Attorney Michael de Broglio on: South Africa, Law, Politics, Attorneys, Sport, Photography, Technology, Gadgets, Media, Crime, Road Accidents Fund,
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I must say that the automatic birthday wishes that one now gets from a variety of companies are unnecessary and meaningless. To get an automated e-mail from a company, wishing one happy birthday, seems to me to be a bit meaningless. I received a whole series of automatic e-mails from a variety of companies recently, all wishing me happy birthday and the only ones that had any meaning to me were those that were written to me either by staff members, family or friends. I don’t want to receive an e-mail from my mobile phone company, wishing me happy birthday, unless it is coming with a nice free phone and I don’t want to receive the same sort of e-mails from insurance companies, brokers, etc because they are not telling me anything that is of any relevance to me about my account with them and it is not in any way personal.
I think before one has computers simply sending out e-mails to a whole batch of clients you need to make sure that it is informative and relevant to them or contains something of interest to them. To simply have a computer at a mobile phone company or at a cellular provider wishing me happy birthday is not a thrill. Maybe I am just too grumpy – do you get happy when you receive those automated e-mails? I would certainly be a lot happier if there was some sort of incentive or little token attached to it – a R100,00 off a birthday month account, for example or maybe even something less by R20,00, but to just get an automated e-mail does not come across as anything sincere.
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Friday 12-Aug-16
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Comments
Nicolle said:
on Tuesday 04-Oct-16 04:20 PM
There are two types of people in this world. 1. The ones who are Birthday Junkies and thrive off of the attention and affection they receive on their birthdays because suddenly, the whole world need to make you and your birthday their number one priority; and 2. The people who aren't birthday junkies and who allows the day to fade away as painlessly as possible.
For the birthday junkies, an automated, nonessential and mostly dull birthday message would add joy to their day.
For the non-birthday junkies, an automated, nonessential and dull birthday message is an unpleasant nonsensical interruption in their otherwise ordinary day.
tersia said:
on Monday 03-Oct-16 09:00 AM
It makes me happy when I get an SMS from John Dory's for example saying I get a meal up to an amount free for my Birthday or I can get a free DVD from the DVD shop - not that we watch DVD's anymore but it's the thought that counts! The rest is useless to me as they do not give me anything, I do feel the same about it!
daria said:
on Wednesday 28-Sep-16 10:15 AM
Those messages don't bother me, it would be nice to get a voucher of course but a birthday message is still nice.
Nicky said:
on Tuesday 23-Aug-16 12:20 PM
I love my birthday so any wish for me will do.
Sally said:
on Friday 19-Aug-16 04:51 PM
I don't like birthdays as it is, and to get a message from someone that is not close family or not even a real person is annoying. But on the other hand if the birthday was loaded by a real person onto the system and not the computer it self then that person got a job and could feed his family.
Zanell said:
on Thursday 18-Aug-16 04:05 PM
I don't mind them, maybe if I received more than 5 I would get a bit annoyed.
Jessica Apfel said:
on Thursday 18-Aug-16 01:01 PM
An incentive is always appealing, but I do enjoy recieving those automated messages. I think it is just a way of showing customers that the bug companies are not far removed from their clients.
Cornelie said:
on Thursday 18-Aug-16 12:16 PM
I always feel special doesn't matter if it is a notification on Facebook that everyone now suddenly remembers its my birthday or a computer, it is the effort that went into the message being loaded.
Prishani said:
on Thursday 18-Aug-16 11:38 AM
I agree automatic birthday wishes are a complete waste of time because they are meaningless and no employee of that company though of you on that specific day, if they really wanted to make it meaningful and thank customers/clients for their loyalty they should rather give some sort of an incentive instead.
tamzyn said:
on Thursday 18-Aug-16 08:26 AM
It doesn't really bother me - atleast someone put in a bit of effort loading my birthday on to the system in the first place.
Natasha said:
on Wednesday 17-Aug-16 09:42 AM
If it is automatic birthday wish it is meaningless it only means that the person cant remember your birthday or they simply don't care ,so what they do is send you an email so you think they care about you but meantime its just a computer thinking about you not even the person I don't like it at all
Henrietta said:
on Wednesday 17-Aug-16 09:05 AM
I hate birthday wishes like this, its not personal and its annoying. I was brought up that if it's the birthday of immediate family or really close friends you phone them even a message is not personal in this case unless its someone you know a typed birthday wish is always appreciated.
Jessica M said:
on Monday 15-Aug-16 09:13 AM
I agree with you it's of no importance to me to receive such messages from these places. It's not like they even know who I am. I am just a number to them.
Jolene said:
on Friday 12-Aug-16 04:56 PM
It doesnt bother me too much but it is really pointless.
Joyce said:
on Friday 12-Aug-16 04:47 PM
I think the automatic birthday wishes are not nice. Today's Blog reminds me of the staff manual(frequently asked questions by difficult clients) I feel like I am just being treated like a number and this is just a process that you go through
Liesl said:
on Friday 12-Aug-16 04:27 PM
It really doesn't bother me at all. What I do hate is all the "junk" smses one is constantly plagued with trying to sell their service to you
Kaylee said:
on Friday 12-Aug-16 04:10 PM
I wish I didn't get emails in general nevermind automated emails. vomit. What a waste of time and quite frankly even facebook message wishing me happy birthday are meaningless. If you are my friend you would pick up the phone and wish me or come to my birthday party. I agree with Angelique that the Sorbet messages are awesome because of the discount!
