We were going to leave this one alone because mistakes do occur. We even left alone a previous mistake involving the placement of an image which looked like it belonged to editorial rather than the unmarked ad it turned out to be. But, two mistakes in a short period of time just can’t be left alone. While we love the folks over at MediaPost but today, they made a very huge mistake.
Late this afternoon, we received this email from MediaPost inviting us to their Email Insider Summit May 21-24 in Scottsdale, Arizona as a VIP. All expenses, including airfare, accommodations and conference registration, would be covered. We thought, “Damn, Adrants has finally arrived!” We were all excited to spend four days at the Boulder Resort and Golden Door Spa basking in the Southwest sunlight while hanging with industry big wigs. That is, until a second email arrived.
Our excitement was to be short lived as three short hours following receipt of the first email, we received this second email from MediaPost telling us the previous email was sent in error, we were not, in fact, a VIP and would have to pay the registration fee of $2,495 along with accommodations and airfare if we chose to attend. Ouch! I mean really ouch! And to boot, it wasn’t just us that received the erroneous email. Apparently many in the press and on agency side received the VIP invite as well.
Grey Direct Interactive Planning Director Wade Edwards received the email as well and wrote to us saying, “How is that for a slap in the face – stating that I am in fact not important enough to be includied in their group…not to mention the questions marks that are raised by the fact that the conference is supposed to be a gathering of the best minds of the email marketing industry – yet they can’t even send out the right email?” Indeed.
Accidents do happen. Hell, we can’t even spell around here but might we suggest the tone of the second email could have been a bit more conciliatory than, “Again we apologize for the confusion and inconvenience that error may have caused you.” I was getting ready to pack, people! How dare you pull this bait and switch on me! I’m a VIP, dammit!
