Bank of America(n Drivers)
I generally don’t expect much customer service from banks. I should expect much less from Bank of America.
My former landlord just sent me a rental deposit refund drawn on his bank, Bank of America. Because the check was made out to me and my girlfriend, who don’t own a joint account, I visited the local West Seattle BOA branch on Alaska to cash the check.
I was informed there would be a $6 “convenience charge” for me to cash the check. That’s not very convenient; that’s outrageous.
Two employees intervened that this fee is typical. Well, it is NOT typical. I called my financial institution, Verity Credit Union, which confirmed that, indeed, they would cash any check drawn from Verity for a non-Verity customer…for NO FEE!
Of course, I was already in a bad mood since the morning-shift teller turned me away at the drive-thru because I was riding a bicycle (the drive-thru opens one hour earlier than the branch, but apparently is open only to car-driving BOA customers). Sorry bicyclists and pedestrians.
Bank of America drives away customers while serving drivers only.
Change of Address
Worldwide Corporate HQ for Marketing By Marlow has relocated from Ballard, Washington to West Seattle. Please note our new address:
6047 42nd Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98136
Officially known as “Fairmount Springs,” our new neighborhood is known more by its proximity to Morgan Junction, and perhaps Beveridge Place Pub, our new favorite drinking establishment.
According to 2000 U.S. Census data:
- Median age of our neighbors is 40
- Average household size is 2
- Median household income is $49,338
- 82% of our neighbors live in homes without children
- 50.5% are married; 27.9% are single; 14.9% are divorced; and 6.7% are widowed
- 60% of residents own their homes, while 35% rent (5% are unoccupied)
- 80% of the workforce is white collar; 20% is blue collar
We’d like to thank our real estate attorney, Scott Scher, and professional appraiser, Dave Watkins, who assisted us in representing ourselves as buyers. We chose NOT to finance through Countrywide – opting instead for our local nonprofit financial institution, Verity Credit Union.
You can reach us at the same land line (206.784.5454), provided conveniently by Comcast.
Social Networking
Visit University City High School Alumni
You’ve heard of Facebook and MySpace. Well now you can “Create your own social networks” with Ning. My alma mater, University City High School, recently started a ning-powered social networking site.
2007 Consumer Email Snapshot (from StatWatch)
Email statistics presented by JupiterResearch vice president David Daniels, at the Email Insider Summit in Park City, Utah, Dec. 2007:
How Do Online Consumers Spend Their Time?
87%: Read email
70%: Search for information
64%: Do search
60%: Shop
37%: Use instant messaging
Email Usage
274: Average number of personal emails weekly
304 : Average number of business emails weekly
26%: Opt-in email campaigns as percentage of total inbox email
74% : Email users with 2 email accounts
18%: Email users who use mobile devices to sort email
Unsubscribing Behavior
53%: Say email is irrelevant
40%: Say email comes too often
26%: Unsubscribe using spam button
Staffing by Marlow
Through April, while MJ Kelly is on maternity leave, I’m filling in as “interim marketing communications manager” for Cascade Bicycle Club. In my part-time marcom role, I manage the member newsletter (Cascade Courier), the Bike Club websites, and public relations through Richmond PR.
You might find me in February at Chilly Hilly or in March at the Group Health Seattle Bike Expo. Meanwhile, keep reading my monthly Cyclist of the Month column in the Courier.
Make the Logo BIGGER (.mp3)
As a marketer, I focus more on communications and development than issues like branding and design. Still, I appreciate professional design, particularly when form follows function. That’s why I love CreativeTech’s Make The Logo BIGGER .mp3 song.