Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!abvax!iccgcc!herrickd
From: herrickd@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: A tirade about inefficient software & systems
Message-ID: <1622.2726e7ce@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com>
Date: 25 Oct 90 18:25:33 GMT
References: <9886@milton.u.washington.edu>
Lines: 51

In article <9886@milton.u.washington.edu>, kraig@biostr.biostr.washington.edu (Kraig Eno) writes:

[lots of good stuff about common sense in use of resources deleted]
> 
> And finally, one for the non-programmer.  Quit bellyaching!  I know one 
> company which insists on printing 1000 envelopes through a PostScript 
> printer for mass mailings.  And they complain because it doesn't work 
> well.  Of course it doesn't work well!  You are putting characters on 
> envelopes.  You don't need PostScript, you don't need a Mac, and you don't 
> need a network!  What you need is a stack of label stock, a data file, an 
> XT, and a 20-line C program.  (I had to set up the merge procedure anyhow, 
> so the C code wouldn't have cost them anything.)  Users who persist in 

"putting characters on envelopes"

Think about how you treat your mail when it comes in.  You stand over
a wastebasket and leaf through the pile.  Some stuff goes straight
into the wastebasket.  Some goes into a pile to be opened later
(never).  Some gets opened immediately.

Which of those three places does the mail with the pasted on labels
go?  How about the number ten envelopes that have your name printed
or typed or handwritten directly on the envelope?

All of the money and effort (including your consulting services) spent
on an envelope that the addressee throws directly into the wastebasket
is wasted.  If enough addressees do that with your client's mail, your
client goes out of business and you need to find a new client.

Now, what is appropriate?

If they can only afford one printer, Postscript is kind of useful.
$1500 for another printer to print envelopes might be a useful
investment, however.

A mailing of 1000 pieces is getting kind of marginal for doing
in house.  It might cost your client less to have the work done
by a lettershop.  Yellow pages under Advertising or Mail Order or
Direct Mail.  They need Direct Impression addressing.  They also
need to believe they trust the people in the lettershop.  Accomplished
by asking a lot of questions, watching them do the work, and salting
the list.

dan herrick
dlh Performance Marketing
POBox 1419
Mentor, Ohio 44061
(216)974-9637

PS.  Thanks for your tirade.  I'm going to try to use it in some
discussions I am having.