Form of media: Credit Card Newsletters
When thinking of a new form of media that I don’t really look at, I considered bus advertisements that I pass in the city or the obnoxious neon advertisements that cover the commuter buses that really just hurt your eyes to look at. But then, there was a suggestion of credit card newsletters… Credit Card newsletters? What the heck is that? A simple google search provided me with the truth… and a quick response of ‘Are they serious?’ Do people really sign up for this stuff?
I couldn’t believe that credit card newsletters even existed. The last thing Americans need is another form of media overwhelming them with credit information. The average American has nine thousand dollars in credit card debt as it is PER YEAR. Once I calmed down after the shock that these even existed, I read what the subscription website offered. http://www.creditcards.com/newsletter.php. It shows VISA/MASTERCARD/DISCOVER/AMERICAN EXPRESS as supporters of this website and ‘If you would like to receive our free credit cards newsletter please fill out the following form. This free newsletter features some of the best deals on credit cards along with helpful tips, articles and news about credit cards.’
I considered joining the newsletter just to see what the newsletter looks like as an email, but reconsidered for fear of being spammed everyday by loans and credit cards and ‘low interest rates’ and financial advisors. I dread opening the mail everytime I go home because there are at least six credit card offers. I need a place to sign where I can say stop sending me credit card offers, just like you can stop telemarketers from calling you.
I have to admit its pretty creative, (in a twisted and unfortunate kind of way for most of society), advertising departments have found yet another way to sucker Americans into spending more money. I can just imagine someone opening the credit card newsletter and saying,’Oh, thats a much lower interest rate then what I currently have, I need this new card!’ The problem is that people would spend more, thinking that because they have a low interest rate. Unfortunately, they can’t afford to be spending any money to begin with, and the credit card debt is partly responsible for our current economic situation.
Then comes the question of what should be done if credit card newsletters are so bad. Yet again, I unfortunately don’t think there is an effective way to fully eliminate the situation. The problem is based on people’s lack of strength of turning down more credit and curbing their spending habits when they can’t pay the bill. Which is why credit card newsletters changed their message to include ‘helpful tips.’ I am sure the ‘helpful tips’ are the same information that can be found on a free website online without having to deal with the temptation of more credit cards. I think I missed it before because whenever I receive credit card offers in the mail I simply throw them in the shredder. I glaze over the initial letter to make sure there is nothing legal, and then just toss it in the pile. If the advertisement doesn’t apply to me, I’m not interested. If I don’t need it, I’m not interested. Unless its offensive or interesting or newsworthy, I generally don’t even consider the information worth my time.
