I feel like I got tricked to opt into someone's email list!

29 replies
Hi everyone,

I just thought i'd relate over a little story I had in the WSO section. I am rarely in that section as I have little to no need to ever be there. However, I was looking for a specific offer which I wanted assistance for in an area of my business and bought something which seemed to fit the bill.

I then wrote my honest feedback of the product on the thread which to be honest wasn't meeting my expectations and certainly didn't fit in with the sales page description. I went to bed and woke up to a PM apologising for being rude and saying he had some worksheets and videos which could help me out.

Now obviously I had no idea what he was talking about and thought it was just a spam PM. However, when I went back to the thread to check any updates from others I saw a long post from him criticising my feedback on the product.

It was strange because i'm fine with people disagreeing or seeing things differently that's normal of course, but to me he really jumped to conclusions. Even the vendor went out of his way to say that I had problems with his product and they're working on it and what I was saying was fair comment.

I then rechecked the PM that guy sent me and he was offering some worksheets and videos in that kind of area to help me out, and if there was an email he could send it to. I gave it to him and he did in fact send it to me. It suddenly occured to me when I saw the double optin aweber form that I wonder if this whole thing was just another marketing attempt to get me on his list. I didn't subscribe and checked out what he sent me which was nothing too exciting to be honest.

Anyway, a couple of things now strike me in retrospect:
1. Should I have reported his post as although he was kind of addressing my feedback he clearly didn't know all the ins and outs and it really made me look a bit silly to other people checking out that thread?

2. What do you think of this apparant attempt to get me on his email list, a decent effort lol?

Joel
#email #feel #list #opt #tricked
  • Profile picture of the author samanthaelandon
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    • Profile picture of the author marketinguk
      Originally Posted by samanthaelandon View Post

      Yes. You should give him an A for the effort. He did tried after all.
      I will try and be fair and assume this was an attmept at a meaningful post and not pure spam, so I think it was indeed a decent attempt.

      Joel
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      • Profile picture of the author Cee
        Well it's certainly a hard way to build an email list. How many threads would he have to go into and write insulting comments in order to send an apologetic PM to get people on his email list? Are people who are insulted by someone really likely to buy from them anyways? I don't know about this one.
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        • Profile picture of the author marketinguk
          Originally Posted by Cee View Post

          Well it's certainly a hard way to build an email list. How many threads would he have to go into and write insulting comments in order to send an apologetic PM to get people on his email list? Are people who are insulted by someone really likely to buy from them anyways? I don't know about this one.
          I totally agree with you Cee, I know how I felt about it and am pretty sure others would be put off as well.
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        • Profile picture of the author imchillin
          Originally Posted by Cee View Post

          Well it's certainly a hard way to build an email list. How many threads would he have to go into and write insulting comments in order to send an apologetic PM to get people on his email list? Are people who are insulted by someone really likely to buy from them anyways? I don't know about this one.
          LOL!!! This is actually really funny! I agree with this quote above and if someone actually went through all of that trouble just to get you on his list, that you can opt out of anytime, and will probably never buy anything from him bc of the insulting comments, is hilarious!!! I know the "money is in the list" but sheesh! its true but not THAT literal, lol!!!!! Thanks for posting Joel, I got a kick out of that story! (Sorry about whatever the insults were though )
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        • Profile picture of the author WraithSarko
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        • Profile picture of the author jamiebarclay
          Originally Posted by Cee View Post

          Well it's certainly a hard way to build an email list. How many threads would he have to go into and write insulting comments in order to send an apologetic PM to get people on his email list? Are people who are insulted by someone really likely to buy from them anyways? I don't know about this one.
          I couldn't agree more. What a painstaking and slow way to build a list of subscribers.
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  • Profile picture of the author wordpressmania
    It is bad if you find a WSO that is not what it was offering. You should continue posting on the thread so that other people can understand what is going on....
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  • Profile picture of the author Ismael Zarruqui
    Some people think that they are the most clever on the world..they insult your intelligence with such kinda silly PMs ..or come up with new "strategies" to build their "list"
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  • Profile picture of the author mrmarketer1
    A lot of effort to go to when people can just scroll down and unsubscribe at any time - especially if it was aweber....
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  • Profile picture of the author SShip
    As the WSO customer, you had every right to leave your honest feedback without repercussions from others as long as you were honest without slamming the vendor (which I'm not suggesting you did).

