Go Green, Get Green

Is doing the right thing for the wrong reason ok?

Let's take T-mobile for example. I've been a customer for 10 years (since they were VoiceStream) and very satisfied.

For whatever reason, I've been getting a paper bill in the mail all these years (though most of my life is paperless).

Anyhow, the bill comes today and it's got a nice brochure with a plant on it saying:

"Move to paperless billing and we'll plant a tree in an area like New Orleans or LA"

Good idea.

We all know that the paperless billing is cheaper for T-mobile and we all know that they are in business to make money, but here they've come up with a simple way to move more customers to a more profitable model while appreciating how it will make the customers feel.

Genius.

Now, contrast this with the gift package we got yesterday for my newborn daughter. A huge cardboard box and a ton of plastic bubble wrap for a significantly smaller gift. Just seemed very excessive and wasteful.

I'm going to contact the company (name withheld to protect the guilty) and ask them to reconsider their actions. Will keep you updated.

Reminded me of the Microsoft partner profiled here see (Eco-Friendly Marketing).

Your customers notice everything and your sensitivity (or lack thereof) to environmental issues is one of them.