Do you find some companies really patronising?

iCraig · 21-08-2009, 18:37

I think it's one thing to have a friendly image, but recently I've noticed more and more companies take the approach of being really friendly. Too friendly in my opinion, with really dumbed down language. I'm not 8.

Example:

Quote:

Thank you for your e-mail. We're very busy this time of year, but we'll do our best to get back to you within 48 hours.

Informative, friendly and to the point. Right?

These days, it's more like this:

Quote:

Hey! Thanks for the zippity email. Our team are being all busy and stuffs and running around like headless chickens! Sorry for any chickens reading, no offence! We'll do our very bestest to get back to you but unfortunately it might be a few days. Any hoo! Better get back to work! Cheerio!

I'm sure it's the work of overly camp and fluffy marketers who think the audience are as camp and bubbly as them.

Am I being miserable? Or does anybody else get fed up of all this crap and would just like a straight talking company once in a while?

divine · 21-08-2009, 18:48

Hate it.

Belmit · 21-08-2009, 19:45

Marketing is one thing, conducting business is another. If I'm contacting them to complain, for example, I don't want to be condescended to. I actually like companies/products that are less formal, like Innocent Smoothies and iwoot.com, both of whom are very casual and pally in their marketing. If I applied for a job there though and they said 'We're busy on the bananaphone right now. Orange you glad we have an automated email service though? Gooseberries!' I'd worry that I'd be working for the ****ing Munch Bunch.

Briggykins · 21-08-2009, 20:06

There was one instance of a company being twee that made me laugh - when Elephant insurance sent a letter asking me to phone one of their 'Elephant Handlers'. I chuckled, then phoned. But generally, tis very annoying.
Charlie Brooker has a good piece on banks being chummy. The last paragraph had me giggling all day.
(He also says in a later article about the same thing happening to Hellman's Mayonnaise. " It has "Once you dig in, keep me cold for three months ... but not too cold - I don't want to freeze!" printed on the jar. It's a rum state of affairs when you feel like punching a jar of mayonnaise in the face.")

Princess Griff · 21-08-2009, 20:22

Oh but I do love reading the small print on Innocent products!!!

Garp · 21-08-2009, 20:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by divine

Hate it.

Likewise. So unprofessional.

Goose · 21-08-2009, 20:48

I agree.

Tak · 21-08-2009, 20:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Princess Griff

Oh but I do love reading the small print on Innocent products!!!

This

Original post - if I got the "zippity" reply, I'd probably be nicely sarcastic back pointing out the flaws of sounding like a mental patient escapee

Blighter · 22-08-2009, 00:28

It's all well and great being nice and friendly on products, but not during a service (especially letters/emails).

If I applied for insurance through Compare The Market then I would want to punch them in the face if they ever ended an email or letter with "simples"

Fayshun · 22-08-2009, 01:15

I'm off to the 24hour Tesco to punch all the Hellmans in the face.
</Brooker>

21-08-2009, 18:48	#2
divine Moonshine Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 3,201	Hate it. __________________

21-08-2009, 19:45	#3
Belmit The Mouse King of Denmark Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: The Winchester Posts: 6,476	Marketing is one thing, conducting business is another. If I'm contacting them to complain, for example, I don't want to be condescended to. I actually like companies/products that are less formal, like Innocent Smoothies and iwoot.com, both of whom are very casual and pally in their marketing. If I applied for a job there though and they said 'We're busy on the bananaphone right now. Orange you glad we have an automated email service though? Gooseberries!' I'd worry that I'd be working for the ****ing Munch Bunch. __________________

21-08-2009, 20:06	#4
Briggykins Vodka Martini Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Exeter Posts: 753	There was one instance of a company being twee that made me laugh - when Elephant insurance sent a letter asking me to phone one of their 'Elephant Handlers'. I chuckled, then phoned. But generally, tis very annoying. Charlie Brooker has a good piece on banks being chummy. The last paragraph had me giggling all day. (He also says in a later article about the same thing happening to Hellman's Mayonnaise. " It has "Once you dig in, keep me cold for three months ... but not too cold - I don't want to freeze!" printed on the jar. It's a rum state of affairs when you feel like punching a jar of mayonnaise in the face.") __________________

21-08-2009, 20:22	#5
Princess Griff Buns'o'Steel Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Maison Jingriff in North Somerset Posts: 600	Oh but I do love reading the small print on Innocent products!!! __________________

21-08-2009, 20:48	#7
Goose The list is long, but distinguished Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Århus, Denmark Posts: 1,643	I agree. __________________

22-08-2009, 00:28	#9
Blighter Dubious Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Northampton Posts: 1,571	It's all well and great being nice and friendly on products, but not during a service (especially letters/emails). If I applied for insurance through Compare The Market then I would want to punch them in the face if they ever ended an email or letter with "simples" __________________ Look at your signature, now back to mine, now back to yours, now back to mine. Sadly, yours isn't mine. But if you stopped writing about other things and made this your signature, yours could be like mine. Look down, back up. Where are you? You're on Boat Drinks, reading the signature your signature could be like. I'm on a computer. My Blog \| More Outdoors \| MSN \| Email \| Call Me

22-08-2009, 01:15	#10
Fayshun Rocket Fuel Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Adrift in the Orca Posts: 6,845	I'm off to the 24hour Tesco to punch all the Hellmans in the face. </Brooker> __________________ We must move forward not backward, upwards not forward, and always twirling, twirling, twirling...