Is This a License to Spam?

by Summertime Dress

Posted: 12 years ago 18 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

I recently encountered a situation that, after some thought, is basically giving oneself a license to spam.

Let's say you offer an info product for purchase and require that in order to have access to this purchase, your customer must not unsubscribe from your email list (because you will periodically change the password).

In the meantime, you use this email list to promote affiliate offers that your customer may not want to get.

If your customer unsubscribes, then s/he will no longer have access to the product if the password is changed. Because the email is now removed from the database, s/he can no longer get a new password.

Does anyone else see this as just plain wrong? Or am I missing something?

#license #spam

CDarklock

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Summertime Dress

Let's say you offer an info product for purchase and require that in order to have access to this purchase, your customer must not unsubscribe from your email list

Okay, so let's say you publish a magazine. And you require that in order to have access to the magazine, your customer has to look at the pages, because that is where the articles are. And on some of those pages, there are advertisements that the customer may not want to get.

No, that's not the same, so let's say you have a website. And you require that in order to have access to the website, your customer has to go to your domain, because that is where the website is. And on that domain, there are advertisements that the customer may not want to get.

Okay, hold on. Let's say you have a membership site. And you require that in order to have access to the membership site, your customer has to enter a password. And when he enters the password, there is an advertisement the customer may not want to get.

All right, I give up. I can't figure out an example where this doesn't look exactly like stuff people are already doing.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

"The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5891451].message }}

Summertime Dress

12 years ago

I'm not following your logic at all.

If I purchased an info product, and want access to my purchase, but happened to unsubscribe from the vendor's mailing list (not the membership), i should still be able to get access to my purchase.

The vendor doesn't see it this way. Since I unsubscribed from the mailing list, I did not get the "new" password. And so am no longer in the database.

Perhaps you could try another analogy and I may understand your explanation.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5891477].message }}

CDarklock

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Summertime Dress

I'm not following your logic at all.

In order to access your product, you have to see ads.

That's normal. All kinds of products work like this.

If you don't like it, buy different products.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5891554].message }}

Summertime Dress

12 years ago

I have no problem with affiliate ads inside a member area, on a download page, on a thank you page, or even getting the emails necessarily. I just happened to unsubscribe from this vendor's list which I find in small print is a "no-no". When I went to login, the password had been changed. I requested a new one (along with providing my PayPal info) and got the message, "Sorry, you're not in the database".

Oh, ok.

Thanks
2 replies

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5891597].message }}

CDarklock 12 years ago

Originally Posted by Summertime Dress

I just happened to violate the terms of service.

Fixed that for you.

It doesn't matter how inconsequential you think your violation was. That is how it works: if you violate the terms, you lose your access. Maybe if you're very nice and apologise, you can get it back. If not, then maybe the guy who owns the system is a dick, but he's still a dick acting entirely within his rights.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature

"The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5891611].message }}
- Summertime Dress 12 years ago
  
  Yes, I suppose my ignorance in TOS is not an excuse. If I violated terms, you must do what you need to do. I hope you'll reconsider but if not, then I've enjoyed my time.
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5891655].message }}
  
  bchez 12 years ago
  
  Wow, that's about as close to violating anti-spam laws, without actually violating them that I have ever heard!
  
  They legally have to have an option for you to unsub to their sales pitches, but if you do, you lose something you paid for. That's crazy. That's more like you opting out of receiving the sales fliers at your local USPS office, but then they refuse to deliver the rest of your mail until you agree to take the junk mail again.
  
  I wouldn't like it.
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5892127].message }}

HeySal

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Summertime Dress

I have no problem with affiliate ads inside a member area, on a download page, on a thank you page, or even getting the emails necessarily. I just happened to unsubscribe from this vendor's list which I find in small print is a "no-no". When I went to login, the password had been changed. I requested a new one (along with providing my PayPal info) and got the message, "Sorry, you're not in the database".

Oh, ok.

