Print the value of index0
R.S.V.P, .R.S.V.P. Publications Charged $2000.00 for a mass mail direct marketing with no return Phoenix Arizona
R.S.V.P. charged me $2000.00 for a mass mail campaign that was supposedly to be delivered to 40,000 homes. I recieved only four phone calls for a supposed outreach of 40,000 homes.
Our company figured a worse case scenario of a 1/2 of one percent. This would mean 200 return phone calls. I know I cannot hold against them the fact that I did not get any business. However, how is it possible to get any return with this amount of phone calls. They don't have any proof that 40,000 of my postcards went in the mail. I do not believe they reach the amount of homes they say they do. These statistics speak for themselves. I refered a fellow business owner to the offer I got in the mail from R.S.V.P., and it sounded like a good idea to him as well.
After my experience I decided to call him to see how the campaign did for his business. He received the SAME Results. I feel terrible for even showing him the advertisement. I am urging him to post his experience on here as well. After filling out R.S.V.P's "How did we do?" customer questionare card, they sent me a $50.00 gift certificate to The Melting Pot for a fondue only. This is a pretty expensive fondue, that I probably wont get aaround to eating. Save your money instead of throwing in the garbage with R.S.V.P.
Abba floors
Phoenix, Arizona
U.S.A.
11 Updates & Rebuttals
Abba Floors
Phoenix,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Understanding the bottom line facts of this Report
#12Author of original report
Tue, September 02, 2008
Who is Brandon? There is nothing complicated about understanding direct mail marketing. He must know the owner personally. This smells like Brandon does not have enough pride in himself to read and understand a fully detailed report. Here is short summary, less complicated for Brandon and RSVP. WE USED RSVP'S DESIGN TEAM THE FIRST TIME AROUND. I SUBMITTED MY DESIGN TO RSVP AND THEY CHANGED IT ENTIRELY TO MEET THEIR CRITERIA. THE SAME CRITERIA BRANDON STATED ABOVE. THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THEIR DESIGN TEAM ARE PART OF THE $2000.00 PACKAGE, AND ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY RSVP'S SALES STAFF. THIS IS WHY WE LET THEM DO THEIR JOB. This is also why I gave them the benefit of the doubt in the first report, that mail was to blame and not the staff. According to Brandon and Scott Rubel, it must be RSVP's design team. All aspects of our postcard were designed and recommended by the RSVP's design team. This goes for ALL PHOTOGRAPHY, DISCOUNTS, AND SIMPLICTY. I have several other campaigns that were successful with direct mail marketing. According to Brandon, I guess the bachelor's degree in marketing our director holds is worthless.
Please, Don't be fooled by the friend of a Rip-Off!
Brandon, We at Abba Floors & Interiors Inc., gives you many thanks in regard to your statement. Now we know the mail does get there. So the only conclusion left would be RSVP's design team failed miserably. Their lack of tracking resulted in a profit for RSVP and a complete loss of $2000.00 for Abba Floors & Interiors Inc. This is an old saying, told to me by my grandfather. Take me once, Shame on you. Take me twice Shame on me. Using their design team twice is not a satisfactory answer to me. Anyone else been taken by RSVP? Call Jason at 602-375-2222.
Jason Birmingham
President
Abba Floors & Interiors Inc.,
A Family owned and operated business for 13 years running.
Abba Floors
Phoenix,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Understanding the bottom line facts of this Report
#12Author of original report
Tue, September 02, 2008
Who is Brandon? There is nothing complicated about understanding direct mail marketing. He must know the owner personally. This smells like Brandon does not have enough pride in himself to read and understand a fully detailed report. Here is short summary, less complicated for Brandon and RSVP. WE USED RSVP'S DESIGN TEAM THE FIRST TIME AROUND. I SUBMITTED MY DESIGN TO RSVP AND THEY CHANGED IT ENTIRELY TO MEET THEIR CRITERIA. THE SAME CRITERIA BRANDON STATED ABOVE. THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THEIR DESIGN TEAM ARE PART OF THE $2000.00 PACKAGE, AND ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY RSVP'S SALES STAFF. THIS IS WHY WE LET THEM DO THEIR JOB. This is also why I gave them the benefit of the doubt in the first report, that mail was to blame and not the staff. According to Brandon and Scott Rubel, it must be RSVP's design team. All aspects of our postcard were designed and recommended by the RSVP's design team. This goes for ALL PHOTOGRAPHY, DISCOUNTS, AND SIMPLICTY. I have several other campaigns that were successful with direct mail marketing. According to Brandon, I guess the bachelor's degree in marketing our director holds is worthless.
