Mrs. Robin, Portland
Age and Occupation: 26, Client Services Coordinator
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Professional Poker Play/Options Trader
Engagement Date: September 5, 2007
Wedding Date: January 5, 2008
Blogging Since: November 2, 2007
Venue: Portland Armory
About Me: I am a wine-loving, earring-obsessed foodie who lives in Portland, OR. I design jewelry as a hobby and love to shop for jeans, shoes, and vintage furniture. I am a crazy mix of modern and traditional values, and I can't wait to marry my best friend and see where God will lead our lives together.
The Wedding Show Sponsor Is Stalking Me
November 8th, 2007 @ 9:25 am by Mrs. Robin
It seemed innocent enough. Go to wedding show last weekend, enter contests, see if you win, and while you do that search for a florist or at least floral ideas. Right?
Apparently not.
Not even four hours after departing the wedding show I get a call from the show sponsor saying that I have won some toasting glasses and a hotel stay for two nights. Well hooray… oh wait.
Because then the kind lady says that to get these “prizes” Mr. Robin and I will have to show up at a cooking demonstration at this particular time (Monday night) and in this particular place (all the way across town). And the longer she talks the more it sounds like a timeshare presentation. Not that I am knocking them - when Mr. Robin and I were in Mazatlan pre-engagement, we went to an awesome timeshare presentation for a resort and received $150 in restaurant credit (to amazing gourment places) and $100 cash. Plus french toast!
But I decided that I didn’t want to go to one for wedding stuff. I knew they would just try to sell us stuff we didn’t need, and Mr. Robin and I are so trying to make this a celebration of the people we love. Not a time to buy a deluxe, limited edition, lifetime guaranteed china set. We would rather take the $$ and go to Argentina and work on a vineyard for Crush for a honeymoon. We are weird like that.
But they won’t leave me alone! We didn’t show up Monday, so the lady called and left a message Tuesday morning about coming on Tuesday night. Well obviously we didn’t show up… and I have received two more messages since, one sad, and one starting to sound annoyed. But both persistant.
We aren’t coming, sorry.
Has anyone else had a similar experience after attending a bridal show?
28 Responses to “The Wedding Show Sponsor Is Stalking Me”
YES — I went to two and now people won’t stop calling me!! I don’t mind the mail because at least I can just throw it out, but it’s very aggravating when you get messages and calls from “unknown.”
I don’t know how to get off of their lists!!
I got a similar call after attending a show last weekend. I’m suppose to go tonight, as if…. Luckily tonight is the last night. They called me Monday to get me to come and they called yesterday to remind me and tell me what room I am suppose to go to.
The same thing happend to me. I must have gotten on their list through David’s Bridal (that’s all I can figure since I haven’t been to any shows). I finally answered and talked with them. Asked for the catch and when they started explaining I politely told them we weren’t interested, said goodbye and hung up. I haven’t heard anything since. Sounds like I was lucky though!
I totally fell for that one. The Mr and I even signed up to buy a $600 ELECTRIC SKILLET!!! We were totally brainwashed because as soon as we left we were like ‘what the hell did we just do’ and we called and cancelled our order.
That was some good grilled chicken though….
DO NOT GO!!!! it’s a trap. i heard horror stories from friends that they charged their credit cards in a insane amount and they deliver stuff to you without your consent, and if you don’t want it you send it back. but when you send it back they won’t accept it!!! don’t fall for it.
i got the same phone calls every week till after our wedding!
YES! I have learned to not use my fave email address or ph numbers when filling that stuff out b/c they are all stalkers!
We had the same thing happen to us after a bridal show! I finally had to yell at them and tell them that since they were calling me on my cell phone, that was an illegal marketing call and I threatened to report them to the Federal Trade Commission. Even if they’re calling you on a regular land line, you can still sign up for the Do Not Call list. What they’re doing is very shady and in some cases, illegal. Fight back!
Oh man, bridal shows are notorious for this kind of thing. I’ve gotten so much junk mail from vendors at the Wedding Show I went to, it’s ridiculous.
Plus, I found one really aggressive when I was there, trying to get me to sign up for my registry with them so I could get some incredibly cheap looking towel wedding cake. When I said no, the lady actually seemed mad at me. :S
OMG. Mr. M and I have had this non-stop. At least FOUR DIFFERENT companies have been harassing us.
