Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1+some 2/3/84; site dual.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!ihnp4!dual!mats From: mats@dual.UUCP (Mats Wichmann) Newsgroups: net.micro Subject: Re: Byte reader service Message-ID: <290@dual.UUCP> Date: Tue, 21-Feb-84 11:39:56 EST Article-I.D.: dual.290 Posted: Tue Feb 21 11:39:56 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 22-Feb-84 08:26:27 EST References: <291@ut-ngp.UUCP> Organization: Dual Systems, Berkeley, CA Lines: 24 . . Reader service cards? I work for a company that has used these for quite a while now, and I think I understand the reasoning behind them....they are a quick way to get hold of names of people who MIGHT have a interest in your products. They should really be called VENDOR service cards. Many people genuinely are looking for information on a product; but an even larger number routinely circle anything that sounds remotely of interest. Mailing costs are so high these days that it is entirely unfeasible to send any kind of a complete literature package. Companies that send nothing but a reprint of the ad burn me up too; given the restricitons, the appropriate thing would be to send a data sheet and a list of dealers. As a whole, experience has shown that the actual return rate on the so-called `bingos' is extremely low - like only a few percent even get to the point of following up, so we understandably will not put a tremendous amount of money into sending out literature that will just be discarded. If the company has a lot of manpower, there will be some sort of attempt at a followup; usually, however, it is up to YOU to indicate further interest. If a company fails to send enough information to tickle you into further queries, they got just what they deserved! Mats Wichmann Dual Systems {ucbvacx,amd70,ihnp4,cbosgd,decwrl,fortune}!dual!mats