Essentials of Business Communication 8th Edition by Mary Ellen Guffey

Exercise 10

Persuasive E-Mail: Importing T-Shirts From China
Your Task. Analyze the following message and list its weaknesses. If your instructor directs, revise the message. A copy of this message is provided at www.meguffey.com for revision online.
From: Donna Happich [[e-mail]]
To: Harry Lambrusco [[e-mail]]
Cc:
Subject: T-Shirts From China
Trade shows are a great way for us to meet customers and sell our Super Fit strength machines. But instead of expanding our visits to these trade shows, we continue to cut back the number that we attend. Lately we have been sending fewer staff members. I know that you have been asking us to find ways to reduce costs, but perhaps we are not going about it right.
With increased air fares and hotel charges, my staff has tried to find ways to live within our very tight budget. However, we are being asked to find additional ways to reduce our costs. I'm currently thinking ahead to the big Las Vegas trade show coming up in September.
One area where we could make a change is in the gift that we give away. In the past we have presented booth visitors with a nine-color T-shirt that is silk screened and gorgeous. But it comes at a cost of $15 for each and every one of these beauties from a top-name designer. To save money, I suggest that we try a $5 T-shirt made in China, which is reasonably presentable. It has got our name on it, and, after all, folks just use these shirts for workouts. Who cares if it is a fancy silk-screened T-shirt or a functional Chinese one that has "Super Fit" plastered on the chest? Since we give away 2,000 T-shirts at our largest show, we could save big bucks by dumping the designer shirt. But we have to act quickly. I put a cheap one in your mailbox, so you can take a look at it.
Let me know what you think.
List at least five weaknesses of this message.