VistaPrint – enough already!
Many people tout the success of Vista Print and their “free” business card printing program. And many printers envy the obvious success of Vista Print’s extensive marketing program. But, when marketing crosses the line and becomes spam, then it’s time to say “Enough already!”
VistaPrint offers free business cards to anyone who is willing to have the VistaPrint logo printed on the reverse of their cards. They will also print a host of commercial printing from online orders for pay. Their prices are very low, and they have an impressive web site offering all kinds of printed products.
The problem is that they also offer “partnership opportunities” to individuals who co-market VistaPrint’s services. This is not unlike various pyramid marketing methods used by cosmetics companies over the last two decades. When a partner signs-up, VistaPrint will pay a commission to the partner for forwarding printing jobs to the company. The partners have taken to mass e-mail campaigns to promote VistaPrint’s services. When I say mass, I mean mega-mass – millions and millions of e-mail messages.
You could say that all of this is business as usual, except that it has gotten out of control. VistaPrint has become, through direct marketing and these partnership arrangements, a major league e-mail spammer. How do I know this? I have now built three e-mail filters to kill offers from VistaPrint, and I have to modify my filter nearly every day to stop these intrusive and obnoxious marketing efforts.
It’s rare that I can actually identify an e-mail spammer, as they are usually so skillful at being invisible. But VistaPrint is the culprit here, loud and clear, and I am tired of their e-mail spam, generated by them or their “partners.” Enough!
At some point, e-mail spam causes overexposure; VistaPrint has reached that point. At what point does e-mail spamming become annoying? It has already reached that point. Does it become criminal? I doubt it. But my reaction is typical of the enough-is-enough response. I will never do business with VistaPrint, and I will tell everyone I know that their marketing efforts are annoying and obnoxious. It’s time for this company to back-off on their spamming, and to be more repsonsible members of the graphic arts community.
It’s time for VistaPrint to stop its “partners” from spamming and to slow the spread of unwanted e-mail. They are being irresponsible, and that’s unacceptable.
(VistaPrint, based in Lexington, Mass., does have an opt-out button on some of their e-mail offers. I have attempted to opt-out. We’ll see how well that works.)
Brian Lawler commented:
I was encouraged to go to YouTube to watch the VistaPrint videos. There are some angry customers out there, and if they are to be believed, they are victims of shady practices. I would caution anyone doing business with VistaPrint to read the fine print before committing to a printing job.
normanfoster commented:
Been a Vistaprint customer for some time now. Products always good quality, delivery times acceptable and exceptional value. Never had anything printed on the back of my business cards. Spam never been a problem. Just order then unsubscribe until the next time you want something. Simples!
Brian Lawler commented:
youtubemerdier commented:
emmanuel commented:
Brian Lawler commented:
Phil commented:
Brian Lawler commented:
Brian Lawler commented:
stevejum commented:
Fred J commented:
Pissed off with this Company commented:
Brian Lawler commented:
Coffey Perks commented:
Chase commented:
Brian Lawler commented:
These are not coming directly from VistaPrint, but from an "affiliate" marketer whose source e-mail address is hard for me to target with my filters (it has changed several times). I will continue to try to stop these marketing offers.
Andrew T. Lenz, Jr. commented:
Jason commented:
Jason commented:
Brian Lawler commented:
I haven't seen one in days!
Tim commented:
Justin commented:
Brian Lawler commented:
I will continue complaining because of their obnoxious spamming!
Just Someone commented:
Brian Lawler commented:
VistaPrint: Give us a break!
