On Saturday I was at a party to celebrate the fact that my mother has become a sexagenarian when, in the middle of all the revelries, my phone buzzed with a text message.
Now, Saturday nights off are a rarity so I naturally assumed that the text would be from the pub saying something like: "have we got any more CO2 gas?" or "I can't find another bottle of vodka, what should I do?", but instead it was from Sky Business and it said: "Don't miss out on a great weekend of sport. Call us to resubscribe!"
Only two days before this I had received a call from Sky offering me a deal to switch the sports packages back on. The offer was £249.00, including VAT. For the full Ultimate package. For two weeks.
I had really hoped I wouldn't write another blog on Sky. I, like so many other licensees, have said my piece; some of us have put pen to paper and words in the press, many others have simply cancelled our contracts.
In return, Sky have said their piece too. Which pretty much went something like: "we don't actually care."
Now, it seems, they do. On my desk this morning, for example, is some junk mail that arrived through the letter box from Sky, telling me all about their great sports coverage, with three large A2-sized posters, one of which boasts about watching the Ryder Cup in 3D.
But when I asked the telesales caller what would happen at the end of my £249.00-for-two-weeks offer, his response was that Sky would get switched off again. Or would return to its normal value of £620.17 per month including VAT. Whichever I would prefer.
The reason I, like so many others, decided not to continue my agreement with Sky was not because I didn't like it, but because it was simply too blooming expensive and wasn't returning any positive benefit to my business.
What is most irksome, however, was that during my time with Sky they were not interested in any comments about it being too expensive and weren't interested in offering any help in trying to garner more business.
But since I've cancelled the contract because it had become too expensive and they'd taken away channels I was previously receiving, they seem to be rolling all over themselves to see if they can get me to come back. I assume they are doing the same with others...
If I was being honest, were Sky to offer me the Ultimate package at £249 including VAT per month, I would give it serious consideration. I might even be able to turn that in to a viable business proposition; £249 for just two weeks, or £620.17 a month, I can't.
But as they either can't, or won't, I've got to ask: please stop marketing to me with unviable propositions. When you have one that's sensible, give me a call. I'd love to talk to you about it.
(PS: Happy birthday, mum.)