Instead of telling the aggressive (as Miss Hummingbird has described) people that we were coming, I told them clearly, that we are not interested and that yes we are passing up an “amazing deal” and that we want them to remove us from their calling list and records. After about two times of telling them that, the calls magically stopped.
I hope they do this for you, too.
Yes!
I was called and asked to attend another wedding show in two days time to receive my gift. I also needed to bring my fiance. However he lived 150 miles away and worked nights. When I explained this, they said I could bring a family member. But the notice was so short, my mom couldn’t make it. The lady told me that there was another show the following month I could attend and receive my gift then. But she never called with the details. :oP
Oh well. I wasn’t upset in the slightest. :o)
Tell them to take you off their call list and that if they call you again you will take legal action against them for harrassment.
They legally have to stop calling you.
I used to work for a marketing company(not one that called people mind you.) and the Do Not Call List was a hot topic at the time.
Whenever I go to these events, I NEVER leave my phone number. If I am forced to leave a number (say on a website form field), I usually fill in 212-123-4567. The worst is to be bombarded with phone calls on your cell or home phone. I don’t mind getting email or junk mail, but phone calls are rather annoying.
Oh my goodness they are TOTAL stalkers. I went to one bridal show and there were a lot of legitimate businesses and prizes, so I signed up without discriminating. Well, for 2 months afterward I got 3 or more calls per day from 2 separate organizations who wanted me to come to their demonstrations. Of course, I had to bring my fiance. Even after I told them I wasn’t interested, they still kept calling. Finally I told one of them I was coming and then just didn’t go so they’d leave me alone.
YES! I got duped into going to one but I went in knowing that it was probably a scam. When we signed in, I asked the lady if this was an opportunity for them to sell me stuff. She couldn’t even answer me! The entire time, we just sat at the back table and didn’t participate when they wanted us to cook with their cookware. Lame… Eventually we just got up and left hehe.
Actually, I have a cool story to go along with this -
I’ve gone to a couple bridal shows, and yes I got a ton of phone calls and junk mail from them, but there was one call that I didn’t ignore. Royal Prestige (a cookware company) called and had me come to a presentation, but at the end, I got 3 day, 2 night trip to an all inclusive resort in three different places. So for me, it worked out just fine!
Though I totally agree with the idea of not giving out a favorite email address…
Was it the Wedding Salon? Because I practically had to get a restraining order against them! No, not really, but absolutely the same stuff you’re talking about. With the Wedding Salon it seems like they more sell your email address - I got SO MUCH junk mail (still am actually, almost a year after their stupid worthless expensive event), and from vendors who would CC about 200 other people - so um, thanks, now I can reply to all about how RIDICULOUS it is, and we can start a boycott. I’m sorry, companies that have to solicit business through mass emails probably aren’t that great….
DEFINITELY make up a fake phone number, and give them a fake (or especially created for this purpose) email address. They’re shameless.
Never give them your real phone number or your email address. I like to give fake names when I go to those shows. It’s quite amusing to see who exactly is selling out your information.
Royal Prestige, that Crysten mentioned is a total crock! I got a call and never even entered anything! Theire cookware is terrible and you need to buy an obscene amount of it before you get the vacation, which rarely happens. Read about it here –> http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/royal_prestige.html Also just google “Royal Prestige Cookware”
i got the same offer as crysten, and we sat through the presentation for our trip offer, too. i’m wondering, crysten, have you actually tried to redeem your trip? we haven’t b/c i’m suspicious of its validity, so i’d be interested in hearing your experience.
one more thing, the above mentioned offer as well as numerous others was shoved on me thanks to a david’s bridal, just like bonniebell101. just one more reason that i don’t care for that establishment!
I get mostly E mail from places that I gave my info to at Bridal Shows.
It’s kinda flattering to want all these various vendors want your business and make you all these offers… but it’s overwhelming… no one has called me though.. and no time share opportunities are coming my way !
