When Does it Become Tacky to Make a Buck?

**amykhar** · #1 08-27-2002, 04:06 PM

I wasn't sure where to post this one. Decided to go with this forum and help George's post counts.

A fwe weeks ago, my father in law died. Within the last week or two, we have had several calls and letters from businesses who read the obituaries and are now trying to sell us stuff like headstones or laminated copies of the obituary.

Now, I realize these people are just trying to make a living, but is there a line that shouldn't be crossed?

Amy

theeye · #2 08-27-2002, 04:14 PM

Oh, Amy. I didn't know. My condolences.

Yes, I agree it's extraordinarily tacky. Sometime last year, we received a headstone brochure addressed to 'Family of {my husband's name}'. Apparently his namesake had died.

Phone calls are quite beyond belief. I cannot begin to imagine the mindset of a person who is capable of making such a phone call.

eplovejoy · #3 08-27-2002, 04:14 PM

I say shame on these people for bothering you and others who have more important things on your mind. It's suprising that people encourage these intrusions by buying whatever is being offered.

Amy: I hope all is well with your family and you're coping well with your loss. If it would help, please send the insensitive solicitors to me. I'll take care of them:

nicholmere · #4 08-27-2002, 04:22 PM

Sounds like the telemarketers' version of an ambulance chaser.

**mrisch**[$] · #5 08-27-2002, 04:56 PM

***DEVIL'S ADVOCATE WARNING***

How else are these folks supposed to earn a living? After all, these are things that people need, and this is the most accurate form of direct marketing.

In other words, tacky or not, if people didn't need (and thus buy) based on this type of "advertising" then they certainly wouldn't waste their money on it.

I think that a mailer is better than a phone call, though, for obvious reasons.

**jgibson2**[$] · #6 08-27-2002, 05:03 PM

It's pretty tacky. I've heard that there are even people who show up with personalized merchandise claiming that the deceased placed the order only days before his death. C.O.D. of course.

theeye · #7 08-27-2002, 05:09 PM

An unsolicited commercial phone call to a house of mourning is contemptible. A mailer is, perhaps, 'only' in extremely poor taste. No, on second thought, it's pretty contemptible too.

(For one thing, I point out that the mailer I received was clearly intended for the family of a recently deceased gentleman who happened to share a name with my very-much-alive-and-well husband. If my husband had happened to be seriously ill, that mailer would have been quite upsetting.)

How are they to get business? Let's see: distributing their mailers to local funeral homes and clergy. Placing discreet ads in local newspapers, in the 'local services' section. Locating their businesses right next door to cemeteries, where mourners will see them.

That's how reputable business of this sort do it. It works quite well.