You see, i am kind of like an old man in a way. Mainly because I like to write emails to companies and bitch about things that I don’t like. Usually they are suggestions to make their service or product better, and they should actually appreciate to hear(read) my thoughts. I think the problem lies in the fact that many email CSRs are used to taking dumb, newbie style questions, so when they read mine, they dismiss it as such. However, when they reply with the generic, drag ‘n drop reply that sets me off. I like sincere answers to my questions and I would like my suggestions to be considered. I could provide some examples of some emails that I send, but write so many, I wouldn’t which ones to share (but here is a good example of how a company should reply to one of my emails: RSS and the CBC).
So basically, I am saying that I hate the generic reply email and I strongly feel that if a company is going to offer email support, they better answer the questions asked and do it in a timely manner.
Well that was fun… it was exactly how I imagined. My score.. is probably just below the practice scores but who cares. This small goal is over. Now that direction of my life is out of my control. I am just glad this test is over, when I left the exam, it was like, ‘leaving Western for good’ It was like the book has now officially been closed. This is GOOD, now onward!! So, I am going to have some beers, clean this fucken mess up, get ready for my last day of work tomorrow, and start getting excited about the next step.
So, I am sitting here thinking about standardized tests, mainly because I am writing one tomorrow, but also because my scores are not increasing the more I practice. This leads me to believe that I have missed something in the process of studying. My technique is not improving and no matter what module, from any year, that I do, I get the same mark on average. So, since the test is tomorrow, I am going to take it easy. I am going to eat well, rest up and stay stress free. This will be the only way I can maximize my score on this test. It is too late to learn new techniques. However, I am planning on going over my completed prep tests and examine why I answered certain questions wrong. I think this will help, since it will sharpen my ability to filter out some of the wrong answers and I guess that’s what it is all about, eliminating the junk to reveal the gem (aka the credited response).
with your feet on the air and your head on the ground, you’ll ask yourself… ‘where is my mind?’
I never really noticed, well I never really thought, that I could be vulnerable and helpless to the power of our commercial society. I wouldn’t go as far as saying that I buy things, simply based on the ads and/or the brand image created from the ads. But rather they have a different effect on me – they inform me of the products existence. Essentially, I believe that is the goal of some advertising campaigns, especially if the product is new and if the product is not actually needed for human survival. I remember reading an article way back in second year (in my advertising class) and it outlined how Gillette basically started it all… they created a product (the disposable razor), and marketed it as if it was the best a man could get. The goal was to replace the traditional way of shaving with this new, better way. Of course this new way was only better for Gillette, since the whole disposable razor is based around the reoccurring revenue it could generate for Gillette. And the kicker is, the razors are cheap to buy initially (but expensive to make). All the money to be made by Gillette is in the selling of new (inexpensive to produce) blades that these consumers will have to regularly purchase, to continue shaving the new, better way. This same logic applies to many products out there, especially ink jet printers. But you all know this, and it has pretty much become common sense, so how about I start writing about what I really wanted to focus on which was the brand image attached to these products. Now this brand image is the reason why you want to continue buying those razor blades. Something has been implanted into your head, telling you that you need this product and that your life will be better with it. This logic cannot be more clearly demonstrated without looking at Intel. In case you don’t know, Intel makes computer processors, the brain of all computers. Chances are you already knew that, because you may have seen the Intel ads, or you have heard the ‘pleasant’ Intel sound at the end of every computer manufactures’ ad, or have seen the Intel stickers on nearly every computer. Intel’s goal is to create an image, and to generate sell-through demand for their processors. It’s kind of like buying a car, based on the type of headlights it has. Too bad car’s don’t have ‘Acme Lites Inside’ stickers on them. And the thing is, their marketing works. People fork out an extra 300 bucks just get Intel inside. Does spending this extra money give consumers any benefit in the life? Not really… it only gives them what is associated with the image portrayed through the marketing. Intel really stretched this with their new Centrino based notebooks. They were trying to sell their processors, based on improved battery life, the physically design of notebook cases, and of course their wireless capabilities. And in reality, when you pop the marketing bubble, you can have all those features without an Intel processor (well maybe not the extended battery life, but then again.. screen, optical drive, etc.. all play a role in that number)… Anyways, all I am saying is that your life does not get any better by buying a Gillette razor or a computer with an Intel processor – You only think it does.
