FAQ

In order to attract and keep customers, businesses must advertise. But, advertising can be a very expensive, and often fruitless endeavor. It’s a catch-22 situation. When several businesses collaborate to share ad spots on a mini-billboard like a high impact 6.5x12 postcard, the advertising costs for each small business is significantly reduced amounting to pennies, while the customer response can have a huge and positive revenue impact for the business. The postcards are sent to at least 2,500 households per distribution. Often there are two adults in the home, so a card potentially reaches 5,000 decision-making adults.

You can provide your own print ready design, or we can do the design for you. Our design service is free. You will review and approve the design. Design service is limited to two revisions only. The ad slot includes free ad design service, free QR code for tracking response, printing, production and packaging, distribution to 2,500 households.

We can make no guarantees on whether or how many new customers you will gain. However, since we want your business to continue participating in the co-op mailing, we make every effort to ensure your ad design is high impact. A great offer, coupled with stellar customers service goes a long way in drawing in customers, and keeping them. The postcards are sent to specific neighborhoods which fit certain demographics that would make them an excellent fit for the products and services being offered on the postcard.

Response will highly depend on your offer, timing, and frequency. You do not respond to an offer the first time you see it, and neither will some customers. So, you provide a really great offer. We provide extensive, consistent visibility to 2,500 local households on a large, eye-catching 6.5x12 mini-billboard. This builds recognition, and credibility which leads to inquiries and sales.

Let’s speak on the important topic of customer service. It is imperative that advertisers commit to providing a superior level of customer service. Everyone wants great customer service. So we use the benchmark of, would I want to serve me? Objectively, would I want myself as a customer? Some customers tend to think that great customer service means they get whatever goods/services they want, whenever they want, all for pennies/free. And they get to abuse the provider and their employees with impunity, as a bonus. Then complain that they got bad service. Good customers means simple courtesy. And good customers get good customer service, because people naturally want to reciprocate with people who are courteous. When dealing with difficult or abusive customers, it is best to kill them with kindness on the present situation so the issue is resolved on a positive note. Then exercise the right to decline their future business. Not all money is good money. No one is obligated to serve abusive customers. The business owner makes the call in those situations. 5000casas is all about great customer service, because customers allows us to remain in business. But there has to be boundaries and limits. We do not condone allowing our ourselves or our employees to be abused by customers, just because we want their business. So we ask our advertisers to serve customers well. But there is no obligation to continue serving offensive customers. Always try to resolve the situation positively. Then decide whether to exercise the option to politely decline any future business when the lines of decency are crossed.

The postcards are mailed on a monthly schedule, although a weekly schedule is under consideration. We keep in touch by updating you on timelines from design to delivery. It’s a tremendous undertaking with lots of moving parts, so if there are changes/delays with the postcards, you will be updated immediately.

There are no long term contracts. You can participate in one or more postcard distribution, and stop when you want. No commitment. No obligations. Only one business per industry is permitted on a postcard. However, we do reserve the right to rotate businesses off the cards from time to time, in order to give other local businesses the opportunity to get their business offer in front of customers. Every business has competitors. So business need to look at competing on having a solid product/service, making compelling offers to customers, and on delivering phenomenal service; rather than relying on keeping competitors off the postcard.

The process consists of filling the card ie businesses reserving their spots on the card. The advertising businesses then reviewing and approving their designs. There is printing and packaging the card to comply with postal requirements. Then, the shipping and delivery of cards to each mailbox. All told, the time line is approx 2 weeks after all spots on the card are filled.

No, payment is required upfront. No design or production work can begin until the spot is paid. There is no obligation, no contracts, or long term commitments required. Simply pay to reserve your spot for the distribution you choose to participate in. There are no refunds after going to production.