Mathilda said:
on Friday 12-Aug-16 03:32 PM
Its pointless and annoying
Of course if there was discount or percentage off something going with that sms/email I wont mind
Daniella said:
on Friday 12-Aug-16 02:25 PM
its all about advertising and to seem like they care, its a great way to market but it is rather irrelavent
Safia said:
on Friday 12-Aug-16 02:22 PM
the world has become superficial anyway, everybody is obsessed with "busyness". we do not even visit each other for a simple cup of tea, we do not know our neighbors and when we run out of salt we dont pop in to their house to borrow some, the neighbor will have a panic attack or something if you show up on her door step.
everybody is "busy" and there is no time to remember someones names, lives or birthdays for real, not with the reminder on the phone.
Lucretia said:
on Friday 12-Aug-16 12:43 PM
I don't really care too much about them. As long as this does not start happening from friends and family. I actually had a friend once tell me that he is able to set something on his phone to send automatic messages. The only thing I will set on my phone is an automatic reminder so I can physically personalize my message.
Angelique P said:
on Friday 12-Aug-16 11:51 AM
It doesn't bother me most of the time I only open the message and delete it.
I am only interested in messages and phone calls from my family and friends they are the people that makes your Birthday special.
Suzanne said:
on Friday 12-Aug-16 10:32 AM
This does not bother me at all! I don't think I ever get tired of reading "Happy Birthday" on my birthday - even if it is from an automated system.
Brenda Du Toit said:
on Friday 12-Aug-16 10:19 AM
I agree this Automatic birthday wishes is only to keep customers and there is nothing good about it its meaningless.
Latoya said:
on Friday 12-Aug-16 10:08 AM
From my point of view this whole automatic birthday sms idea is just a waste of time knowing its being comprised and not done out of the goodness of your heart I must also say I agree with Thabitha that they only do it to keep the customers.
Latoya said:
on Friday 12-Aug-16 10:08 AM
From my point of view this whole automatic birthday sms idea is just a waste of time knowing its being comprised and not done out of the goodness of your heart I must also say I agree with Thabitha that they only do it to keep the customers.
Angelique Jurgens said:
on Friday 12-Aug-16 09:26 AM
If there's one company I enjoy getting birthday messages from it's Sorbet! I am a big fan of Sorbet because I often wax there every month and occasionally get a facial or do my nails once in a while. On your birthday you get 50% off whatever you spend there valid in your birthday month. It's a huge deal because it's costly being a girl :) and is a major treat. Besides that you also earn loyalty points and can use them even in your birthday month. I do not get happy or appreciate other companies sending me birthday messages because like you say it is meaningless and is just sent automatically. Personally if those automated smses are all you get on your birthday and get excited for those, then perhaps its time to invest more time with family and friends.
Clare said:
on Friday 12-Aug-16 09:15 AM
I get automatic Birthday wishes from my Movie Shop and then I get a Free Movie. I love it. But I do agree that they are a waste of Time and meaningless because its not coming from someone you love more like something you pay. We more then likely pay for those messages as well.
Thabitha said:
on Friday 12-Aug-16 09:13 AM
To me they are meaningless I don't even look at them, they just want to keep their customer that's all
Juliet said:
on Friday 12-Aug-16 09:06 AM
I also receive them on my birthday and I do not mind them because it is nice to hear/read Happy Birthday over and over on your actual birthday. One thing I do not like is the constant smses from funeral/insurance/shops about sales etc and it doesn't matter if I reply OUT they still get sent eg Jo Borkett please stop smsing me!!!!
Alexis said:
on Friday 12-Aug-16 09:00 AM
It is very stupid and irritating to receive these. Though some will offer you a discount. I know Sorbet gives you half price for the month of you birthday. That would be fine. But just a simple wish, I suppose the thought is there - but ja
charlotte said:
on Friday 12-Aug-16 08:59 AM
Automated messages do not have any impact on me. It is a general message going out to hundreds of people saying the same thing. It if was more specific and more personal, it would have made a difference. I also like personal messages more than a general message.
Bianca said:
on Friday 12-Aug-16 08:55 AM
It honestly doesn't phase me whether I get computer generated sms messages wishing me for my birthday, one plus is that you know whichever service provider has your date of birth right haha!
Lourien said:
on Friday 12-Aug-16 08:55 AM
Automatic Birthday Wishes are nice when you start reading them, until you realise that no effort has gone in typing the message the first place and yes, if its a company rather add some free airtime or a free gift, discount or a free coffee since its your birthday other wise the birthday wish is meaningless. I would much rather receive a message from people I know :)
Sinead said:
on Friday 12-Aug-16 08:53 AM
Personal I think those messages are so annoying. I couldn't agree with you more. Even if they can give you a R100 voucher or extra minutes or data then cool... I don't see why they feel they need to send those unnecessary messages that are just computer generated anyway.
Brenda van den Bergh said:
on Friday 12-Aug-16 08:53 AM
I have to agree that the only birthday messages that are really special and meaningful are the ones you receive from people who are a part of your life. There is absolutely nothing special about receiving a birthday wish from a service provider as it is just another tool to keep customers, and it is in no way sincere. To be honest, I actually get disappointed when I receive those messages as one generally only expects to receive messages from loved ones.
brumilde said:
on Friday 12-Aug-16 08:50 AM
I see it as spam. i also get smses from other companies. i just delete, no point in reading it even. Maybe a nice ooh we will discount you 50% on your payments this month on your birthday month or something.
Sarah said:
on Friday 12-Aug-16 08:29 AM
I agree it is not personal coming from a computer generated system. Why can't they call you or send an sms saving you got 10% off or something like that?
Zindy said:
on Friday 12-Aug-16 07:58 AM
So true, I also get these birthday reminders its quiet comical. Thanks for the wish its a good gesture coming from a computer generated system :)
Johannesburg based attorney specializing in personal injury matters including Road Accident Fund claims and medical negligence matters. My interests include golf, reading and the internet and the way it is constantly developing. I have a passion for life and a desire for less stress!
