I just got an email from Sam’s Club that’s linked to a survey.
It will not get as many responses as it could have gotten, due to “several” flaws.
Click on the image to enlarge it and see if you can add any more tips that Andy Plaukovich and Joe Pilatta could use to increase response next time they attempt to get customers to do their work for them.
First off, how in the heck do you get to be Senior Strategy Manager for Sam’s Club or V.P. of Research for a company contracted by Sam’s Club and make mistakes that even entry level internet marketers should know better than to make ?
Tip #1 – Make me want to respond by giving me a “reason why”. What’s in it for me. Way back in 1904 John E. Kennedy knew you had to give a reason why, when using printed copy. That’s 104 years ago and neither one of these fine young men has bothered to read their marketing history lessons…as of yet.
If they had simple given me a 10% to 20% off coupon, even on one little item, for successfully responding, I’d have taken the survey and so would thousands of others.
How much more effective would the findings be based on a little ol’ increase in response of, say, 350% ? All it would have taken was a simple “reason why“.
Tip #2 – Tell me how many questions or how long it’ll take. If they had simply written ” This short survey is only 10 questions long and takes less than 2 minutes on average…”, I’d have been more likely to take the survey and so would thousands of others.
Another possibly large increase in response that would not have taken much more effort.
I’d be a lot more likely to take this survey if it had been written out in a conversational tone, rather than as a directive, especially since all it’s going to do for me is ” …make your shopping experience and membership benefits even better ! ”
Tip #3 – How about a case study of what was accomplished after the last survey ? Maybe a short, conversational paragraph like this would help boost response:
” After last year’s survey we increased the number of bacon wrapped sausages we give out in Aisle 13 by 42%.
Because you told us you wanted them, we started offering tube socks in bulk and our customers have taken home 3,000,000 gross in the last 9 months alone !
We also listened to you and removed the silly drink cups from the checkout line, because nobody had bought one in 2 years. ”
Think about it. How much more likely would you have been to respond and respond thoughtfully, had the message been written in a short, conversational tone ?
I’m guessing they could increase response an easy 150%. Easy. Would that type of response be worth the 10-15 extra minutes effort ?
Maybe, just maybe, the marketing minds at Sam’s Club will drop by and let us know.
Maybe they’ll even ask me to write their next survey.
I’ll guarantee a bigger, better response or I’ll take no fee. The three tips in this post are free. The others I know are fee. Not much, just enough to make you want to pay attention to the lessons.
I doubt BIGresearch offers that guarantee.
What about it Sam’s Club ? Want me to run an ASK campaign for you ?
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My wife and I like sam;s club ,I was just wanting to sign up for your Survey and a change for your$1000.oo shopping cards Hope to win in Jesus Name ,Thank you for your time Mr.A.S.Acosta.
I LIKE TO SHOP AT SAM’S. I WOULD LIKE TO SIGN UP
FOR THE SURVEY,FOR A CHANCE TO WIN $1000.00.
THANK YOU
PAT
I thought I was entering the survey for Sam’s Club, I’ve gotten everything but that.
How could you think that considering you’re not on the Sam’s Club site?
Do you need me to direct you to that URL?
Have you ever surfed the web before?
Is this your first rodeo?
HELLO…..I JUST PURCHASED AIR COND #377788 AND IT WAS A FLOOR MODEL (NOT IN A BOX) THEY SAID ALL PARTS WERE THERE…WELL IT WASS MISSING REMOTE CONT. SOME BAGS OF INSTALL HARDWHERE..& THE BACK OF UNIT WAS SCARD UP…I ASK THE MANAGER IF I MAY PLEASE HAVE SOME KIND OF DISCOUNT…HE SAID NO WAY (BECAUSE THEY WERE GITTING MORE IN . I DONT THINK THAT WAS VERY FAIR.. I PAID 245.98 I DID NOT GET WHAT I PAID FOR..CAN YOU HELP ME PLEASE..THANK YOU ..NICK CLEMENT #228-342-4834
I am a long time member of the Sam’s club in Virginia. I have been severly dissapointed with the changes that have been made in the Newport News store. After several weeks of changes to the meats and poultry sections a year ago. This store has seen fit to make more and constant changes, to the location and shelving of products. This is confusing and the associates when questioned can not seem to assist in the new locations.Further products that were carried in the past have been dropped, reason not enough demand? Strange that some of these products were such as SHELLED PISTACHIOS seemed to sell out when stocked. this is but one example. The long lines, with few open check outs, as well as the associates that will not answer quieries or give you the “I DON”T KNOW” answer when asked. I have been sorely disapointed with the service and selecion for some time, when I wanted to talk with a Management represenative, I was told by a counter representative, after standing in line for 15 minutes, that one was not available, nor could I be told when one would be available. I will not be renewing my membership when November comes. I will be fully reccommending that the members of my family, both immediate and extended Stop using the Sam’s Club. This is mainly due to the Poor service, that I and others have received, as well as the lack of selection of articles and foods.
i am dissapointed when i pay dues of $100.00 and find products at wallmart cheaper
We(Ken&I), have shopped at Sam’s since 1991. We like the varity of foods,produce, meatsand the choices you have. The other depts. in the store are great to shop in. Prices are the best. I hope I get to enter the $1000 shopping survey. Thanks,
Phyllis Buckley
I don’t have no comment
My amiga and I were looking for a Wii for a birthday. We started at the SAMS CLUB in Augusta, Me. and found what we were looking for. The girl (TIA) at the photo desk directed us to where we wanted to go, in fact, she came with us. She was VERY helpful in locating someone for us to try and compare prices w/Walmart and spend alot of time talking about the product w/us.
We decided to check Walmart’s prices since they could’nt find out for us, but not without really trying. When we went to Walmart we found the very same item for a penny more. We liked the service at SAM’s we got from Tia, that we decided to buy it there instead. I thanked her for her time and help. She was wonderful in customer service and I hope you notify her boss and let him know he has a loyal and dedicated worker. We were very impressed.
I just joined Sams Club 09-12-10. Enjoyed walking through the store and seeing what was new. Will be shoping often. Thanks for entering me for the $1000.00 drawing. Bruce and Betty Herron
Wonder if management considers we shoppers have frozen stuff that began thawing the second we removed it from the box, as we stand in line, 4 deep and stare at several closed checkout lines? Wonder if management considers what we are thinking as we stand in the next line, sometimes 6 or 7 deep, trying to get our thawing food ( that,by the way, we have payed for) thru the next gauntlet at the exit door, under the guise of “We need to make sure you aren’t leaving without what you payed for” ? Wonder if they realize, or care, most shoppers drive several miles back home with their thawing food, as our shrimp is steadily turning into cat food or trotline bait?
Continuation of”TROTLINE BAIT” When I was young in the 50′s, Safeway would broadcast “ALL CHECKERS TO THE FRONT!”Sorry to say, customer service is now only lip service.
people are friendly and products great and resonable.
I love to shop at sam,s club to bad it does,t work to fill out a survey
I love going to sam club because theyhave great stuff for all ages, I would love to win $1000 to get my kids more presents for christmas!
sign me up for the shopping cards
I had a rasberry with sliced apples 10″ pie I bought from your store and it was very very good. I never heard of it before but it was tasty. I am going to buy another one in a few weeks. Keep up the good work. Sam’s at fm 1960 and sh249 store in houston texas.
I appreciate the help I get when I go in to the Sam’s store in cleveland oh at the customer returns area. They all are very nice. I’ve had a couple of problems and they handled it very well. I’ve come away very satisfied.
Thank you girls.
Marcia Rust
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