Parking Lot Card Dropping

[NeutronTech]

I don't mean to hijack this thread but I have a question for Jimbok. Why don't you upgrade memory on laptops? Laptop memory upgrades are just as easy as desktop memory upgrades. Also, why do hardware upgrades cost more than repairs? You say average time is less than two hours. Seems like a 2 hour repair is worth more money than a half hour upgrade. Seems like the services your company offers is quite restricted.

 

[mkeathley]

I would love to do this in the parking lot of Best Buy- There's one down the street (about 5 miles) from my house off the local highway, h-m-m-m, it's a tempting thought....lol

In my town Best Buy and Staples are right next to each other, they even share a wall.

Several times now while I've run to staples to buy supplies or parts or such people have stopped me because they seen the vinyl on my truck.

I've even sat in my truck a few minutes extra just to give people more of a chance..lol

Unfortunately my company trucks transmission went out a coupel weeks ago, and now I'm driving a generic truck with no signage, and no one stops me now...

 

[Graystar]

@ GrayStar - Did you have any luck with card dropping? I have been reading alot about this marketing tactic on other forums I found on a Google Search. I am starting to second guess doing this, for from what I have been reading it brings down the business, and I believe that because I know when it comes to geting crap put on my car I pretty much put about as much concern into it as I do a popup.

But nonetheless, this "core computer solutions" is just a summer experiment over my summer break from school. If it takes off it takes off if it doesn't it doesn't, this is not my career. I am just trying to see what I can do without spending a small fortune to get customers.

I didn't want to discourage you as your mileage may vary, but I never got any calls off the card drops. That is why I still have 3000 of those cards in an unopened box.

 

[Canadian Tech]

I tried putting fliers on cars at the mall and the only thing I got was a call from mall security telling me not to do that again or they would have me charged.

 

[NeutronTech]

I tried putting fliers on cars at the mall and the only thing I got was a call from mall security telling me not to do that again or they would have me charged.

lol. I almost choked on my donut.

 

[MTech]

Me too :-o. My opinion on this stems from what I believe is the general mentality of this sort of advertising in my area (west coast, vancouver): Most people believe that it's simply trash, and throw it away.
On top of that, littering is fairly strongly punished in my area, and also the fact that almost everyone in my area is of the mindset that they want most of the time to 'find' their advertising, and not have it 'found' for them.

 

[bsd13]

In my town Best Buy and Staples are right next to each other, they even share a wall.

Several times now while I've run to staples to buy supplies or parts or such people have stopped me because they seen the vinyl on my truck.

I've even sat in my truck a few minutes extra just to give people more of a chance..lol

Unfortunately my company trucks transmission went out a coupel weeks ago, and now I'm driving a generic truck with no signage, and no one stops me now...

A friend/competitor does this same thing. He parks his truck with the advertising wrap on it about 600 yards away from the best buy and the staples and everyone going to and from those stores sees him. He goes out at 8am with coffee, newspaper, and a notebook (paper not pc). Within an hour to an hour and a half he's got 3 days of work booked. Just goes back every few days when he needs more work.

Since I've moved from the area he works in I'm considering doing it now as well just to test it out and see how it goes.

 

[SThompson86]

Yea I scraped this idea after checking with the City Dept Ordinances.

Nonetheless, I did take a test run yesterday evening trying out another tactic. I got some Scotch tape, and about 50 of my business cards and just took out walking through my neighborhood taping my card to the door on mailboxes. I know its a mail box but along with people cramming stuff between the flag and the box it is a common thing to happen around here . I felt better about doing this than randomly slopping cards on cars in parking lots.

 

[SThompson86]

A friend/competitor does this same thing. He parks his truck with the advertising wrap on it about 600 yards away from the best buy and the staples and everyone going to and from those stores sees him. He goes out at 8am with coffee, newspaper, and a notebook (paper not pc). Within an hour to an hour and a half he's got 3 days of work booked. Just goes back every few days when he needs more work.