    If he was truly sorry about his post directed at you, he could have gone in and deleted it. But instead, he left his comment and then went running to you in a private message where nobody could see it and apologized and tried to push his stuff onto you.

    If I was in your shoes, I would have taken that as spam and reported it. The entire way he went about things was very unprofessional and a sneaky tactic.
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    • Profile picture of the author Diana Meyer
      Originally Posted by SShip View Post

      As the WSO customer, you had every right to leave your honest feedback without repercussions from others as long as you were honest without slamming the vendor (which I'm not suggesting you did).

      If he was truly sorry about his post directed at you, he could have gone in and deleted it. But instead, he left his comment and then went running to you in a private message where nobody could see it and apologized and tried to push his stuff onto you.

      If I was in your shoes, I would have taken that as spam and reported it. The entire way he went about things was very unprofessional and a sneaky tactic.
      I totally agree with SShip! Maybe he left the comment because he is promoting that product so he wanted people to read it.... who knows :confused: Anyway, don't stay on that negative experience... go forward and grow your business
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  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    You criticize his product publicly in his thread, which is your right. He reaches out to try and correct the problem and you come here and ask if he's spamming because you needed to opt into his list? :rolleyes:

    I think I'd take the high road and assume he's trying to build a relationship and gain back your trust. I think your post here on the main forum is out of line since now, anyone can look through your posts and track this whole thing down. Maybe that was your intention...
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    • Profile picture of the author SShip
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      • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
        Originally Posted by SShip View Post

        It wasn't the vendor who PM'd him, it was someone else. This is what he said about the vendor:
        It doesn't matter. We have one side of the story here. This whole thread is inappropriate.
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        • Profile picture of the author marketinguk
          Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

          It doesn't matter. We have one side of the story here. This whole thread is inappropriate.
          Hi, I have thought about what you're saying and although I didn't mean this to go the way it has including someone insulting someone else on the thread, I have asked for the thread to be closed down.

          I was just trying to make a small point that's all, that I wasn't impressed with what went on but that's it.

          Joel
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        • Profile picture of the author WraithSarko
          Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

          It doesn't matter. We have one side of the story here. This whole thread is inappropriate.
          Well give us your side
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        • Profile picture of the author salegurus
          Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

          It doesn't matter. We have one side of the story here. This whole thread is inappropriate.
          Well luckily for us it's not up to you
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  • Profile picture of the author hustlinsmoke
    Edited. Thank you for being honest with your review. If more people would be honest with there review we would have better wso's on here.

    I don't think he was trying to scam you, I think he was going the distance to try to sway your decision. He probably has the stuff set up to work off a optin and just did it that way.

    I for one wouldn't care to have you on my list if you didn't like my product.

    I think your going overboard on your thoughts and besides I do not think there is a rule where if someone pm's you they can't send you an optin form. You can't do it in threads but if its a pm that would be different.

    I just reviewed one wso that I gave rave reviews too. This is one of the first ones I actually used that actually works. But I have given alot of bad reviews and do not feel bad at all.

    These people are putting up trash faster than anything and then when you look at the wso half the people posting have 0 replies to there name so you know they are fluffing there posts.
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  • Profile picture of the author marketinguk
    Well I asked for the thread to be closed but it hasn't happened yet.

    However, it appears hustlinsmoke knows what i'm talking about and I thought the guy's public criticism without knowing the facts was inappropriate. This was confirmed by the fact the vendor was actually defending me in the next post.

