Your marketing plan is none of my concern
Further to this post about the horrible use of the word consumer, Terry Heaton touches on the icky way people use the word brand. To those people I say: Knock it off, please.
This reminds me of a current mini-drama in my life, with the owners of my apartment building. I’ve been trying to get them to fix a problem with my apartment since March, and it’s still not resolved. (In short: There are noxious fumes entering my apartment 24/7. These fumes smell like trash, and it is suspected that they are originating in the building’s trash room. That has yet to be confirmed. Meanwhile, my apartment stinks, which means a deeply unpleasant work and living environment, and a real hassle when I want to have people over in order to mask the smell as much as possible.) I’m paying $1580 a month in rent, which is top dollar when it comes to downtown Cincinnati - and I always pay my rent early. For that price I should not have a four-month saga of stench still ongoing.
Three weeks ago, the property manager (who has been friendly throughout this ordeal) said to me that if the problem wasn’t fixed within a week or two, we could discuss transferring me to another unit in this building or terminating my lease. Ten days ago, he sent me an email in which he stated:
I wouldn’t dream of allowing you to move from our building as folks like you are EXACTLY who we are marketing to.
Frankly, it’s not my problem who they are trying to “market to”. If they put as much energy into trying to retain a good customer who’s here now as they are into “marketing to” the general public, maybe my apartment wouldn’t smell like garbage. But to talk about marketing to me, the customer, as if it’s my concern is just sort of astonishing and weird. I don’t care. Who would?
It’s also pretty creepy to talk about “allowing” me to move, as if I’m a hostage, but that’s another puzzle for another time.
Filed under: Life
We’ve traced the call… It’s coming from inside the building. Get out!!!!
Just in case that makes no sense to you.
I LOVED that movie when I was a kid. Creepy!
I’ve lived in my apartment for 10 years. I’m quiet, pay my rent on time and I never ask for anything - for instance, a repainting of my flat, even though according to New Jersey law that’s required every 3 years.
I arrived back from a business trip last year to a small puddle on my kitchen floor, near the sink. I opened up the cabinets, and lo and behold, a slow but steady leak (cheap plastic washer) had caused a slow and steady puddling inside the cabinets, which were soaked through and warped (particle board and laminate). Neither door would close properly.
I called the manager to tell her what happened and that the cabinets now needed replacing. Her response was to replace the washer, and re-hang the doors so they “sort of” closed. I asked that the cabinets be replaced again - she said she’d check with the landlord (a corporation, not individual, just like yours). Reply: Nope. I told her that if I moved out tomorrow, I knew they would replace the cabinets themselves before leasing to a new tenant since a) they were a decade old and b) DAMAGED. Her answer: But you’re not moving out. My retort: Why was a hypothetical new tenant worthy of cabinets, while a flesh-and-blood current tenant not worthy?
This went back and forth for about 10 days, with me trying to negotiate in good faith.
Finally, I called my family solicitor. He told me to write a letter to the landlord corporation, explain the situation, mention that my attorney had informed me that the cabinets were now a *mold* risk, and cc him on the letter.
Result? Brand spanking-new cabinets.
Now, every time I hear the words “frivolous lawsuit” (which does happen, as certain DC dry cleaners could tell you) I want to explain that, unfortunately, attorneys are usually the only tactic that seems to focus your adversary’s mind on your problem.
Well done, Shotrock! I am holding off on mentioning my lawyer, because I really don’t want things to get nasty unless absolutely necessary; my threshold for drama isn’t what it used to be. At this point, I just want out of this place.
Not to minimize your problem but this is a common problem (getting your landlord to fix what should be a simple issue), ask any of the ignored homeless, un/under-employed or anyone struggling to make ends meet.
It does surprise me because $ make a difference in getting issues resolved. I had a lot more to write but then I deleted it as it’s not pertinent to this topic.
Good luck…