So you are talking about a member's area and not just a product? Membership sites often require members to be on an email list. If you are getting a product as part of a membership, you can expect the list requirement quite often. Sometimes members are emailed to tell them about changes or temporary closures of the site, too. If I were buying a product such as a book or a piece of software, I would NOT buy it if required to be on a list - but if there was a membership site involved, I would not be so surprised to see the requirement.

Thanks

Signature

Sal
When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
Beyond the Path

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5894123].message }}

travlinguy 12 years ago

You buy and then own a product yet you are required to not unsubscribe from a list to keep the product. Well, if that's all stated up front I'd say many would say screw it, who needs such a product anyway. Unless I'm missing something...

I think those conditions are pretty unreasonable. And... If I really wanted that product under those conditions I'd use a funky old throwaway email addy I've had since the earth cooled. That'll fix those "License to spam" *******s :p
- [ 2 ] Thanks
- 1 reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5891488].message }}
- Summertime Dress 12 years ago
  
  That'll fix those "License to spam" *******s
  
  Yes, I realize I'm in a good ole boys game. Still, just sayin' it ain't right.
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5891504].message }}
  
  travlinguy 12 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Summertime Dress
  
  Yes, I realize I'm in a good ole boys game. Still, just sayin' it ain't right.
  
  I agree it ain't right. And if I really felt I had to have the product I'd give them an old Yahoo email addy I've had for 9 years and NEVER check. They get their forced optin and I get my product. It would have to be one really sweet product though because my natural instinct says, who needs such ppl...
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5891550].message }}
Terry M 12 years ago

I agree, I am purchasing your product, not your future opinions. I get spam all the time from magazine publishers, I throw them out but still read the magazine.
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5891520].message }}
PhilippaWrites 12 years ago

It's a pretty shady tactic, I hate it when it happens. If you use gmail, create a filter to delete those messages automatically. Or to put them in a folder and mark as read, if you worry you might need access to them at any stage. Same effect as unsubscribing, without losing access to your product.
- Thanks
Signature

*Freelance Confidence: Supporting Freelancers*
*Philippa Willitts: Freelance Writer and Content Creator*
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5892568].message }}
sbucciarel Banned 12 years ago

I just wouldn't buy anything from that person. No one will force me to stay or get on a list I don't want to be on. If that's the only way they can retain subscribers, tell them to take their product and shove it (well, don't actually say that ... just vote with your wallet).
- [ 2 ] Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5892577].message }}
Ernie Mitchell 12 years ago

Were you given any kind of a discount or special pricing that in-turn required you to remain a subscriber to the vendor's list?
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5892855].message }}

zerofill

12 years ago

Actually one software I have heard of but don't recall what it was, but it actually used an API call to check if you were subscribed to validate the applications licensing. Wasn't actually a MMO product or any software you would typically see somewhere like here. Think it was some forex or stock thing now that I think of it. But whatever it was... it used the autoresponders API to validate you. Maybe that is what they are doing... If so then it probably stated that in the TOS somewhere I would imagine. If it was done legit...

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Serp Shaker
The IM World Will Be Shaken to the Core!
Join my list at: IMCool.Biz
New Podcast --> podcast.imcool.biz

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5892921].message }}

JohnMcCabe

12 years ago

Originally Posted by travlinguy

I agree it ain't right. And if I really felt I had to have the product I'd give them an old Yahoo email addy I've had for 9 years and NEVER check. They get their forced optin and I get my product. It would have to be one really sweet product though because my natural instinct says, who needs such ppl...

I had the same reaction, but then the thought hit me...

If I never check that address, how will I get the new password? :confused:

If the emails with the password had a consistent footprint ("The new password is:"), I'd set up a filter to keep those and delete the rest.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5894069].message }}

joseph7384 12 years ago

[DELETED]

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5894178].message }}
- Richard Van 12 years ago
  
  [DELETED]
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7239083].message }}
  
  andyelite 12 years ago
  
  [DELETED]
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7239198].message }}

Is This a License to Spam?

Trending Topics

How did you turn it all around?

Any thoughts on golf's latest phenom...Scottie Scheffler??

What's the Best IM-Related Skill to Learn Today That Can Help in the Future?

best high quality crypto traffic.

Some interesting stats about brand comms