W all know by now how to avoid the Covid-19 germ, I hope. Surely, I’m not the only one who has been bombarded with many emails from businesses and services regarding the bug.  Cearwash companies, supermarkets, banks, and even online businesses are telling us that they are concerned. There’s that unwritten marketing rule that says take advantage of any situation to have a reason to reach out to your customer base. 

A large majority of the emails I have received all sound the same.  They must be using a template or copying and pasting from emails they have received.

Here’s one from Costco:

“We are introducing rigorous additional cleaning procedures, and are increasing the number of wipes, hand sanitizers, and other cleaning materials available at check-outs and throughout our stores for associates and customers to use. We’ve also suspended all in-store food sampling events during this time.”

Shouldn’t they, and all businesses for that matter, have had rigorous cleaning procedures in place long before this? And it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know those check-outs are germ infested?  As far as the food sampling event . . . it’s about time.  They cause bottle necks at the end of every aisle even though they are “feeding the hungry & greedy.”

 Oh, this is a good one all businesses should definitely put in place, even after the pandemic is over:

We’re taking sensible steps to help protect our team of associates. This means fewer meetings, limiting travel, and making it easier for our people to take the time they need to care for themselves or their families in the event they are directly affected by COVID-19.

 The following sentence is really part of “customer service” and should be the goal of every business.

We are working around the clock to ensure our customers have access to the products they want and need, especially items that keep their families safe and well. We are also making it easier to find the products and are monitoring new developments so that we can quickly adapt and continue to provide the products you need and the best possible experience in-store and online.

When 2 brothers from Tennessee bought over 17,000 bottles of hand sanitizer with the express purpose of selling them for ridiculous prices, the red flag should have popped up. The following sentence is better late than never. 

We have implemented limits on certain purchases so that everyone has an opportunity to obtain in-demand items when available.

It’s human nature, unfortunately, for some to take advantage of horrible situations to line their own pockets.  Most people are not like that, but the despicables are.