To think Mothers’ Day opt-out e-mails are triggering in themselves?

[HelloKittyGirl]

I mean, they are asking you to think about Mother’s’ Day, aren’t they? And to make a decision about it.

How is that really any better than the emails they’re saying they want you to be able to avoid?

Sorry, I have no idea what you are talking about, please can you elaborate?

I think the issue is the timing. They should ask e.g. every 6 months about all events for the next year. Then it wouldn't seem so specific.

Yes, I think it's virtue-signalling crap.

Emailing people to ask if they want emails about Mother's Day is just...weird. Another bandwagon companies have jumped on.

See also International Women's Day where companies post vanity content about their non-binary staff and don't give a thought to the sex pay gap.

The better option would be for an annual opportunity to opt out of emails, listing the reasons some may be sent. Those about Christmas, about Easter, about holidays, and Mothers and Fathers Day.

It would not be at the time when there is loads of marketing about Mothers Day and so perhaps less upsetting.

With that logic companies just can't win

I agree. I have had about 6-8 emails asking if I want to opt out of Mother's Day emails. I would then have to manually click on each. It's drawing your attention to it, which is what is meant to be avoided.

I agree. It used to be just one or two retailers and I thought it was thoughtful and sensitive. Now it's a barrage in the lead up to Mother's Day, which is shit.

I agree with pp that they could easily do this at a different time of year. Why can't they send an annual message, asking if you want to opt out of any of a list of promotional messages that relate to particular people (or even religious festivals too).

I think that if any discussion of mothers day triggers a person for whatever reason that is for the person to address within themselves, not the world to do.

Because then people would opt out of loads or all of their marketing lists and they'd be fucked.

This way they get another chance to land in people's inboxes, and yet make it seem humane. It's just a marketing tactic.

The fact they don't do it sensibly and strategically (which might lose them more advertising) but schedule it as a 'reminder of something unpleasant, upcoming', tells me it's all about being seen to do it, for virtue points and not about being thoughtful or sensitive at all.

Very triggering the original offer emails weren't just this nonsense

I’ve thought exactly the same.

Yes. As someone who has suffered the loss of a child, it’s a shitty day for me. I run a gifting business and decided not to send the email as I think they are too salesy and virtue-signalling. Of course I got a complaint that the one mother’s day email was triggering (from someone I know irl) and I should know better. Can’t win :(

Yes, bloody annoying!

Yes, but theyre plain and fairly neutrally worded.

Nowhere near as bad as the actual ones - which start arriving much earlier than the actual day

Yes, it wouid be better if you could opt out once and forever, but as people's circumstance change and bereavements can happen at any time, then a check shortly before the event to all those who have not opted out wouid still be indicated

@balalake

The better option would be for an annual opportunity to opt out of emails, listing the reasons some may be sent. Those about Christmas, about Easter, about holidays, and Mothers and Fathers Day.

It would not be at the time when there is loads of marketing about Mothers Day and so perhaps less upsetting.

That wouldn't work - people don't always die when expected, so the nearer the event the better.

The death of a parent at any age is sad and and a difficult time. However, life goes on around us and does not always recognise or make space for our personal grief.

I suppose that supermarkets etc are trying to recognise that certain events can be hard for some people and to respond to that.

I appreciate that some people may be upset even receiving an email asking if they want to opt out of Mother's Day info, but those people may also be the ones likely to complain (sweeping generalisation, I know). Let's face it, unless you're a recluse you will find it really hard to avoid seeing displays/advertisements in card shops, supermarkets, florists etc anyway do it all seems a bit pointless to me. But if it helps a person cope then it's not doing any harm.

Personally I opt out as I have no desire to read about what the big supermarkets think constitute a suitable Mother's Day gift.

I agree, I've had about 15 of them now from just about every retailer I'm on the mailing list of.

Thing is avoiding emails about Mother's Day doesn't mean it won't be brought to your attention elsewhere, M&S had a lovely Mother's Day display in store yesterday, Tesco & ASDA have a whole isle for it and card stands all over the store, then there's the Facebook competitions and all the restaurants offering a free meal for Mum if you book in advance.

No. I lost my mum last year and the emails suggesting that I do or buy this that and the other for that "special person" were far more heartbreaking than the single email asking me if I wanted to opt out.

It is one email. Do you really think that is as bad as being bombarded with multiple emails?

I've had about 20!
They are just using it as stealth advertising as sending it out to all subscribers. I hate it

It is a bombardment of multiple emails though. Over an extended period. That's the point.

As one who has struggled with Mother’s Day after death of my mum, I was quite pleased as took it as the companies recognising it’s a tough day for some people and not to add to the upset 🤷‍♀️

I think they're fine. One email and I opt out and don't get any more. Better than being bombarded with emails in the weeks before Mothers Day.

Companies can't win. They're trying to offer customers the option. Someone will always be triggered by something. You can always opt out of all of their emails.

And you can't easily avoid all mention of Mother's Day. It's everywhere at the moment, which is understandable. All you can do is minimise your exposure to it.

Of course it is, but it's one email to deal with vs a few weeks of constant emails. Also, whilst asking everyone twice a year would work in general, it doesn't help those who have loses a day after the email goes out. Hence asking at az fairly reasonable time.