A business pitches their product to at me. I politely decline their offering because I.AM.NOT.INTERESTED in their product. They then in all their infinite customer relations/marketing wisdom decide to sign me up for their newsletter.
What part of that makes sense?
I can see the rationale now: I know she wasn’t interested in our product/offering but I’m sure she’d love to receive our newsletter. Everybody loves our newsletter! That sounds like a potential new sitcom.
What happens to people once they step inside the walls of their given business? It’s as if they forget their manners. Things that would ordinarily infuriate them seem totally fine. Apparently when you’re not on the receiving end it’s not as important.
The worst part is that this behaviour totally undermines the story they’ve trying to tell. They think their story is one of Professionalism, Personable Charm, Approachability, the inevitable Integrity and the totally prostituted Trust.
Signing me up for a newsletter without my permission is anything up professional, charming and it certainly doesn’t ooze integrity or induce trust.