Deceptive Marketing

We recently registered our retail business, filed the appropriate paperwork, and as expected, was bombarded with advertising mailers. It’s not so bad – just throw the ones you don’t like in the trash. But then we started receiving the “government letter look-a-like” advertising mailers. Being an experienced admin, I’ve received many of these advertising mailers in disguise. Most of them will have something like, “not a government letter” or something similar, but there are some that are a bit harder to distinguish.

Last week, we received a letter that’s supposedly from the United States Trademark office. It’s official-looking, with their logo, that looks very much like an official government seal on the envelope, and the paper was watermarked with the same logo as well. The letter read:

“This is not a random notice. This notice was sent because one of the following has occurred:

- Change to the federal register – The name was registered. Status is abandoned/expired
- An abnormality was found in a pending application
- Another company has registered a similar name, claiming the exclusive right to use the name

Please contact this office for more information about your business name or complete the back of this form and an agent will contact you.

To contact United States Trademark call:
(888) 250-USTM (8786). Mon-Fri 9:00am – 5:00pm PST
Please have notice number available.”

I had my doubts, but since I was busy with work, I didn’t really have the time to research it. After nagging Jon endlessly to take care of it and call them, he finally called them today. It turns out that they’re a private service company, USTM, and this was just their marketing ploy.

Part of the phone conversation goes:
Jon: Just to clarify, the name is available and we can use it, and you’re offering your services to trademark it for us.
USTM: Yes, that’s correct.

Businesses who do this should realize that they’re just turning off potential clients. Instead of building trust, they’re deceiving people through their marketing practices. Never will we use their service.

Anime-Expo 2009

I just happened upon this OCTA bus on the way home from work last Friday, and what do you know — it’s an Anime Expo 2009 ad at the back of it.

I’ve missed practically every other anime convention this year, but I’m not missing this one. Been preparing for it since January so I’m more than ready to go.

Only one more month away. So excited… doki doki~ waku waku~