Better Pissed-Off than...

Alright. Enough is enough. Tonight, I've reached my breaking point. I'm downright pissed-off at Harvard at the moment. Specifically Harvard Business Online. These folks gall me... what nerve! Here's the deal:

• I signed up for a mailing list of interesting HBS stuff (luckily there were only 31 electronic alerts I could choose from).
• The e-mail me on a regular basis as a result.
• The stuff they e-mail me is so damned targeted, I wind up buying.
• OFTEN.
• A LOT!

I swear, I'm going to send a letter. Here it is; tell me what you think:

Dear Harvard,

Lets make a deal. E-mail me some crap that I'm not going to want to read or listen to or pass on or apply, so I don't impulse buy everything you tell me about. I hate to feel like a mindless gnome, being twisted in the wind by your only-too-effective marketing behemoth. I know, I know... I asked for it, and I give you great feedback on your stuff and how you tell me about it, but jeez...

Sincerely,

Chris

See what I mean. You'd be pissed off too... right? I mean, first, these folks really know what I like (just like Amazon). Second, they communicate with me on a pathway I chose (like Amazon). Third, their stuff is mindlessly-simple to order (like Amazon). Fourth, they have great customer service (I've never had to use Amazon's, but I'll bet its great). Hey... are these folks AMAZON?

Oh, and don't forget that I can download PDF reprints of a gazillion articles and other publications for around $4 - $6 a piece. And, that they keep copies of them in a little electronic library for me, so when I lose the downloaded PDF I can just hop back on and download it again.

Damn these people!

Thanks again, Harvard, for taking my hard earned money (or, my company's money). You should be ashamed of yourself.