[LINK] Aust Post questionnaire

[Howard Lowndes]

On Sat, 8 Feb 2003, Ann Moffatt wrote:

> i got one of these a few yrs ago. just after that i was at a conference
> where the md of australia post was a speaker. in question time someone asked
> just the questions david did. she said aust post was doing everything it
> could to keep postage costs down. they sell the info they get from the
> questionnaire for lots of money. she said most people complete & return the
> q. i think she said they get an over 50% return which is v good as these
> thingz go!!

I wonder how much of that return rate is a perception by the public that 
this is an official thing by a government body and hence compulsory as is 
the census.  I guess very few average Australians know the cuurent 
structure of Australia Post and still associate it with the PMG dept.


> 
> peace & love
> 
> annm
> ************************************
> Ann Moffatt
> EXoCaT Pty Ltd
> 49 Raintree Avenue
> BURRUM HEADS QLD 4659
> tel +61 (0) 7 4129 5796
> fax +61 (0) 7 4129 5916
> ***********************************
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David Lochrin" <dlochrin@dot.net.au>
> To: "Link" <DEFANGED_link@anu.edu.au>
> Sent: Saturday, February 08, 2003 10:36 AM
> Subject: [LINK] Aust Post questionnaire
> 
> 
> >    I have just received an Australia Post questionnaire (sorry, "[big
> tick] Lifestyle Survey") which promises that I might win $40,000 cash et
> cetera if I complete it.
> >
> >    This questionnaire covers about 4 1/2 A4 pages of check-boxes in fine
> type, and it's the most amazingly intrusive one I have ever seen.  It begins
> by asking for my full address and home telephone number, and the first name
> & surname, mobile number, and email address of both myself ~and~ my partner.
> >
> >    There follow eight sections.  Among other things, the section on health
> & fitness wants to know whether anyone in my household is affected or
> concerned by any of the following:  arthritis/rheumatism, back pain, hearing
> difficulties, hair loss, dry skin/eczema, asthma, osteoporosis, diabetes,
> migrane, high cholesterol, indigestion, hay fever/sinus, weight control,
> smoking, dementia/Alzheimer's, lactose intolerance, high blood pressure, eye
> sight difficulties, dandruff, or insomnia.
> >
> >    The final section finishes up by wanting to know the dates of birth of
> myself and partner, profession, work status, and income bracket.
> >
> >    This is obviously a direct-marketing exercise, where the object is to
> comprehensively profile individuals from a marketing perspective and obtain
> direct postal, telephone, email, and SMS channels to them.  I assume
> Australia Post will then sell this information.
> >
> >    I think this is an abuse of the postal system which, privatised or not,
> still provides an essential public service.  Presumably some part of the
> recent 5-cent increase in local postage went towards funding such
> activities, and I cannot think of a better reason for ~not~ privatising
> public infrastructure and basic services.
> >
> > David Lochrin
> >
> > =================================================
> > David Lochrin
> > +61 2 9363 1094
> > PGP public key available by emailing <pgp-public-keys@keys.pgp.net>
> > with subject : GET David Lochrin
> > =================================================
> > _______________________________________________
> > Link mailing list
> > Link@mailman.anu.edu.au
> > http://mailman.anu.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/link
> 
> _______________________________________________
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-- 
Howard.
LANNet Computing Associates - Your Linux people <http://www.lannetlinux.com>
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