Canada Post creates virtual community; what a crock

We wonder what portion of its inevitable forthcoming increase in rates to deliver magazines will be required to cover the costs of Canada Post's loopy venture into Second Life. According to a story in Media in Canada:

Canada Post has founded the virtual city of Maple Grove, an online community where this holiday season's online shoppers will be able to browse in the 3-D cyber stores of the national mail carrier's retail partners. While visiting the cyber locale, consumers can order gifts and merchandise from the Canadian and American retailers who are featured in Canada Post's annual lookbook catalogue. They include SkyMall, Toys 'R' Us, the Shopping Channel, Brookstone, Red Canoe and Everything Olive.

The official launch of Maple Grove will be celebrated tomorrow, November 3, with a six-hour virtual live music festival. As well, throughout the holiday season, the virtual city will host concerts, film screenings and shopping events.

No advertising is being sold on the site; apparently Canada Post is being paid in "buzz". Sometimes, we just wish they'd deliver the mail, on time and at a reasonable price. And we could do without the hypocrisy of the following rationalization:

Why did Canada Post choose to set up shop in Second Life's worldwide virtual community of more than 8 million registered users? "Today's net-savvy consumers value convenience and relevance, and there are hundreds of thousands of Canadians in Second Life," explains Laurene Cihosky, SVP for Canada Post's direct marketing division. "Maple Grove is our way of meeting those expectations; a virtual place for friends to meet, shop and enjoy the culture that Canada has to offer.

"The post office is the centre of many communities across Canada," notes Cihosky. "And just like your local post office, visitors to Maple Grove can visit Canada Post and send packages, buy stamps, cards, gift cards and send them to anyone, anywhere in Canada."

The post office is not only not the centre of many communities, it is often hard to find either a mailbox or anyone knowledgeable working at the proliferating franchised kiosks hidden in the back of drugstores.

Just do a better job at your main job is what we say and cut the crap.