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Original poster

M&S statement re The Queen

105 replies

nachoavocado · 09/09/2022 13:19

I find it really odd that M&S have chosen to email me a statement about the Queen. Everywhere else just seems to be putting it on their website. It's not saying their shops are closed or anything. It just seems a strange thing to do. Is that just me?

OP posts:
Original poster
nachoavocado · 09/09/2022 16:17

HandbagsnGladrags · 09/09/2022 16:16

I've had emails saying 'we're pausing marketing out of respect' - you don't need to fucking email and tell me that, do you!

That is awful!

OP posts:
ethelredonagoodday · 09/09/2022 16:17

I've had emails from various companies, not just M&S...

EntertainingandFactual · 09/09/2022 16:34

I’ve just cleared my inbox. Almost every company I have ever bought something from has emailed me about the Queen’s death. M&S included 🙄

Interested in this thread?

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General shopping
dontgobaconmyheart · 09/09/2022 16:48

I've also had loads of these. It's just virtue signalling isn't it and an attempt at keeping up with the competition in terms of PR. These days I suppose you don't want to be the company not expressing condolences at a time like this lest people make something of that. Better to mildly annoy the minority with spam emails than risk negative optics.

chilliesandspices · 09/09/2022 16:51

My work has emailed us guidance on what to do during the mourning period (re business events). Our social media logos have turned grey and they won't be posting anything until after the funeral. They've also reminded us that the HR team and well-being team are available for support should we need it. As far as I'm aware, none of my colleagues are members of the royal family. Seemed a bit OTT Hmm

Anomonda · 09/09/2022 17:16

It’s how I found out she’d died. I received an email from a fashion magazine type website just after 6.30pm, before the online news websites had even reported it and a few minutes before the Apple notification came through. I immediately unsubscribed, disgusting to have it prewritten and rush to send it out. I’m still appalled this is how I found out rather that through the news I was literally reading when the email popped up.

REP22 · 09/09/2022 17:27

Private Eye magazine (edited by Ian Hislop) has had a column called "Desperate Marketing" for quite a while now, which features examples of this sort of thing which readers send in, e.g. "Celebrate the birth of Prince Louis with 10% off pork pies" or "Show your support for England's Lionesses with special packs of Always Ultra". 🙄

I appreciate that companies need to make money, but some of it really doesn't disguise the cynical marketing that it pretends not to be.

REP22 · 09/09/2022 17:33

Thank the Lord - Joules hasn't forgotten me. Just received their "on the passing of..." email as well. Now I will sleep soundly in my bed.

BrambleyHedge · 09/09/2022 17:36

Do you all opt into marketing emails? I have only had one email and that was from Girl Guiding. I always opt out so wonder if that is it

9thlife · 09/09/2022 17:37

Ive had emails from several companies today, including just online ones.
no incentive too buy, just saying about her passing.
didn’t bother me.

bellac11 · 09/09/2022 17:47

Ive had loads of these from companies nothing to do with the queen, really bad it is

britneyisfree · 09/09/2022 18:33

Ann summers - ha had to go straight to their page.... I mean is it just me that thinks they searched really hard for a pic as close as possible to their brand identity 😬

Original poster
nachoavocado · 09/09/2022 18:39

Phase Eight have just told me they will be observing a period of silence. Which is odd as I can't remember seeing any emails from them before so hadn't realised I'd subscribed

OP posts:
Plasmodesmata · 09/09/2022 18:46

I had a couple, have unsubscribed from both companies. If I get more will do the same. One had a "why are you unsubscribing" form so I told them.

FayeGovan · 09/09/2022 18:50

PooWeeBum · 09/09/2022 15:19

The oddest one I got was from Hush, as in the clothing brand

I can beat that, i got one from weeklydeals4less 😝

TwinkleChristmas · 09/09/2022 19:45

Plasmodesmata · 09/09/2022 18:46

I had a couple, have unsubscribed from both companies. If I get more will do the same. One had a "why are you unsubscribing" form so I told them.

I’m sure those companies are all devastated.

basilmint · 09/09/2022 19:48

I had one from Team Cheeky, a company I have used only to buy period pants 🤔

Bagzzz · 09/09/2022 20:03

I’ve had a few which just felt like marketing. The National Autistic Society one had some links about coping with change and generally about bereavement.

I think the links to employees help are actually relevant. This has stirred feelings for people about their own losses such as their parents or grandparents.

SparklyAntlers · 09/09/2022 20:07

I got it and I'm subscribed through their Irish organisation - not particularly clever sending it to Irish customers.

Meatshake · 09/09/2022 20:21

Lots of stealth marketing going on. I was impressed with a large chain of shops I am associated with. Their internal memo to their shops was simply "put this small A4 notice in your windows. No products, related or otherwise to be displayed around it".

Meatshake · 09/09/2022 20:23

Oh the entertainer was a decent one as well, just saying shops will be shit for 2 days.

Bunnycat101 · 09/09/2022 20:29

I’ve had a few that are a bit odd- think the phase 8 and M&S ones are worst. A couple from garden nurseries showing pictures of the queen with their flowers and some that have forgotten to check their scheduled emails (baker Ross and their unicorn and princess craft sets and the science museum celebrating happy Star Wars day).

I don’t mind the ones saying the stores were shutting eg I can see why Selfridges closed as a big central London department centre but I find it a bit weird that ELC emailed when they barely have any stores left anyway.

holidaynightmare · 09/09/2022 23:11

HandbagsnGladrags · 09/09/2022 16:16

I've had emails saying 'we're pausing marketing out of respect' - you don't need to fucking email and tell me that, do you!

Joules did this
Just why? It's pointless

Plasmodesmata · 09/09/2022 23:23

Well yes, they won't care that I unsubscribe. But I can't be the only one that thinks it's a bit cynical.
The black edged websites are also mourning-washing. Like turning them all rainbowy for Pride month but not actually doing anything more than that.

Plasmodesmata · 09/09/2022 23:26

Although, there's a thread on AIBU where the OP is complaining that some websites haven't put the black banners up. Obviously difficult to please everybody.