To think this wonderfully sensitive of Asda?

[PicaK]

Just got an email from Asda asking if I want to opt out of mother's day advertising.

I don't but I can imagine some will.
Wish all advertisers did this.

Asda - great work. Could have done to opt out of Valentine's Day tho - just saying for next year.

Cynical part of me wondering if it's publicity ploy but most of me thinks there's someone at Asda instigated this for personal reasons - so thank you and condolences.

I had this from Waitrose as well. Much appreciated.

Lots of companies have done this for Mother’s and Father’s Day the last few years.

I had a weird one at the bank when I paid off the mortgage. The lady was so enthusiastic and over the top happy for me, I was paying it off because of an inheritance after the sudden and shocking death of my mum. It didn't feel like a good day at all, but I didn't want to ruin her excitement by saying anything. I imagine it must be quite common when paying off a mortgage in a lump sum. I'm not bothered at all by Mother's day stuff, but my sisters get very upset by all the advertising.

Great idea.
Can you opt out of Christmas as well?

Yes, like others I have got 'unsubscribe' emails from 2 or 3 companies, so it's great that they are aware it can be a sensitive time, particularly after this last difficult year we've all endured.

I love it when they do this. My mum died in January and a few places have contacted me to ask if I want to block ads. I really appreciate it.

I've seen my first similar emails this year.

My mother died young and it was a long time ago. Even so, I was taken by surprise by the wave of emotion that came from nowhere when I was at a till with something and the cashier asked me if I wanted to buy a Mother's Day card.

There are several reasons why this is a good initiative and although some things are unavoidable, I'd hope this reduces the emotional ambush.

I had a similar one from Cross Country. I was impressed.

A friend of mine gets this email every year, as if something is going to change...

@WannabemoreWeaver

I love it when they do this. My mum died in January and a few places have contacted me to ask if I want to block ads. I really appreciate it.

I'm sorry for your loss WannabemoreWeaver. My mother died (a touch inconveniently) 2 weeks before Mother's Day. My sister and I were heading into Tesco to buy food for mourners and were accosted by the massive 'DON'T FORGET MUM THIS MOTHER'S DAY' banner across the entrance. My sister said 'Thanks for that, Tesco' and we both burst out laughing. The online sensitivity is appreciated but they could stand to tone down the 'OMG MOTHERS EXIST' in store advertising as well, IMO....

Had the same from a few companies over the past few years, I would say that it would be better to just not send countless emails advertising mother's Day crap. If people are interested they can remind themselves when it is.

On my 50th b'day I got a 'Would you like to opt out of Valentine's Day' and a 'Funeral plan for over 50's' x 6 (!!!). I know which I preferred!

My mum passed away three months ago, and my first ‘opt out of Mother’s Day’ email made me sob. If companies genuinely were concerned they would have sent a ‘click to opt-in’ email, which is a much more positive action for a recipient to take, but one that would massively reduce the email distribution.

Plus, the company who sent it will only switch off Mothers Day emails this year - perhaps on the off chance she’ll come back in 2022?

ive had this for a couple of years now from a few companies

I've had quite a few this year actually. Good on them all.i lost my Dad years ago and the first few years were tough

I wish schools would ignore mothers day and fathers day. My DS comes home crying when they are encouraged to make fathers day cards His dad isn't dead but he's NC.

Lots of companies do this. Call me cynical but I do wonder if marketing plays some part in this. A gentle reminder that they care and you haven't ordered online for a while

I'd rather they just didn't send me promo stuff in the first place. It occurred to me that surely offering an opt-out would be just as triggering for those people as receiving the actual marketing email. It's still a mother's-themed email.

Yes, being bombarded with "Is Mothers Day hard for you? Do you not want us to tell you about Mother's Day?" emails is so much better than being bombarded with them in a week...

I can't help but side-eye that it's so much more a thing with mother's, when probably far more of us would rather not hear about their father's day offers for a month... Actually I think I'm going to email all the ones that do it. "Please save me from constant messages about football merch, cricket merch, ties, socks and pens for someone I don't even know!"

I've had the same from Superdrug, but they've rather spoiled the intention by sending me the email three times. I click 'opt out' and get a confirmation back that they won't send me any Mothers' day emails. Then a few days later I get another one. Three over the course of two weeks. Harrumph.

@Pulledamonica

I'd rather they just didn't send me promo stuff in the first place. It occurred to me that surely offering an opt-out would be just as triggering for those people as receiving the actual marketing email. It's still a mother's-themed email.

Exactly. See my post^^. Just one I would have appreciated if it meant no 'a gift for a special mum' emails. But three has definitely been triggering.

Actually I hate it. I've been inundated with them this year from all sorts of retailers. I find it far more intrusive than the original advertising. And there's no way this is based on sensitivity training, there will be a data collection aspect to it somewhere along the line. But what I think it does is provoke a nudge in people - non contact with your kids and they will be ignoring you on mother's day? got a dead mother? let us know! The majority of them are being sent in parallell with the actual mother's day advertising so there really is no benefit to it. I'd rather unsubscribe from all emails.

Surely for those who would be triggered by this, even a well meaning email like this could be triggering?

As could seeing Mothers Day cards in card shops, ads on TV and that sort of thing.

Well meaning, definitely.

Effective? Well...

Is it really that triggering though? Can't people just ignore it or get some therapy if they can't cope with such a small tap on the shoulder reminding them that they don't have a mother/father?

I just think people need to take more responsibility for their feelings rather than remove all reminders of things that have happened in the past.

Also they haven't done it to be kind.
They have done it to advertise their business using your heart strings!!

I’ve not seen these before this year but it’s a good idea.