Don’t Ask

I get frustrated whenever I hear TV newscasters referring to a poll determining absolutely how the public is feeling about this issue or that election. Analysts put a great deal of affirmation into the “64 percent who feel …”

I’m frustrated because I’ve never been polled. Never! Not in all these years (never mind how many!) have I ever been asked how I’m voting, whether I’ll support this issue, how’s Congress doing, and what do I think of the president or my city councilperson.

I’ve never even been asked what TV programs I watch. And yet shows I’ve loved have been pulled off the air because they don’t have enough Nielsen households, while shows I despise roll on and on and on. I want to shout to someone – anyone – “Hey, what about me? I’m watching this.” Nobody seems to care.

But lately, businesses, retailers and services of all kinds are tripping over themselves to find out how I feel.

It seems whenever I come back from the store or send a customer request email to a web site or call with a service question, I’m asked whether I’ll take this brief survey. There’s an invitation on nearly every sales receipt to call in and answer a few questions – maybe I’ll win a year’s worth of free shopping if I do.

Even the cable guy who comes over to straighten out my reception problems drags me to his phone when he’s finished to tell his supervisor what a great job I think he’s done.

Why is everybody doing this? Because they can, evidently. Software specialists abound for this very purpose. One of these, Mindshare Technologies, told The New York Times it completes 175,000 surveys every day.

I know, everybody likes to talk about how they’re feeling these days, or to be asked their opinions. But we’re approaching overload. When I walk out of the store or end a phone call, I wish not everyone was pleading with me to “take this little survey.” It even makes me miss, “Have a nice day.”

And when I’m willing, it’s not always a satisfying experience. Often, I’ve settled in for a long survey to tell them what’s in my heart, clicked “no” on the first question (“Are you under 30?”) and the next screen says: “You’re not a candidate for this survey but thank you for participating.” Ouch!

And by the way, you retailers that are so eager for us to tell you about our experiences, why is it when I really do have a strong complaint about something, I still can’t find someone to vent to? I’m sorry, but, “Thank you for your email, someone will be back to you within a week,” just doesn’t scratch that itch for me. Have a nice day, though.