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A clock/thermometer/humidity meter – a gift from a vineyard in Bordeaux.
A tool set and table grill – a gift from a furniture store and more numbers through the post for “votre petite cadeaux” - to encourage us to visit this or that Salée de ??????
Why, one has to wonder, is it so complicated for the French to get a grip of marketing? And does it work?
Don’t get me wrong – I am delighted with the presents – the clock is an ideal addition to our summer kitchen where knowing the humidity I have found invaluable – but was it really worth the travelling and time for the chap who drove from Bordeaux to give me my present? And whilst he was at the house might it have been a good idea to let us taste the wine?
When that happened I thought it was a one off until a long and involved phone call from a very fast talking lady told me that, with my wife, I should visit a new furniture store and pick up my present – and would I copy down this number?
Well why not!. It was pretty obvious where the shop was as people were pouring out carrying piles of presents. Silly me – who thought it was a con – I had won two presents. Was this we asked “a good promotion”? Oh yes we have seen 300 people already today. “Did they buy any furniture”? No Monsieur but they will, they will.
This morning whilst pondering the meaning of life I have had 7 calls – true most were “we happen to be in your area today and could check, for free, your roof, double glazing, pipe work, ant infestations, water quality and whether it is time to buy a new pair of shoes. The latter one might be a miss-translation - the caller spoke so fast!
But as of 11.00 we had 4 “special numbers” for this week’s event to go to one village or another to visit the salle ??? or the foyer ??? or even the camion in the car park. I have no idea what I will win on any of these visits – but it’s a chance to visit some lovely village, talk French with an enthusiast for double glazing, or pool alarms with the bonus of the mystery gift.
Fearless in searching and reporting the whole marketing business over here I decided to go. (Writer leaves to research at this point.)
Having just returned from my marketing treasure hunt – it was not like that at all. For one thing the Salle Municipal is new and therefore unsigned and so it was with a sense of mounting excitement that I joined the queue of cars stopping from time to time to get directions. Like a good conga at an English ball the tail was for ever growing longer and longer all following blindly with hopes high.
The object of the search – from the common opinion of all who decided to park up – was it the building on the right – or the left – neither had a sign.
With a degree of trepidation I followed the line of people – all being admitted after giving the magic code. But something was not going well for me – I could see that from the body language. No Sir – the code is fine it’s just that…………
Where was my wife? She has a sore throat – great consternation – had I thought of taking her to the Doctor – or the other person on the door suggested a pharmacy? No well it wasn’t that severe – a great black cloud lifted from the couple of door keepers.- she will be alright then? But you can’t come in if you are not a couple. Here I admit to the advantage of height as I looked over the couples heads into the room and they realised that at 1 foot shorter they could not block my view of the lines of full chairs all facing a huge table complete with red cloth and covered it seemed with bottles of wine and shiny table ware.
Clearly being alone was not to be acceptable – it’s the rules Sir! So disconsolate I turned to leave – not so fast – come over here – there is something for you. I have to say the bottle of Bordeaux wine looked good as did the 3 pots of assorted confit which I carried out with me.
But what it was for, who they were and what they were selling was then and is now as I have no brochure or card or explanation – a great mystery.
It is marketing Jim – but not as we know it.
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