How you ever unwittingly been a pawn to bring down a company. Listen up. Here is a way it is done every day.

I just received this viral marketing campaign from a well meaning friend. Perhaps you even got it.

This one was entitled:

HUGE VIRUS COMING !!! PLEASE READ & FORWARD !!!

Hi All, I checked with Norton Anti-Virus, and they are gearing up for this virus! I checked Snopes (URL above:), and it is for real!! Get this E-mail message sent around to your contacts ASAP. PLEASE FORWARD THIS WARNING AMONG FRIENDS, FAMILY AND CONTACTS! You should be alert during the next few days.

Do not open any message with an attachment entitled 'POSTCARD FROM HALLMARK,' ....

When I checked it out the link to www.snopes.com...this is what I found.

“although the postcard virus is real, it isn’t a BIG VIRUS COMING” (its already been around in a multiple forms for a long time now), it will not “burn the whole hard disc” of your computer, CNN didnt classify it as the “worst virus ever”

Poor Hallmark this campaign slurs their reputation makes people wonder about e cards might be sent by this business.

I don't like being a pawn in someone else’s mischief or fear making. But worse still being misguided by a negative viral marketing campaign. Be careful of what you forward you could be an unwitting pawn in a competitors slur campaign.

What happens when you believe that you are the safest airline in the world? You might stop worrying about the old “pleasing the customer” routine.

“I didn’t know it was self-service” was the parting comment from a first class passenger, aimed at the purser, on leaving. He also chose to ignore the angry glare, in return.

“You do what you are told” is how customers now summarise flying with Qantas.

Yet people still keep flying with them because of their impeccable crash free record. That is of course ignoring that skidding off the tarmac “mishap” in Italy.

The trouble is, it will take only one air accident and Qantas will be surprised at the mass exodus of their customer base. And, it wont be just because they had an accident. It will be accelerated as a result of their non-existent customer service.

I am kind of curious how they have factored that into their business plan.

Let’s be really clear Qantas’s customer loyalty is due to one thing and one thing alone, no deaths. The best positioning and brand promise that any airline in the world can own.

Take that away and Qantas' customer service record is an easy poor fourth to the likes of Singapore, Thai, or Emirates. Ask any experienced international flier. Customer service is no longer a part of the delivery of our once great airline.

Now that is a legitimate cost cutting business approach if you can guarantee no accidents. But with that gone there is nothing left in the "esteem" bank account to draw upon.