Domain names come up for renewal every year, and if you own one or more of them, you might receive what looks like a renewal notice via snail mail like the one on the right.
As it turns out, the notice is not quite what it appears.
*MOUSE PRINT: In all caps, “This is a solicitation for the order of goods or services, or both, and not a bill, invoice, or statement of account due. You are under no obligation to make any payments on account of this offer unless you accept this offer.” [From mailing dated May 31, 2006]
The mailing is actually trying to sell you a $35 service to submit your domain to various search engines, and it is apparently sent to domain owners at about the time their domain is up for renewal. The service does not include domain renewal however.
The disclosure is in the middle of the document in type similar to other type being used on it. Â The question is, does it overcome the general impression created by the mailing that it is a bill?
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is looking into companies that use similar tactics. Â See story.
MrConsumer always likes getting good news in the mail. This letter just arrived from Office Depot’s reward program announcing “Exciting news for Advantage members”. Â The envelope goes on to say that rewards are now unlimited (previously there was a $50 cap per quarter). Inside, members learn the bad news.
Computer printer companies practically give away their printers because they know they will make the real money by selling high-priced replacement ink cartridges.They are not fond of no-name companies that sell refilled cartridges at much lower prices. One way to get consumers to buy the name brand is to tout its superiority. HP claims in this ad that its cartridges are “35 times more reliable than bargain ink cartridges.*”