Please, Don't be fooled by the friend of a Rip-Off!
Brandon, We at Abba Floors & Interiors Inc., gives you many thanks in regard to your statement. Now we know the mail does get there. So the only conclusion left would be RSVP's design team failed miserably. Their lack of tracking resulted in a profit for RSVP and a complete loss of $2000.00 for Abba Floors & Interiors Inc. This is an old saying, told to me by my grandfather. Take me once, Shame on you. Take me twice Shame on me. Using their design team twice is not a satisfactory answer to me. Anyone else been taken by RSVP? Call Jason at 602-375-2222.
Jason Birmingham
President
Abba Floors & Interiors Inc.,
A Family owned and operated business for 13 years running.
Abba Floors
Phoenix,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Understanding the bottom line facts of this Report
#12Author of original report
Tue, September 02, 2008
Who is Brandon? There is nothing complicated about understanding direct mail marketing. He must know the owner personally. This smells like Brandon does not have enough pride in himself to read and understand a fully detailed report. Here is short summary, less complicated for Brandon and RSVP. WE USED RSVP'S DESIGN TEAM THE FIRST TIME AROUND. I SUBMITTED MY DESIGN TO RSVP AND THEY CHANGED IT ENTIRELY TO MEET THEIR CRITERIA. THE SAME CRITERIA BRANDON STATED ABOVE. THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THEIR DESIGN TEAM ARE PART OF THE $2000.00 PACKAGE, AND ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY RSVP'S SALES STAFF. THIS IS WHY WE LET THEM DO THEIR JOB. This is also why I gave them the benefit of the doubt in the first report, that mail was to blame and not the staff. According to Brandon and Scott Rubel, it must be RSVP's design team. All aspects of our postcard were designed and recommended by the RSVP's design team. This goes for ALL PHOTOGRAPHY, DISCOUNTS, AND SIMPLICTY. I have several other campaigns that were successful with direct mail marketing. According to Brandon, I guess the bachelor's degree in marketing our director holds is worthless.
Please, Don't be fooled by the friend of a Rip-Off!
Brandon, We at Abba Floors & Interiors Inc., gives you many thanks in regard to your statement. Now we know the mail does get there. So the only conclusion left would be RSVP's design team failed miserably. Their lack of tracking resulted in a profit for RSVP and a complete loss of $2000.00 for Abba Floors & Interiors Inc. This is an old saying, told to me by my grandfather. Take me once, Shame on you. Take me twice Shame on me. Using their design team twice is not a satisfactory answer to me. Anyone else been taken by RSVP? Call Jason at 602-375-2222.
Jason Birmingham
President
Abba Floors & Interiors Inc.,
A Family owned and operated business for 13 years running.
