Letters to the Editor
[Re: Loose Cannon: Lists and Lysistrata, March 3, 2003]
Your column and concept of withholding direct marketing services to politicians is pure brilliance. Why has our industry not considered this type of proactive influence before?
If I did not enjoy your mind and columns so much, I would suggest that you consider taking on the leadership role for an industry association. Then we would possibly have a chance at continuing our beneficial growth for this country instead of shrinking piece-by-piece due to inane politicians and our “stick-your-head-in-the-sand-and-hope it-goes-away” non-strategic lobbying.
Don Libey
Principal
Libey-Concordia
Advisors and Investment Bankers to the Catalog Industry
The problem isn’t just with the politicians, although it is their job to make the final decisions through their votes. Direct Marketers have the bureaucracy of the Federal Trade Commission to thank for this particular thorn in our sides. And, to be fair, we’ve brought some of this on ourselves.
Normally I’m one of those guys who tries to make lemonade out of lemons. When I first started reading the news about a national do-not-call list, I thought of the business opportunity for the inbound call center portion of my company. After all, someone had to take the calls and e-mail from those people who wanted to be on the list. Someone had to provide the services necessary to compile the information and make it available to the industry. What an opportunity.
The government does everything by way of a bidding process so I started finding out what it would take for me and my company to become part of the process.
Whoever said the wheels of government turn slowly, was very mistaken. In early January, while the FTC was still trying to get the proposal heard in Committee, I called them to find out how the process worked. What I found out was the in August of last year, the bidding was let by the FTC and by the end of December the bidding had already been closed. The new rules hadn’t been approved, the FTC still didn’t have funding approved. In fact, they still were not sure how much funding to ask for.
Imagine my complete surprise then, when last week, shortly after receiving $16 million in start-up funding, the FTC awarded the contract to AT&T for $3.5 million.
Dare I ask where the other $12.5 million dollars is going? Now someone reading this letter might think, here’s a guy who is just upset because he missed out on a $3.5 million dollar contract. Darn right. And in addition, here’s a guy who is upset because once again, the federal bureaucracy is sticking it’s nose into our business and costing American taxpayers a ton of money needlessly.
Just one more question. Why, instead of fighting the proposal tooth and nail, didn’t the DMA take the opportunity to offer to do the job for free? We already have the system set up, and what a terrific way to show the country how much we really do care about our customers and their right to privacy?
Mike Daniels
Sales Representative
Call Solutions
Williston, ND
