I just unsubscribed from a newsletter (name withheld to protect the guilty) because the user interface made it too diffcult to do what I wanted which was to change the email address. That was the site’s Dumb Mistake Number 1 because I relaized in the process that I could live without the newsletter. But better was to come …
Dumb Mistake Number 2 was the confirmation email that included the phrase: “Newsletter cancellations take effect immediately, though you may get one or two more mailings; this happens when lists have been selected in advance.” The first part of the sentence is contradicted by the second part (if you send me more newsletters after I cancel then the cancellation isn’t instant except in your head) while the third part makes no sense at all. Sigh. It is a wonder that some Web managers can tie their own shoe laces.