Abba Floors
Phoenix,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Understanding the bottom line facts of this Report
#12Author of original report
Tue, September 02, 2008
Who is Brandon? There is nothing complicated about understanding direct mail marketing. He must know the owner personally. This smells like Brandon does not have enough pride in himself to read and understand a fully detailed report. Here is short summary, less complicated for Brandon and RSVP. WE USED RSVP'S DESIGN TEAM THE FIRST TIME AROUND. I SUBMITTED MY DESIGN TO RSVP AND THEY CHANGED IT ENTIRELY TO MEET THEIR CRITERIA. THE SAME CRITERIA BRANDON STATED ABOVE. THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THEIR DESIGN TEAM ARE PART OF THE $2000.00 PACKAGE, AND ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY RSVP'S SALES STAFF. THIS IS WHY WE LET THEM DO THEIR JOB. This is also why I gave them the benefit of the doubt in the first report, that mail was to blame and not the staff. According to Brandon and Scott Rubel, it must be RSVP's design team. All aspects of our postcard were designed and recommended by the RSVP's design team. This goes for ALL PHOTOGRAPHY, DISCOUNTS, AND SIMPLICTY. I have several other campaigns that were successful with direct mail marketing. According to Brandon, I guess the bachelor's degree in marketing our director holds is worthless.
Please, Don't be fooled by the friend of a Rip-Off!
Brandon, We at Abba Floors & Interiors Inc., gives you many thanks in regard to your statement. Now we know the mail does get there. So the only conclusion left would be RSVP's design team failed miserably. Their lack of tracking resulted in a profit for RSVP and a complete loss of $2000.00 for Abba Floors & Interiors Inc. This is an old saying, told to me by my grandfather. Take me once, Shame on you. Take me twice Shame on me. Using their design team twice is not a satisfactory answer to me. Anyone else been taken by RSVP? Call Jason at 602-375-2222.
Jason Birmingham
President
Abba Floors & Interiors Inc.,
A Family owned and operated business for 13 years running.
Annakhill
Brandon,Florida,
U.S.A.
Understanding Direct Mail Marketing
#12Consumer Comment
Thu, August 28, 2008
I have used RSVP Direct Mail in the past for my own business, with great success. I have no doubt that the 40,000 cards Abba Floors mailed out reached most, if not all, of the 40,000 consumers on the proprietary list.
The initial report by Abba Floors indicates a lack of understanding about how direct mail marketing works and smells strongly of hurt pride.
Direct mail is not like other forms of marketing in the slightest. The success of the mail piece depends very strongly on the design and tracking the results is crucial. The offer must be eye catching, invoke a sense of urgency and be easy to redeem. The design must be simplistic and easy to read. Too many words? It'll get tossed. Wrong time of year for that particular offer? It'll get tossed. Is this RSVP's fault? Not a chance! It's YOUR responsibility to ensure the success of your own business and you are shooting yourself in the foot if you haven't honestly done the necessary market research and marketing success tracking to see what offers are working and what offers aren't.
I would strongly advise Abba Floors to take RSVP up on their offer and let their team design your ad. Clearly, you have nothing to lose, right? The original ad you ran had a poor response and it's fallacy to believe it's due to the mail "not getting there". That's a cop-out. As the rebuttal noted, RSVP has proof of mailing. I've seen it with my own business. They got mailed.
This sounds like a case of pride going before a fall.
Abba Floors, this also smells like you need to get a new marketing director or send your current one to school.
Annakhill
Brandon,Florida,
U.S.A.
Understanding Direct Mail Marketing
#12Consumer Comment
Thu, August 28, 2008
I have used RSVP Direct Mail in the past for my own business, with great success. I have no doubt that the 40,000 cards Abba Floors mailed out reached most, if not all, of the 40,000 consumers on the proprietary list.
The initial report by Abba Floors indicates a lack of understanding about how direct mail marketing works and smells strongly of hurt pride.
Direct mail is not like other forms of marketing in the slightest. The success of the mail piece depends very strongly on the design and tracking the results is crucial. The offer must be eye catching, invoke a sense of urgency and be easy to redeem. The design must be simplistic and easy to read. Too many words? It'll get tossed. Wrong time of year for that particular offer? It'll get tossed. Is this RSVP's fault? Not a chance! It's YOUR responsibility to ensure the success of your own business and you are shooting yourself in the foot if you haven't honestly done the necessary market research and marketing success tracking to see what offers are working and what offers aren't.