OF COURSE! I went to one wedding show for about 45 minutes, when I realized I may had been in my very own personal hell. Number one - the kind of vendors that participate in these things do it for a reason: they cannot get any business otherwise. Number two - they act like used car salesmen! They all want you to book them right away! My MOH made me go just to do the “bride” thing, and maybe win some stuff. Nothing of which I wanted to win anyway! But, now, a year later, I still get emails, phone calls, and mail. I just ignore them. But when I have spoken to any of them, I simply tell them I am not interested or I have already hired that type of vendor. Or stop calling! One financial advising co. called to tell me I won something, can’t remember what it was, but they still call every so often too. Anyway, stay away from bridal shows!!! they really arent’ worth it.
YES. It has been 4 months since I went to the show and they’re STILL calling me! Last night it was a DJ/entertainment service… arghhh
Almost fell for one of those free trip deal until I read up on it — The ones that offer 3 day 2 night trips to Hawaii or elsewhere are extremely difficult to redeem and have all types of restrictions and stipulations like you have to mail the company $100 registration before they even let you speak to a rep. Then you have to fly out on specific dates for only a 3 night/2 day trip. Any changes to their set schedule will result in a “change fee”. By the time you redeem your trip, you’re paying the same amount as it would cost you to book it yourself.
I’ve had two of them. I won a Mary Kay package (something ilke a $15 gift cert. big whoop, plus i don’t wear much for makeup) she kept insisting i make an appointment with her which was turning out to be a mary kay party, none of my friends would be interested i assure you, plus i have been to one before and it is not my cup of tea. So I finally told her at the time, “i’m not getting married for another year, call me sometime next year, i don’t want to do it now.” and pretty much in those words.
Also, I have had a DJ service hounding me, two calls a few days apart sometimes and at least once a month. They might be a good company, but I don’t want to hire them just because of the fact that they’re basically harassing me to go with them! so annoying!
those wedding shows are so terrible! we heard from someone (probably our wedding planner) that you just HAVE to go to a bridal show. so my FI & I paid the $18 for 2 tickets and went. Their “goody” bag of fabulous free sample sized shampoo, toothbrush & a tea candle was worthless, and FI got a million comments on him being there, as if the vendors never saw a man helping to plan their own wedding before. the whole event was so ridiculous we actually had a good time making fun of it all. most of the people were 18 yr old brides and their moms/ sisters/ friends taking all the free samples and ignoring the vendors. there was also a terrible dj, bridal gown show, hair and makeup advice, and a wedding planner who gave us industry “secrets.” we didnt win anything but we have been getting a ton of crap mail, mass emails where all our addresses are displayed (heard of bcc??) & for a while, messages on my cell phone. those shows are NOT worth it!
I went to one of those wedding shows last month, and I’m still getting calls about it. It is sooo annoying because they call saying that I “won” a “prize”… well it’s not a Prize, so stop calling it a prize, and secondly everyone else who filled out the stupid entry also “won”.
I got a call last week from a company called Chateau World, it turned out to be some membership based travel company, letting me know that I have one a prize. It was a 2 night stay a hotel and a digital camera, the catch was that me and my FI would have to sit through a 60 minute presentation. The lady on the phone swore that I wouldn’t have to pay anything or give my credit card number. I said that I would have to check with my FI first to see if we were free to attend. I wasnt’ really going to go, I just have a hard time saying no… I’m too nice.
After I got off the phone with her I googled the name of the company, and it turns out their company is being sued by quite a few people for Fraud. I just didn’t answer the phone the next couple of times she called. Everytime she called, she left a new Voice mail and added some new incentive, i.e.”If you attend the presentation, you will also recieve free dinner for 2 at such and such restaurant”. They haven’t called in a couple of days, but if they call back I’ll answer and tell them to put me on the Do No Call list.
It more annoying than anything. There is something obviously wrong with their business if they are being that pushy.
Yes. my FH and I have “won” no less than 7 honeymoons since the Show I went to back in September.
[…] Of course every “booth” has a card you can fill out where you can register to win things. Yeah, right. I would say right now if you do have to go to one, invent a phone number and if you haven’t already create an e-mail addy just for wedding stuff make one now. It makes life so much easier when dealing with SPAM. Even though I didn’t go near a single insurance booth I have been plagued by them since I went and they will not relent (Here’s another bride who had the same problems). […]