    I just think it's a pretty sad state of events that's all.
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    • Profile picture of the author hustlinsmoke
      You just stick to your guns, if we let these 24 hour posters, post these wso's day in and day out with no recourse then we let them rip people off.
      You state your mind and ignore the ones that bash you, Its my job to stop them, its your job to use your freedom of speech.

      Originally Posted by Joel Ross View Post

      Well I asked for the thread to be closed but it hasn't happened yet.

      However, it appears hustlinsmoke knows what i'm talking about and I thought the guy's public criticism without knowing the facts was inappropriate. This was confirmed by the fact the vendor was actually defending me in the next post.

      I just think it's a pretty sad state of events that's all.
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      • Profile picture of the author marketinguk
        Originally Posted by hustlinsmoke View Post

        You just stick to your guns, if we let these 24 hour posters, post these wso's day in and day out with no recourse then we let them rip people off.
        You state your mind and ignore the ones that bash you, Its my job to stop them, its your job to use your freedom of speech.
        I feel safe now with your protection what a relief to have my back covered lol.

        Well this guy launching isn't a newbie to this forum by any means so in this case that isn't the case but generally I agree with you.

        Thanks
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  • Profile picture of the author hustlinsmoke
    Yeah, man, we need to take action and make our opinions known, do you know how many people post things that just are not true to get a post in. Reviews are the same way. We need to slow down the wso's going through the pipeline that are worthless.
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  • Profile picture of the author ChrisMoon
    Seems like a very inefficient way to get you on his email list, think he has trying to help you
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    • Profile picture of the author marketinguk
      Originally Posted by ChrisMoon View Post

      Seems like a very inefficient way to get you on his email list, think he has trying to help you
      If he was he had an interesting way of showing it with a huge deflamatory post and then via PM I got loads of apologies, it smells a tiny bit to me.
      However, if it was meant with the best of intentions then I can understand it and if so then cool.

      Joel
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      • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
        It doesn't matter. We have one side of the story here. This whole thread is inappropriate.
        How?

        I personally think it's in praise of the vendor, so I see no problem there. Any seller who defends an unhappy customer by pointing out that their criticisms are valid deserves Karma Points.

        A lot of people missed the fact that the nasty comments came from an uninvolved third party, NOT the WSO seller.

        Now, it's possible the person sending the PM regularly offers the worksheets and whatever as a signup bonus for their list. They may not have meant it as a sneaky way to get the opt-in. It may just have been a clumsy effort at apology.

        Of course, if they really mean it, they could just go back and edit the post containing the insults. They may not know they can do that, though...

        Either way, it serves as a useful reminder to be aware of how things will be perceived.


        Paul
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        • Profile picture of the author marketinguk
          Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

          How?

          I personally think it's in praise of the vendor, so I see no problem there. Any seller who defends an unhappy customer by pointing out that their criticisms are valid deserves Karma Points.

          A lot of people missed the fact that the nasty comments came from an uninvolved third party, NOT the WSO seller.

          Now, it's possible the person sending the PM regularly offers the worksheets and whatever as a signup bonus for their list. They may not have meant it as a sneaky way to get the opt-in. It may just have been a clumsy effort at apology.

          Of course, if they really mean it, they could just go back and edit the post containing the insults. They may not know they can do that, though...

          Either way, it serves as a useful reminder to be aware of how things will be perceived.


          Paul
          Thank you Paul I totally agree with you here and i've tried to make it clear that this is not a vendor issue and indeed you are correct the vendor should be praised for his actions and honesty in the matter and not shirking away from the situation.

          As the person didn't go back and edit the post it made me slightly suspicious of the poster's true motive. He is not a newbie here so i'd be suprised if he didn't know how to edit a post.

          Joel
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          • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
            Joel,
            He is not a newbie here so i'd be surprised if he didn't know how to edit a post.
            If that's the standard, be prepared to be surprised.