I would strongly advise Abba Floors to take RSVP up on their offer and let their team design your ad. Clearly, you have nothing to lose, right? The original ad you ran had a poor response and it's fallacy to believe it's due to the mail "not getting there". That's a cop-out. As the rebuttal noted, RSVP has proof of mailing. I've seen it with my own business. They got mailed.
This sounds like a case of pride going before a fall.
Abba Floors, this also smells like you need to get a new marketing director or send your current one to school.
Annakhill
Brandon,Florida,
U.S.A.
Understanding Direct Mail Marketing
#12Consumer Comment
Thu, August 28, 2008
I have used RSVP Direct Mail in the past for my own business, with great success. I have no doubt that the 40,000 cards Abba Floors mailed out reached most, if not all, of the 40,000 consumers on the proprietary list.
The initial report by Abba Floors indicates a lack of understanding about how direct mail marketing works and smells strongly of hurt pride.
Direct mail is not like other forms of marketing in the slightest. The success of the mail piece depends very strongly on the design and tracking the results is crucial. The offer must be eye catching, invoke a sense of urgency and be easy to redeem. The design must be simplistic and easy to read. Too many words? It'll get tossed. Wrong time of year for that particular offer? It'll get tossed. Is this RSVP's fault? Not a chance! It's YOUR responsibility to ensure the success of your own business and you are shooting yourself in the foot if you haven't honestly done the necessary market research and marketing success tracking to see what offers are working and what offers aren't.
I would strongly advise Abba Floors to take RSVP up on their offer and let their team design your ad. Clearly, you have nothing to lose, right? The original ad you ran had a poor response and it's fallacy to believe it's due to the mail "not getting there". That's a cop-out. As the rebuttal noted, RSVP has proof of mailing. I've seen it with my own business. They got mailed.
This sounds like a case of pride going before a fall.
Abba Floors, this also smells like you need to get a new marketing director or send your current one to school.
Annakhill
Brandon,Florida,
U.S.A.
Understanding Direct Mail Marketing
#12Consumer Comment
Thu, August 28, 2008
I have used RSVP Direct Mail in the past for my own business, with great success. I have no doubt that the 40,000 cards Abba Floors mailed out reached most, if not all, of the 40,000 consumers on the proprietary list.
The initial report by Abba Floors indicates a lack of understanding about how direct mail marketing works and smells strongly of hurt pride.
Direct mail is not like other forms of marketing in the slightest. The success of the mail piece depends very strongly on the design and tracking the results is crucial. The offer must be eye catching, invoke a sense of urgency and be easy to redeem. The design must be simplistic and easy to read. Too many words? It'll get tossed. Wrong time of year for that particular offer? It'll get tossed. Is this RSVP's fault? Not a chance! It's YOUR responsibility to ensure the success of your own business and you are shooting yourself in the foot if you haven't honestly done the necessary market research and marketing success tracking to see what offers are working and what offers aren't.
I would strongly advise Abba Floors to take RSVP up on their offer and let their team design your ad. Clearly, you have nothing to lose, right? The original ad you ran had a poor response and it's fallacy to believe it's due to the mail "not getting there". That's a cop-out. As the rebuttal noted, RSVP has proof of mailing. I've seen it with my own business. They got mailed.
This sounds like a case of pride going before a fall.
Abba Floors, this also smells like you need to get a new marketing director or send your current one to school.
Scott Rubel
Phoenix,Arizona,
U.S.A.
There is nothing more important to RSVP than satifying our clients
#12REBUTTAL Owner of company
Fri, August 22, 2008
In the interest of resolving this situation amicably, we, RSVP are offering 2 different no-cost, no-risk options that could result in a full refund to you.
Our original offer still stands. Our art department will design an ad more geared towards success that we will run for you at NO COST so long as we can monitor the results. If we do not achieve results appropriate for this media, we will refund the money you paid to us in full.
We are also willing to submit to Better Business Bureau binding arbitration.
We are eager to move forward to a positive outcome for both Abba
Floors and for RSVP. If there is anything you haven't told us that would
prevent you from accepting our offer, please let us know. We stand ready to
make this situation right.
