07/08/2008 (By Larissa Walkiw)

Save money with Snail Mail

Last weekend, I intended to follow some Summer Tips Week advice. With the Skinny on Sunscreen blog post in mind, I went to the drugstore to buy some continuous spray sunscreen. One particular brand (cough cough Banana Boat) was on sale, so I picked up two bottles.

When it came time to apply the sunscreen, it was very clear that the product was defective. Instead of spraying in a fine mist, the first bottle spattered noisily. The second bottle worked fine until it completely conked out mid-application. There was nothing I could do to unclog it.

What did I do about the situation? I wrote a letter.

Letter writing seems like a rarity these days. Stamps and envelopes often fail to compete with IMs, text messages, and e-mails. Despite this, letter writing remains one of the strongest methods of communication (especially when it comes to product complaints).

Through personal experience, many have found that contacting a company via phone or e-mail to lodge a complaint usually only merits a brief apology, whereas contacting a company via snail mail often leads to a sincere apology and an attempt at a solution.

Next time a product lets you down, don't chalk it up to bad luck – do something about it. Writing a letter can sometimes make up for any money wasted – the response you receive might include a replacement product or a free coupon or voucher.

If you find yourself needing to write a complaint letter, be sure to follow these quick tips for the best results:

Write with respect We all know you're miffed, but if your letter looks like hate mail, don't expect an answer any time soon.

Disappointed, not angry Your letter should make you come across as a loyal customer who is disappointed with a certain product or service rather than a ranting sorehead. Just think: is a company more likely to compensate a customer they can win back or an ex-customer who is ready to take their business elsewhere?

Keep it short Be direct and get to the point. Your letter should be no longer than a page.

Don't forget the address! Make sure to provide your contact information – not only on the envelope, but also on the letter itself.

I kept these tips in mind while composing my letter. I'll let you all know if and when I get a response to my sunscreen mishap.

Have you had any experience writing letters to companies? What sort of response did you get? Feel free to share your experience in a comment below.

Cordially,

Larissa

Comments

1) T - 07/08/2008

I once bought a really expensive pair of Oakley sunglasses and in the first week in my possession I was showing a friend how flexible they where and I proceeded to snap them in half! He howled with laughter as I sat there in gap jawed in stunned disbelief with one half of the fancy glasses in my left hand and the other half in my right hand.

I wrote a really great letter about how I had been an Oakley fan from way back in the day when I had Oakley 3 grips on my BMX bike. Not only did they send me a replacement pair, they sent me a fancy case as well.

A nice letter can really pay off!

2) BenJoe - 07/08/2008

http://www.gwcu.org

I am the king of getting free stuff from companies. I write letters when I get good service and when I get bad. I have gift cards galore in my wallet. The big thing is to not swear, not get upset, but be professionally disappointed or pleased.

I use this website to send my letters for free here in the United States: http://www.esnailer.com/