical.
Lessons to be learned:
1. Don't lie. Lying is bad.
2. If you want to build an offer for something that will be in addition to your advertised offer, don't slide it in on the sly, tell your customers about it, and sell them on the benefits of your offer. Be explicit, and sell it, don't do the bare minimum to pass a legal challenge.
3. Recognize that in today's world the consumer has a voice and that voice can be VERY effective in driving people away from you. Do you want people talking about how horrible you are to deal with, and how you ripped them off, or singing your praises. It's up to you!
Needless to say, I didn't buy any ties from this company. I wouldn't recommend that you do so either.
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