So basically it’s all in ‘the brand’ image, and we as ‘informed’ consumers have become accustomed to relating certain attributes to brands. This applies to any product or service, since I don’t believe any market segment has been untouched by ‘the brand’. This infiltration in our society has created resulted in people becoming very brand loyal, and I mean loyal in general. Not just to a specific brand, but rather any brand. Just think of the last time you went to a ‘Jon’s Subs’ for lunch rather than Subway or the last time you ordered pizza from a non franchise. People resist not going with established brands. People feel safe, consuming a consistent product, that lives up to certain ‘standards’. I know that no matter where I go, I can go into a Staples, and pick up some Hilroy paper, Bic pens and an HP printer, and everything will be a-ok, and if not I know Staples will be there to make me happy. This homogeneity can’t be healthy.
That’s all I have to say right now, because this topic is way to broad (there is like 8 topics up there!!). But this brand/marketing topic really interests me, so I know I will revisit it, but next time I will take a bit more of a narrow approach.
looks like i have now completed the velkr0.org revamp… looks pretty good.. and works in all good browsers (doesn’t work in opera 6 mac for sure though)… ie and firefox, on mac and pc.. work wonderfully… i have even made alternative stylesheets for you firefox users who find the writing on this site too small… you can easily switch between styles by clicking on the icon at the bottom right of your firefox browser (right beside the rss feed icon)….
now it is just time for this site to grow… i would like to see it become more writing based, it should still be kind of abstract as it tends to be now… but in the future i will aim for a more organized and purposeful web log… basically less whining and more insightful writing. i don’t want it to become too formal though… but rather more fun, interesting and ultimately thought provoking.
well i want to test out how blockquotes are going to look… i don’t think i have used one yet to date.. but they are handy and i am sure i will use them in the future… so here it goes, here is a quote from ‘The economy of televised trash and class‘ by Charles Demers:
But to complain endlessly about this bottom-of-the-barrel, becleavaged decline of civilization is to miss the fact that television is offering some real, intelligent, inspired and progressive contributions to the much-maligned, small-screen medium. Last Sunday?s Emmy awards saw top honours in their categories go to the profoundly engaging and forward-thinking Sopranos (best dramatic series, best supporting actress in a dramatic series Drea de Matteo, best supporting actor in a dramatic series Michael Imperioli) and Jon Stewart?s hilarious, Bush-skewering Daily Show (best variety series). Both shows trade on intelligence, exposing hypocrisy, and challenging viewers instead of pandering. And both are products of the same breakdown in television responsible for Reality TV.
This was a pretty good article… check it out.
velkr0.org now has a new look… it seems to be extremely grey.. this is mainly due to the fact that i was having some troubles matching colours… i did start with colours… but yeah… i when i was done… i noticed it was all grey… i like this layout better than the old one… but the fonts on the PC kinda suck….. i like the looks of it on the mac… renders nicely in safari and firefox… and on the pc… its seems to render pretty good in ie and firefox… ie is kinda buggy… but we all knew that… anyway… hope you all like the new look… i know i do… well.. i think… maybe… wait… i need some colour… ahh not now… maybe later…
i think i am going to go watch a movie, rather than write in my blog today… i could write about anything… i just dunno what…. so why think about it at all… watching a movie is much easier… much more passive and possibly even more relaxing than writing a blog entry and the pain of carpal tunnel… damn, i hope there is something good on… and i hope these fucken roofers get off my roof.. kuz they are banging and making way to much noise to comfortably watch a movie….. hey maybe i should just leave the house.. and get my camera… naaa… not quite yet… still need to determine if i can afford it.. kuz i am going to need every last penny, for my mid october trip!!
scattered thoughts… wow… ok focus…. there are some important events coming up and i need to be on my ‘a’ game…. i need to go through the info point for point… analyse it… provide examples… and follow ups for the examples… i need to stay on task… answer the questions… and don’t slip up… this will be worse than a job interview… kuz at a job interview – you have nothing to lose… communication skills are key… the facts must be demonstrated… and the ‘truth’ will prevail… plain and simple…