In an earlier blog post, I wrote about my hunch that email marketers would be using the rising gas prices and our slumping economy as copywriting tactics this summer. What do you know? I was right – at least when it comes to the gas prices.

During the summer months, I received a campaign from macys.com that employed the subject line: “Gas prices got you down? This week clearance items ship for only 99¢”. Interestingly, macys.com did not mention the gas prices theme in the email body.

Instead, they only reinforced the low-cost shipping offer:

TigerDirect.com, on the other hand, did use the theme as a one-two punch in their subject line and email body. Here’s the clever copy they used in each instance: “50 Deals Cheaper than a Tank of Gas”.

Well, do you think this copywriting tactic worked? I am putting in a ping to them to hopefully find out. But in the meantime, what’s your take?