Opting In - Are Warriors Too Sensitive?

20 replies
Purchased any WSO's lately? Or signed up for any freebies?

Did you have to opt-in to get the product?

It's becoming an increasing trend to see warriors complaining in the WSO threads about having to provide an email address in order to receive the product, citing reasons as being against Warrior T&C's, against Paypal T&C's, already previously opting in to that provider's list, to name a few.

Are we getting too sensitive? Are we forgetting what business we're actually in....like list building?

Obviously rules need to be adhered to, but I wonder if it's really about rules, or if it's about having to spend an extra 10 seconds filling in a form?

Can't we unsubscribe?

Admittedly, if I'm interested enough in a person's product to take a look at it, I have no problem in opting in, in the hope that this person might just be on to something that will benefit my business, & that I will learn more from them that will strengthen my position in the market.

But that's just me. I'm guessing there are plenty on the other side of the fence.

Just putting it out there....
#opting #sensitive #warriors
  • Profile picture of the author drmani
    Originally Posted by ranknfile View Post

    Are we getting too sensitive? Are we forgetting what business we're actually in....like list building?

    Obviously rules need to be adhered to, but I wonder if it's really about rules, or if it's about having to spend an extra 10 seconds filling in a form?

    Can't we unsubscribe?
    It stops being funny after a few instances of getting into
    the "un-subscribable" ezine loop, or having your details
    sold or rented to even more unscrupulous spammers as
    "hot leads" (the kind that just BOUGHT something!!!) -
    who then turn your inbox into a deluge of diverse nonsense.

    And when it happens a few times, one does tend to get
    a wee bit "sensitive"

    All success
    Dr.Mani
    Signature
    The Heart Bookstore | Buy a Book, Help a Child Live!
    Email Marketing Tips | How To Focus Better | Time Management
    GET YOUR FREE GUIDE: The 33:33 System
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4517683].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Net Solutions
      Banned
      Although I admit it can be a real pain to opt in after a purchase to access, I think some warriors take their frustrations a bit over board when they complain against it!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4517697].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Zack Lim
    I personally think that if the merchant wanted to put an opt in form on his download page, he should at least put one more link at the bottom of the page where the customers can still download the product without opting in.

    For me personally, I am fine with the idea of opting in to get access to the product. But I do not use my main email address to do that.

    Zack
    Signature

    FREE Affiliate Marketing Mini Course Reveals The Fastest And Honest Way To Make Your First $1000 Online

    Click Here To Get FREE Instant Access

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4517903].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author mariomvr
      Hi Zack,

      So if you don't put your real email address why should your prospects put theirs when you release anything?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4517912].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Brad Gosse
    I don't force people to opt in after purchase. I just put them on my list automatically when they do
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4518015].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Steve Daley
      It's interesting to hear others' points of view. It's even more interesting watching the back & forth tussle between those who make a statement of displeasure after purchasing, because of having to "forcibly" opt in, & the product owner explaining their reasons for making it that way
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4518115].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Tina Golden
        It has nothing to do with being too sensitive. It is against the AUP of PayPal to make someone opt-in in order to access the product they have already paid for, unless that is stated prior to purchase.

        Period.

        If you do that, you are at risk of having your PayPal limited, frozen or just plain shut down.

        Most of us have nothing against list building but it's called opt-in for a reason... we have a choice on whether to sign up or not. If you take that choice away, it's no longer opt-in.
        Signature
        Discover how to have fabulous, engaging content with
        Fast & Easy Content Creation
        ***Especially if you don't have enough time, money, or just plain HATE writing***
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4518265].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author RayWhittaker
          I've never seen a site that pushes people into providing their email address after they've purchased. Is this widespread? Have I just been lucky?

          It seems an unscrupulous way to build a list to me.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4518321].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author fitz10
            Originally Posted by RayWhittaker View Post

            I've never seen a site that pushes people into providing their email address after they've purchased. Is this widespread? Have I just been lucky?

            It seems an unscrupulous way to build a list to me.
            Probably lucky. Every time I shop online now from retailers I'm deluged with emails and they definitely don't do double opt-in.

            I think if people weren't getting hammered with affiliate offers from the WSO section day after day they'd take more kindly to being on people's lists.
            Signature



            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4519604].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author R Hagel
    Originally Posted by ranknfile View Post

    Purchased any WSO's lately? Or signed up for any freebies?

    Did you have to opt-in to get the product?
    There's a difference in those two examples. In the case of a freebie, the prospects "pays" for the product with an email address. In the case of a product, the customer pays for the product with cash.

    So far so good.

    Problem is, when the cash-paying customer gets to the download page, he feels like he has to "pay" again by entering his email address. No problem if it's just an option. But the problem arises if he's forced to do it. At this point he just wants the product he's paid for, and now there's this roadblock in his way.

    Imagine buying a gallon of milk at the local convenience store. You pay your $4. But before the clerk allows you to take your milk home with you, he tells you that you need to first fill out a form with your name and email address. And you CANNOT refuse... because if you do, the clerk won't give you the milk that you already paid for.

    That's what irks some buyers -- the forcible stuff. The buyer feels like the seller is "holding the product hostage" until the customer fills in that form.

