D mail

Actual letters I have written and the actual responses I have received. Enjoy!

Name:
Location: Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

CFOX Letter (1)

July 24, 1997


CFOX
1006 Richards St.
Vancouver, BC
V6B 1S8


Dear radio radicals,

I almost never write letters, but today I am writing to tell you how much I enjoy your great station! I've been listening for quite a few years now, and thoroughly enjoy your song selection and talented on-air personalities (they are hilarious!). You've made a rock 'n roll believer out of this former country boy! Thanks for all the fine work you do to make my day better.

Anyhow, the main reason for my letter is to grant you the coveted "Most Inappropriate Ad Placement Of The Year Award." I just made up the category today, so you've probably never heard of it before, but consider yourselves fortunate, nonetheless, to have been chosen for such a prestigious accolade. I was driving to work this morning (I tighten the bolts on the Lions Gate Bridge) and listening to the Fox, as usual, when at 8:20am I heard an advertisement for drinking and driving. It was the Counter Attack one where it mentions how fast your heart beats when drinking, and then how is speeds up when you see a police roadside check up ahead. This by itself is nothing unusual because I had heard that ad numerous times before. However, immediately following, was an advertisement for John Labatt Classic! An alcohol ad, right after a "don't drink & drive" reminder. HELLO??? Doesn't that seem a little strange to anyone else out there? All I needed to hear next was an ad about the Vancouver Indy sponsored by Molson Canadian beer, and 'whammo', there it was! These commercials by themselves are no big deal, but put them together, back to back, side by side, and one after the other, and it sounds like hypocritical mayhem! Do you see what I mean? That is why you are this year's winner!

Of course, this is all in the name of good humour, as I don't want you to think that I'm angry or upset, just curious as to how this could have happened? This is of additional interest to me since that, once again, I am one of the local finalists to drive the pace car for the start of this year's Indy race. I just hope the listening public doesn't link driving fast cars to drinking or the CART circuit will have more than tobacco advertising to worry about.

Thanks for taking the time to read my comment. I know that you didn't mean for anything negative to come from a simple radio spot, but that's the same thing they said when writers came up with the sitcom, "Golden Girls."

The Faux Raux,
Dairn M Peters
PS Could you please coax Larry & Willy or Bill & Erin into sending an autographed photo for my daughter Leesa, and a CFOX cap for my adopted son Benny? Thanks!

CFOX Letter (2)

October 3, 1997


CFOX - Manager/President/CEO
1006 Richards St.
Vancouver, BC
V6B 1S8


Dear radio rebels,

I'm a loyal Fox listener, yet I feel like I'm being treated like a CFMI listener! Yuck! I wrote a letter to you over two months ago (71 days ago to be exact), but I have had no reply. Is this what all former Canadian Bull Riding Champions deserve? I think not! Maybe if you were aware of my tour of duty in Vietnam (head chef of "Bravo" platoon for 3 weeks) I would garner a bit more respect, but I don't think even my sacrifice for the free world (lost use of my belly button) would have an impact on your customer service policies, would it?

My first letter (copy enclosed for your perusal) posed a simple question regarding the suspect placement of a specific radio advertisement on your station one morning (on my way to work to tighten bolts on the Lion's Gate Bridge). My friend Li-Li has been trying to coax me back to the "dark side" (JR Country) since the day I told her about my letter and lack of response. I don't know if I can hold out much longer! Please take time to read my letter and mail a response. I really want to believe that you'll satisfy this long time listener and keep me from slipping back into the demonic vortex known as Country & Western.... aaaaaaauuuuughhhh!!!!!

Please accept my deepest apologies if your reply is already in the mail or if you did not receive my first letter due to our fantastic postal service. God bless.

Aldo Nova gets no respect,
Dairn M Peters
PS Is it possible to get an autographed photocopy of Larry & Willy's collective read ends for my country-crazed friend? Also an autographed picture of Bill & Erin for my daughter Leesa and a cap for my adopted son, Benny? That'd be great!

CFOX Reply

October 8, 1997


Dear Mr. Peters,
First of all, let me say sorry for not answering your first letter..... I never did receive it. Listeners are important to us and if it helps we can blame the post office.

So, that out of the way, thanks for your comments regarding the scheduling of commercials. We will try to be more careful in future, but if you think about it, there is nothing wrong with drinking Labatts beer. What is wrong is to drink and drive. The Counter Attack Program is focused on the latter, and most positionings of the public service announcement are viable. But as I said earlier we will watch for it.

Thank you for taking the time to write. And in any event don't go back to country music..... remember this is Vancouver where Rock rules.

Sincerely,

Chris Pandoff
General Manager

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