Scammy mail: The K-Designers example

[vakkotaur]

I've mentioned this bit of scammy advertising ( here and here) that attempts to trick the recipient of a post card into calling a number so as to bypass any Do Not Call listings. Since then, I've gotten yet another card from these jokers.

This time I didn't just toss it. Instead, I've scanned it so it can be an example for me to point out a few

Comments

[tkcoyote]

Working at the postal centers, I see a lot of these letters (man, a whole lot of them) and I get severely annoyed by them knowing most folks just throw them away. I feel they should be charged a larger fee for sending them in bulk, but no...they get a discount. It's cheaper if they send more out. What makes even more work for me (which I should be grateful for?) is when the customers simply write "Refused" on it and send it back. I get to deal with that letter all over again. Hehe...so one has to ask how they're making money. They pay for these letters to be sent out, they pay for their telemarketers to bother people once they call, and they give them a supposed free grill? Oh, let's not forget the triple shipping and handling charges as well as "We're going to sell you this frying pan for $150 and get this grill absolutely free!!!" It's kind of amusing in a way. :)

[vakkotaur]

If they were honest enough to have a return address and show themselves to be trying sell something right on the card then I could use USPS Form 1500 and put a stop to it. So these spammy folks have gotten around that, too, dagnabbit. You're right, all this does is waste trees. How is it all paid for? Well, I suspect they have a high turnover from paying as little as they get can get away with and there likely are a few suckers that actually fall for this crap. And those suckers get to pay for all the scammy advertising.

Funny

[tkcoyote]

Funny. I just received the postcard and wasted my time looking up the phone number on the back. I'm in Minneapolis where siding is popular. I wonder if the USPS Form 1500 can be used by refering to the US Postage PAID Permit or does it just refer to the company used to spam us via mail.

Signed,

Patient in Minneapolis

Re: Funny

[vakkotaur]

Form 1500 applies when the mailpiece is advertising that lists something for sale itself. These jokers have skated around that by keeping the selling out of the mail itself and only using the mail to generate a phone call. They're sleazy, but adept at circumventing anti-annoyance procedures. What they do is legal, though hardly ethical.

[anonymous]

Thanks for posting this information. Today I received one of these stupid postcards- I'm glad I read your blog, now I know for sure not to call. Thanks!

Annoyed as well

[anonymous]

Just received one today. You will probably be interested to know that your post may have made a difference in the way this company advertises! well, kind of. The wording is identical, except for the signature. Its now signed:
Chris Johnson
Awards Coordinator
K-Designers

-What still makes it a scam is their not admitting what their REALLY contacting you about. They talk themselves into believing their actually in the right because its your choice to call, your choice to listen, and your choice to buy. I made my choice before I got 5 feet from the mail box.

Thanks 8~)

[anonymous]

Thanks for the info. I kinda figured there had to be a catch.
8~)

Me too

[anonymous]

I got one today as well. Mine is identical to yours. Though I wasn't fooled at all, I thought it was pretty sneaky so figured I would Google it to find out who it was.

Thanks!

Re: Me too

[anonymous]

i got a phone call fro these guys and decided i would google the number and it took me here :P seems these guys are scammers. Im gonna go light a joint and call them back and bitch them out. or at least mess with them!