Why I will never use Gorilla Accounting.

[Fred Bloggs]

Not worked up at all. I am fully aware of the choices open to me, I don't need unsolicited mail to help with that. I'm merely pointing out that I for one never, ever deals with cold callers or unsolicited mail senders. I think I'm not on my own. The mail shot openly admits to proactively trying to persuade clients of other accountants to jump ship.

[Waldorf]

The rules about accountants using marketing activities were relaxed several years ago, some of the big contractor accountants do not even have qualified accountants at the head anymore, probably why they use questionable marketing activities such as handing out cash bungs to agency staff, taking them on holiday etc.

Some people don't like direct marketing but sometimes it is the only way for them to get their message out there.

Personally I don't have a problem with it, if I'm not interested I recycle it, or return it and let them know you are not interested. I thought you were closing your company so they would be thankful so that they don't waste any more money on trying to convert you as a client.

[chopper]

If businesses weren't allowed to tell people they exist, then how would anybody know they exist and therefore buy services from them?

For niche accountants, telly/radio adverts, national newspaper campaigns are almost certainly not cost effective. They can advertise on specialist contractor forums (oh look, an intouch accounting advert, but I wouldn't have otherwise noticed it if I wasn't posting about marketing tactics of accounting companies or other small businesses). Or they can send mailshots out to a reasonably targeted audience, just like the bunch of fluff that falls out of the local free (and unsolicited) local newspaper.

Not sure what the issue is?

You now know they exist, and you have posted a message on a public forum telling loads of other people they exist and a few will almost certainly go and have a look out of curiosity. Maybe someone will even give them a go. Viral marketing, anyone?

[JB3000]

Simply because I will never use any company that sends me sales spiel letters without my permission. They all go in the bin.

I don't care how cheap they are (not particularly cheap) nor do I care how good your service is. I am not interested in your company because you deliberately trawl companies house records looking to "proactively" poach business away from other accountants.

So for the avoidance of any doubt, Tim Murphy and his business at Gorilla Accounting, I will not be using you and I really would like you to shove your spam mail where the monkey shoves its nuts.

Bizarre rant. I think there is much more to this rant than meets the eye.

If not, maybe you need to realize that spam and junk mail is a normal part of having a company. Don't like it; write a letter of complaint.

[Eirikur]

Not sure why the mail shot is unethical, I've got the gorilla one as well. Have had loads from other accountants and 90% take home schemes over the years.
Companies use companies house records for ages to send out mailshots, by snailmail is just a bit old fashioned and most of all expensive so you don't see it as much anymore as in the pre-email days.

[TykeMerc]

Bizarre rant. I think there is much more to this rant than meets the eye.

If not, maybe you need to realize that spam and junk mail is a normal part of having a company. Don't like it; write a letter of complaint.

Rubbish, it's a reality, but not an inevitable or acceptable part.

I object to unsolicited mails of the electronic or snail mail types and like Fred Bloggs here I don't reward their objectionable behaviour with my business, totally the opposite in fact.

Prior to the mails I received I would have seriously considered them if I was looking to change accountants as they had several recommendations from long time CUK posters, now I wouldn't.
Incidentally this isn't the first time their spam mailing has drawn unfavourable attention on CUK, there was a multi page thread some time back asking if CUK had been providing membership details to them in exchange for commercial consideration, I'm sure you can find the thread if you want to.

[SlipTheJab]

Not sure why you are so worked up. They are new and trying to get established in the market. The big boys bribe agencies to get clients, I've heard figures of £500 per client and I'd bet that neither the accountant or the agency declare this to the client. Personally not sure why this is not banned by the Bribery Act, I think it is but is currently being ignored by the authorities.

Gorilla and others are simply sending you a letter explaining their services, they seem upfront and I doubt they will send lots of letters as it wouldn't be worth it for them.

At least they are presenting you with a choice, I'd rather have this than be the subject to some secret deal between an accountant and an agency. I very much doubt agencies do any realistic vetting other than finding out who will pay them the most cash.

Gorilla have clearly ruffled a few feathers with some of the complacent accountancy outfits, if they upped their game and provided a great service then they wouldn't have anything to worry about.

I am not a Gorilla client by the way.

+1 I got stung by the first contract I ever got, the pimp recommended Churchill Knight, useless is too light a word, hope he chocked on the champagne he bought with the kickback, needless to say I would never go near either of them again. Would consider Gorilla, after all no one is MAKING you move!

[Waldorf]

I object to unsolicited mails of the electronic or snail mail types and like Fred Bloggs here I don't reward their objectionable behaviour with my business, totally the opposite in fact.

Prior to the mails I received I would have seriously considered them if I was looking to change accountants as they had several recommendations from long time CUK posters, now I wouldn't.
Incidentally this isn't the first time their spam mailing has drawn unfavourable attention on CUK, there was a multi page thread some time back asking if CUK had been providing membership details to them in exchange for commercial consideration, I'm sure you can find the thread if you want to.

A bit of the chicken and egg here, if Gorilla had not done any marketing then it is unlikely that anyone on CUK would have heard of them and so probably not be recommended either.

In any marketing campaign there is an element who objects very strongly to what they see as an intrusion. However most people are more placid and deal with it as they see fit. If this was not the case there would not be a huge direct mail/marketing industry, which incidentally keeps lots of people in jobs.

[Fred Bloggs]

Thanks for the comments folks, interesting views too.

[dingdong]

Surveys show that people prefer direct mail marketing to email and that its far more effective.

eg...

91% of prospect direct mail was opened (Ebiquity Rapport 2010) vs 11% open rates for acquisition email (DMA)

76% welcome mail that gives (them) useful information (BMRB 2010)


Personally I support direct mail - keeps my local postman in a job, it makes the mail slightly more interesting than just getting bills, and its pretty easy to throw stuff I don't want in the recycling pile.