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

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