SPAM Wedding Emails

This is a word of advice to all those ladies out there (or gentlemen if you are into wedding stuff). I signed up for "free tickets" to a Bridal Expo on September 14, 2008. That was a BIG mistake. As a normally savvy web-explorer, I'm usually adept at spotting email-address/ contact information fishing expeditions. But, alas, the post-engagement euphoria fogged my vision and good judgment.

Since signing up for the Bridal Expo, which I ended up not being able to attend, I have received at least 100 unsolicited advertisements through email, snail-mail, and even a few phone calls!

For example, the other day I got a phone call that said I had to call this number immediately or apparently bad things would happen. I actually got chastised for calling a day later (they left the message on my old cell phone) and was told that I almost "missed out" because of my delay. Right... My regret is that I didn't call her on that one. Turns out it was a weekend trip "giveaway" in return for me giving up an evening (that evening, in fact!) in Schaumburg to test some products. What?! So, they expect me to go somewhere with one day notice and then tell me I almost missed out because I called back 1 day later... You can see that I'm still a bit frustrated by it.

Also, I get emails from people that I supposedly "met" and "talked to" at the Bridal Expo... That's a bit risky for them to say that because obviously they did not! You think they would err on the side of subtly.

The real kicker is that some of these advertisements were not even related to weddings!

Yesterday, I checked my mail and got an advertisement for Camel cigarettes. Here's the content of the letter (I have to include it in full and without corrections to grammar/ capitalization because it was so bizarre):

Hey good-looking,

Hopefully, you're one of the millions who got a nice fat check from the government. And hopefully you had some fun with it. But chances are more of it went into your gas tank than that new whatever you've been wanting but couldn't afford.

More relief is here. And this time it's only good for one thing - a little break on your favorite style of Camels.

It ain't a flat screen . . . . But maybe you could hang a stuffed marlin or something on the wall instead. Just a thought.

Enjoy!
Camel

Right... because I'm a smoker and an idiot that is going to spend what little money I have on cigarettes. I find it despicable that this company can fake concern over my dwindling cash reserves, but at the same time tell me I shouldn't give up my luxuries. Also, I want to know where this fat check from the government is? If I get that check, I'm spending it on wine - my vice of choice - not cigarettes. I know Bridal Expo sold my information because I do not sign up for stuff online for just this reason. Also, I certainly haven't contacted Camel about how much I love their smokes. I got coupons too, which I'll be giving to my friend Mark, who was pretty excited about my offer to give them to him. I'm just spreading the love.

So, moral of the story: I totally regret registering for free tickets to a Bridal Expo. I hope that after next August I will not continue to get this spam because I really am attached to my email address and don't to change it.