    And as mentioned, forcible opt-ins which are not made clear on the sales page are against PP's terms.

    Becky
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4518345].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author dark witness
    I don't mind the optin but after a while you do get tired of having emails thrown at you every other day.. and then when a product launches you get about 50 emails within 48 hours all promoting the same product.

    I understand their reason for doing it, after all you by most email marketing courses and they all tell you to communicate with your list often, so that's what people do.

    now, depending on what sort of emails I get and how often they are sent, I tend to unsubscribe just as fast. I just don't need 20 emails all about the same product.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4518479].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    If I've paid for a product and you make me opt in to get it, you're going to piss me off. I don't want to opt in to get the product and I don't care if list building is your business or your goal. My goal is to get the product that I just paid for.

    And certainly, I will unsubscribe as soon as it is downloaded. If you want me to opt in to your list, I want a better reason than I just bought a product. I'm only on a very few lists and I like it that way.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4518571].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Richard Tunnah
    The 2 things I hate tbh are the forced opt in after buying a product. Sure give me a reason to join your list but don't force me as I'll just unsubscribe and make a note not to buy your stuff. I also think it's wrong that wsopro automatically adds my paypal addy to the sellers list. But as I stated before all that happens is that when my VA see's stuff other than paypal related in that email box (I only use my paypal addy for paypal receipts and payments) he'll unsubscribe me and trash the email.

    Rich
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4518622].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author tryinhere
      Originally Posted by Richard Tunnah View Post

      . I also think it's wrong that wsopro automatically adds my paypal addy to the sellers list.
      Is that how it happens ? I have not purchased a wso in ages but when I did I used a private paypal acct / email, since then i am sure that email has been sold so many times its not funny and the amount of junk email (with no opt out options in most cases) continues to arrive to this day.
      Signature
      | > Choosing to go off the grid for a while to focus on family, work and life in general. Have a great 2020 < |
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4518666].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author talfighel
    Many vendors who do this actually do it for one simple reason:

    They want to follow up with their current customers with other products. While it may piss off many people, this is a great way to make more sales for the vendor.

    If you do buy a product and then have to opt in, just do it and then take yourself off the list as soon as you get the link to download your product.

    Now, if the vendor has no opt out form in the email, that's a totally different story that will make me mad too.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4518656].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author JamesGw
    Considering I don't opt into lists period, I'd be very annoyed if I was forced to after purchasing a product. You could be sure I'd never do that again.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4518795].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author BIG Mike
    Banned
    [DELETED]
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4518800].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Steve Daley
      Originally Posted by BIG Mike View Post

      It's not about the rules and it's not about the extra ten seconds to fill out the form. It's about taking away the consumer's choice...

      The fact that your customer's are marketers is not relevant. What if all of your customers were to say, post purchase, "Now you have to subscribe to my list or I will open a PayPal dispute and get a refund!" Maybe that's what we should all start doing, eh?

      Personally, if I encounter one of these and it was not clearly stated on the sales page, I might choose to report the seller to PayPal and demand a refund.

      I'm not paying for the "Privilege" of opting in to a seller's list. Since you do not legally need me to opt-in to send me product updates anyways, there's no valid reason to force me.

      You obviously know that this tactic pisses people off, so why do it? Why alienate potential future customers who would most likely opt-in anyways if they had a choice?
      It's not a tactic that I've employed myself, but several products that I've purchased in recent times have certainly gone down that path. It's the resulting fallout from some of the purchasers that has caught my attention...quite irate. Interestingly, I have seen 1 or 2 warriors get slammed for it, but keep doing it. I'm not sure that I've come across anyone yet advising of having to opt in prior to purchase/download.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4520964].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author bretski
        Maybe I'm somewhat of a freak but, there are marketers who I actually enjoy getting emails from. I learn from receiving their emails. I study how they do things... how they write, how they structure their title and their offers... how much value they offer. There is a lot to learn if you want to do it right and I actually spent a good portion of the weekend getting ON different marketers email lists! Go ahead... say it! "Bret, you're a freak!"

        I also reply BACK to some of the emails that I receive to see if the marketer actually is genuine and for real. There are a few that will actually write you back and it really is them and not a VA.

        For those that just hammer on me or who I don't believe I am getting any value from or who I can't learn anything from, I either unsub or just delete the email. I tend not to spend a whole lot of time getting upset about something as trivial as getting emails from people I actually bought stuff from. If you want to get upset, get upset at the $h1tweasels that are out and out spammers.
        Signature
        ***Affordable Quality Content Written For You!***
        Experience Content Writer - PM Bretski!
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4521040].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author rts2271
          Making someone optin after they buy is a sign of a incompetent marketer not structuring their funnel correctly, so chances are the product will be incompetent too. That information should be required in the order process and explained it's use in a well crafted privacy policy.

          Making them optin to receive a free product is perfectly acceptable with the same caveats as above.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4521085].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author sirox
    Here's the way to do it: first, provide the download link right after payment is made.

    Below that, put an optin box, and give your valued customer who just paid to buy your stuff a good reason to optin.

    They just paid for your stuff, can't you think of a way to have them optin?

    How about an unadvertised bonus (instead of an upsell)?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4521232].message }}

Trending Topics