Greengate
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posted on December 12, 2002 08:56:04 AM
The new policy does not allow collection of email addresses without asking permission. So now we have a conflict with the AW mailing lists that have been collected. Your thoughts on the new policy?????
***Spam Policy Update***
eBay has always maintained strict guidelines regarding the use of eBay member information by other users, especially pertaining to unsolicited email messages, sometimes called "spam".
Under Section 5 of the eBay User Agreement, we prohibit a member from using another eBay member's email address for "unsolicited, commercial" email (spam) or for any other reason, unless the member has expressly provided permission to use it in that manner.
In order to clarify our policy, we have updated the Help pages to further describe eBay's position on spam.
Below are a few examples of what we do not allow:
·An email sent to active bidders in an open listing offering the same or similar items;
·Adding email addresses to your mailing list without first obtaining permission from the members involved (this includes past bidders and sellers);
·Sending a direct or stand-alone email invitation to members to join your mailing list;
·Soliciting a seller to sell a listed item outside of eBay, including using the "Ask seller a question" link to solicit a seller.
We do allow members to include a link or message within standard transaction-based emails to encourage buyers or sellers to join their mailing list.
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jrome
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posted on December 12, 2002 09:30:03 PM
This sounds like eBay is getting ready to use those "ask a seller" questions to prove spamming. So they'll start saving them. So they might start monitoring them. But I'm a cynic.
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sun818
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posted on December 12, 2002 11:18:13 PM
I've been saying all along that eBay would take action on naughty "Ask Seller A Queston" emails. They realize is a revenue leak. Before TradeOut.com got bought out by eBay, they used to monitor the e-mails. Any wording that indicated you were trying to deal outside the venue got you suspended.
[li] Time to put a "Contact Us" form on my auctions.
[li] Time to put some of my eggs in other baskets
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pretegra345
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posted on December 12, 2002 11:57:34 PM
*shakes head*
Have any of you heard of Opt-In e-mail marketing? E.g. You need to have someone's permission to send them marketing e-mails? Notice how practically every web site/e-commerce vendor ASKS if they can send you marketing related e-mails?
Well, based on the guidelines that most ethical e-commerce companies have been working under for the last 6 or so years -- using the mailing addresses collected by AW without asking the customer's permission has always constituted SPAM.
It's nothing new, it's not eBay being evil -- it's the basic rules of ethics most companies follow.
-M
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Greengate
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posted on December 13, 2002 08:49:58 AM
I think this is a little more complex regarding contacts with customers. In particular this rule:
"·Adding email addresses to your mailing list without first obtaining permission from the members involved (this includes past bidders and sellers);"
Here's an example. A yahoo store attracts a customer, customer finds a link on the web site to ebay auction which are offering sale and closeout items. The customers goes for the discounted items on Ebay that the Yahoo store has directed them to, wins bid, processess via AW and becomes part of the AW mailing list.
Who's customer is it? Ebay is a venue, a Yahoo store is an online business. I feel that the customer uses Ebay only as a link to the web sites inventory on sale. The web site store should be able to use that customers email freely as a valued customer as they have obviously expressed their interest. Marketing to qualified customers has been a standard practice in business. It is Ebay that thinks they can rewrite the rules.
Ebay claims over and over that they are only a "venue" and that is how we prefer to use them. Now they are becoming a "bank" and just a bit more controlling than a "Venue" should be. One thing we don't need in business is a "Big Brother" controlling the Internet commerce.
Another example, we have used PayPal for over two years on our website for some sales. Now ebay will be claiming even those customers as their exclusive territory.
[ edited by Greengate on Dec 13, 2002 08:58 AM ]
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tooltimes
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posted on December 13, 2002 09:34:05 AM
My friend bid a few dollars on one of those ebay real estate auctions that start at $1 to get her four free daily Christmas contest entries and within a few days got a spam email from the seller about the real estate auction and other properties the seller had in the area. The seller was obviously using the auction to gather contacts. This must be going on a grand scale on ebay. My friend turned the seller in for spam but the auction wasn't pulled.
I think ebay is getting ready to crack down on the abuse.
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Reamond
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posted on December 13, 2002 09:41:37 AM
The people spamming to the greatest and most egregious degree are probably the same people eBay can't suspend because they have 50 different IDs.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on December 13, 2002 09:46:13 AM
"Marketing to qualified customers has been a standard practice in business. It is Ebay that thinks they can rewrite the rules."
There's nothing stopping you (except expense) from sending snail mail to your prospects.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on December 13, 2002 09:53:42 AM
Here's another idea:
Send each of your prospects 1 cent ("quasi-cash" via PayPal. You're allowed to send a note along with your gift; make that your marketing email.
Bwah-hah-hah!
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sun818
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posted on December 14, 2002 01:31:17 AM
Great, Paypal gets to make $0.35 on every transaction.
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