I find that emails like that have the opposite effect and push me away from prod...

btilly · on Nov 16, 2013

That is how you remember it when they don't work. You don't even remember them doing it when they did work.

That's why companies run A/B tests rather than trust word of mouth.

Mister_Snuggles · on Nov 17, 2013

That's very true.

Perhaps what turns me off are the desperate "Please come back to $SERVICE, you've been gone for more than 35 seconds! Please come back!!" from the free services. I don't mind the weekly specials from the local computer retailer, for example.

ams6110 · on Nov 16, 2013

Glad I'm not the only one who feels that way. My rules are simple:

1. Don't ever email me unless it's in response to a specific request initiated by me.