Scott Rubel, RSVP Phoenix
Abba Floors
Phoenix,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Why would RSVP wonder about Abba Floors not accepting their offer, when they were negligent to do the same exact offer the first time around?
#12Author of original report
Thu, August 07, 2008
RSVP's So-Called Commitment to Client Satisfaction
Our meeting with Scott Rubel, owner of RSVP, turned out to be a complete waste of time. We arrived for our appointment and waited approximately 15 minutes for him to finish a phone call. We did not feel our meeting was of high importance to him but rather more of a nuisance as he allowed his phone to continue to interrupt our negotiations.
The solution he offered was to run the ad again with changes made by his design team making it appear that his design team would make this deal. Since his design team designed the original ad, we wondered why it would be different a second time around and what would make it a much stronger ad campaign. We questioned what he was going to do differently with a new ad-campaign and received no firm answer. Though Scott said the new ad would be free, the bottom line was not free to us. After a runaround and pressuring for a firm answer, as to how he planned to rectify this situation, his final answer was for us to re-word our discount and offer more free items and services in the ad to entice the public. This is his answer to a stronger ad campaign. This is not an acceptable solution to us as we are already offering rock bottom pricing and the best discount offers we can.
His next solution was to monitor all calls received from the ad implying that we were not being up front and honest with him concerning our numbers. We actually have no problem with call monitoring. We asked Scott how many phone calls we could expect on average to receive, and his exact reply was Would you be happy if we got you 5 phone calls? Well, that would be one more than the four received out of 40,000 ad cards sent out at a cost of $2,000.00 and we still feel this is an unacceptable response rate.
Abba Floors receives five phone calls a day from the online yellow pages, which costs $100.00 a month not $2000.00. Scott also offered to get his checkbook out. We thought this would be a good start, but apparently, he has changed his mind for unknown reasons, and has not followed through with us since our meeting.
Redesigning an ad card using the same design team and in a sense blaming us for the poor return by stating we needed to add more freebies to our ad was not a satisfactory answer. There may be proof of mailings by RSVP but there is no proof directly to our ad. They promise hand picked, proprietary lists, quality-designed ads, cost effective, quick response with leads pouring in with a high return on investment. In our case, we did not find this to be true and neither did a fellow business owner. R.S.V.P. states you will have trackable leads, as you will know exactly how your ad is perfuming by tracking every lead. With a four phone call response, we can only draw the conclusion that we did not have a quality-designed ad by their design team or they did not send all 40,000 cards to their handpicked proprietary list. Our offer still stands; Pay back our money and we will tell the world you are a reputable company. Until then, R.S.V.P. is just another RIPOFF marketing company. We recommend not doing business with R.S.V.P. until they decide to stand up for what is right.
Scott Rubel
Phoenix,Arizona,
U.S.A.
RSVP's Commitment to Client Satisfaction: Our offer to make it right
#12REBUTTAL Owner of company
Fri, July 25, 2008
At RSVP Publications, we are committed to client satisfaction. We met with Abba Floors and have offered them a no risk, no cost, guaranteed results opportunity to run a new ad with RSVP, and our offer includes a full refund if we don't achieve more typical results.
It is important to note that as with all RSVP card decks, we did obtain proof of mailing through the U.S. Postal Service's Form 3602. We always send samples of the client's card and deck to each client, as we did with Abba Floors.
RSVP Phoenix has offered to rerun the ad at no cost to Abba Floors, with two contingencies. First, Abba Floors must use RSVP's design services to produce a new card with a much stronger offer, one that will be designed to achieve a much better result; and second, RSVP will monitor the responses to guarantee a number of calls that in our judgment are more appropriate to this type of advertising campaign. If we do not achieve the desired number of responses, then we will offer a full refund to the client. Abba Floors actually declined our offer and we really have to wonder about a client who would reject an offer like this..
RSVP takes complaints such as these very seriously. We have been in business for 23 years and we are very proud of our average re-sign rate of 80%. We look forward to making this customer a satisfied one.