            A lot of people don't know any more of the functions than to hit reply and type. Seriously. If they never need them, they wouldn't go looking for them.


            Paul
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            • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
              Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

              A lot of people don't know any more of the functions than to hit reply and type.
              Yes I suspect having to add the edit button to their knowledgebase would be daunting.
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              • Profile picture of the author marketinguk
                Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

                Joel,If that's the standard, be prepared to be surprised.

                A lot of people don't know any more of the functions than to hit reply and type. Seriously. If they never need them, they wouldn't go looking for them.


                Paul
                Well then I am suprised by this to be honest, even when I was new here I quickly worked out that you can edit a post by clicking on the relevant button.

                Oh well :rolleyes:.

                Originally Posted by Richard Van View Post

                Yes I suspect having to add the edit button to their knowledgebase would be daunting.
                LOL
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  • Profile picture of the author hustlinsmoke
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  • Profile picture of the author Terry Kyle
    Originally Posted by Joel Ross View Post

    Hi everyone,

    I just thought i'd relate over a little story I had in the WSO section. I am rarely in that section as I have little to no need to ever be there. However, I was looking for a specific offer which I wanted assistance for in an area of my business and bought something which seemed to fit the bill.

    I then wrote my honest feedback of the product on the thread which to be honest wasn't meeting my expectations and certainly didn't fit in with the sales page description. I went to bed and woke up to a PM apologising for being rude and saying he had some worksheets and videos which could help me out.

    Now obviously I had no idea what he was talking about and thought it was just a spam PM. However, when I went back to the thread to check any updates from others I saw a long post from him criticising my feedback on the product.

    It was strange because i'm fine with people disagreeing or seeing things differently that's normal of course, but to me he really jumped to conclusions. Even the vendor went out of his way to say that I had problems with his product and they're working on it and what I was saying was fair comment.

    I then rechecked the PM that guy sent me and he was offering some worksheets and videos in that kind of area to help me out, and if there was an email he could send it to. I gave it to him and he did in fact send it to me. It suddenly occured to me when I saw the double optin aweber form that I wonder if this whole thing was just another marketing attempt to get me on his list. I didn't subscribe and checked out what he sent me which was nothing too exciting to be honest.

    Anyway, a couple of things now strike me in retrospect:
    1. Should I have reported his post as although he was kind of addressing my feedback he clearly didn't know all the ins and outs and it really made me look a bit silly to other people checking out that thread?

    2. What do you think of this apparant attempt to get me on his email list, a decent effort lol?

    Joel
    I can relate.

    One of my pet hates in IM/life is a lack of consistency in tone/style e.g. on a sales thread, a vendor is as sweet as pie but on normal threads, they're abusive, aggressive and patronising - especially to newbies (which we all were once!).
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    • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
      Terry,
      One of my pet hates in IM/life is a lack of consistency in tone/style e.g. on a sales thread, a vendor is as sweet as pie but on normal threads, they're abusive, aggressive and patronising - especially to newbies (which we all were once!).
      It's probably because I see the complaints, but I notice more of the reverse. People who are normally rational and civil losing it in sales threads and bashing customers or prospects.

      Sometimes you don't realize what goes on in these situations until you jump in. It's easy for someone to be overwhelmed by the issues involved in a successful sales thread if they've never had one before.

      One guy got WSOtD for his first offer and completely lost it. He had no idea of the challenges inexperienced buyers can have, or the nastiness impatient people can throw at you if their questions aren't answered within 10 minutes - even at 3 AM.

      And the obviously dishonest refunds? Dude about exploded.

      Then one of the random zero-post members told him that if the seller didn't give him a free "review" copy, he'd go into the thread and leave a nasty review, complete with the claim that the guy refused to refund him.

      Blast-off, bay-bay.

      I understand that. Just as I understand someone being nicer to customers than random strangers. Doesn't mean it's the best way, but it at least makes sense.


      Paul
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