That is awesome! I love that idea mainly because he is scalping customers from the slop squad

 

[Canadian Tech]

lol. I almost choked on my donut.

lmao..yeah I almost choked too when he told me that. Needless to say I won't be doing that again.

 

[bsd13]

Yea I scraped this idea after checking with the City Dept Ordinances.

Nonetheless, I did take a test run yesterday evening trying out another tactic. I got some Scotch tape, and about 50 of my business cards and just took out walking through my neighborhood taping my card to the door on mailboxes. I know its a mail box but along with people cramming stuff between the flag and the box it is a common thing to happen around here . I felt better about doing this than randomly slopping cards on cars in parking lots.

It's a federal offense to use the US postal system to deliver "mail" without sending it through properly (ie through the system with postage). Just saying be careful. I know it's common but you can get in trouble. I've been talked to about it

 

[onederlnd]

It's a federal offense to use the US postal system to deliver "mail" without sending it through properly (ie through the system with postage). Just saying be careful. I know it's common but you can get in trouble. I've been talked to about it

I could be wrong but I believe it's only illegal if you put something inside the mailbox without going through the mail system. Attaching it to the box or anywhere outside of it is not illegal... again, could be wrong.

[EDIT] After looking into it, it does seem to be illegal. You can be heavily fined if the Postmaster gets complaints against you so I wouldn't suggest attaching it anywhere on the mailbox. Apparently the Postal Service controls the entire mailbox, inside and out. [/EDIT]

 

[Elemdee]

...and from a consumer's point of view, having business cards taped to my box is just as annoying as all the other flyers that get stuffed into the newspaper slot. I just throw it all away.

 

[hardtoremember]

On my Scion xB I put magnet business cards in very obvious areas, I'm always surprised how many people take.

BRILLIANT! What a magnificent idea!

BTW I throw away anything that gets put on my car. I just feel like someone is littering on my car!

 

[donte10]

I feel your money could be put into better ways of advertising/marketing. If if you have time to spare, try walking around to other businesses and introducing yourself to them. Remember, go to the businesses you would like to service. - Make if fun!

 

[bsd13]

I could be wrong but I believe it's only illegal if you put something inside the mailbox without going through the mail system. Attaching it to the box or anywhere outside of it is not illegal... again, could be wrong.

[EDIT] After looking into it, it does seem to be illegal. You can be heavily fined if the Postmaster gets complaints against you so I wouldn't suggest attaching it anywhere on the mailbox. Apparently the Postal Service controls the entire mailbox, inside and out. [/EDIT]

Yep. I found out the hard way and specifically asked about attaching it to the outside using a rubber band or string.

 

[bsd13]

I feel your money could be put into better ways of advertising/marketing. If if you have time to spare, try walking around to other businesses and introducing yourself to them. Remember, go to the businesses you would like to service. - Make if fun!

+1000 nothing beats building a personal relationship with businesses in your area.

 

[JustMe]

I could be wrong but I believe it's only illegal if you put something inside the mailbox without going through the mail system. Attaching it to the box or anywhere outside of it is not illegal... again, could be wrong.

[EDIT] After looking into it, it does seem to be illegal. You can be heavily fined if the Postmaster gets complaints against you so I wouldn't suggest attaching it anywhere on the mailbox. Apparently the Postal Service controls the entire mailbox, inside and out. [/EDIT]

Yup. Wife works for the postal service and if any of the carriers see that on the box and brings them back to the station, you WILL be getting a call from the postmaster. The only people who can legally touch the mailbox is the USPS letter carrier and the home owner of the mailbox.

 

[RegEdit]

Newspaper add: Too expensive per week 0 turn over.

0 jobs after 4 weeks of ads for me too.
There were also 5 others advertising computer repair in my local paper too. So I was also competing with 5 others.

 

[SThompson86]

0 jobs after 4 weeks of ads for me too.
There were also 5 others advertising computer repair in my local paper too. So I was also competing with 5 others.

Thats no fun, but atleast you know now.