pixiamom
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posted on May 9, 2008 10:18:45 AM new
Is it "legal" to use eBay's messaging system to solicit sales? I'm trying to be a good seller and weed through the crap ASQ to get to the few legitimate questions, and now I'm finding messages from sellers that I might have purchased from in the past, telling me what they're currently listing. I don't need any more clutter in my inbox.
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zippy2dah
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posted on May 9, 2008 11:00:11 AM new
No, this is illegal and it is reportable.
It pisses me off too.
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zippy2dah
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posted on May 9, 2008 11:03:43 AM new
"Some examples of spam include:
Unsolicited email or Skype offers to potential buyers for items that are the same or similar to items a member is bidding on or has bid on in the past
Email or Smype {sic} messages sent to a member from a mailing list without the member’s explicit permission
Direct or stand-alone invitations to join a mailing list
Email sent using the "Contact eBay Member" link on the eBay Web site to send unsolicited commercial offers"
http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/rfe-spam-ov.html
(Yes, lol, they really did spell it SMYPE.)
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roadsmith
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posted on May 9, 2008 11:47:04 AM new
Some of my buyers beg me to let them know when I have another item on eBay in the category they'll be interested in getting. I do send them those messages, usually not through eBay, but surely that should be okay to do?
_____________________
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dd731
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posted on May 9, 2008 12:48:32 PM new
I went to an eBay selling seminar last summer and they were telling people to set up a website and stock it with items from their warehouses (drop-ship) and the way to make real money was to contact eBay sellers through ASQ.
They had statistics on how many sellers did not have their own website and of course would want access to all this additional merchandise. They were also told to contact bidders on items and give the link to their websites for items similar to what they were bidding on. Of course, now with eBay hiding bidders, that won't work. It was really a scam for thousands of $$ and many of the people there were older and had never sold on eBay.
They showed bogus auctions (had to be) with winning bids on some of their items such as a used laptop that sold for $6,000 --. What's really bad is that all the way through they kept making it sound like they were almost in partnership with eBay. When I left early there were a few people at the tables "signing up" I just wanted to scream "This is a SCAM"
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zippy2dah
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posted on May 9, 2008 04:57:07 PM new
Some of my buyers beg me to let them know when I have another item on eBay in the category they'll be interested in getting. I do send them those messages, usually not through eBay, but surely that should be okay to do?
Yes.
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ST0NEC0LD613
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posted on May 10, 2008 07:34:18 AM new
Sorry zippy, but your not correct when you state that is not legal.
Pixi said it was from sellers that she purchased from in the past. That is legal because she already is their customer.
Now if she said that she had never had any previous contact, then it would be against the rules as those are unsolicited, much like your examples.
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ggardenour
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posted on May 10, 2008 08:01:49 AM new
Yes STONECOLD is correct. Once you purchase an item'service or whatever you become fair game for that business to e-market you. It was that way when I ran the internet department for a car dealership. One thing about automotive retail is you learn to CYA. But if I remember right there is a time limit I am thinking it was only 6 months after the purchase unless of course you signed up for the mailing list.
ggardenour
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zippy2dah
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posted on May 10, 2008 08:26:58 AM new
"Unsolicited: The email or Skype message has been sent without the permission of the person who received it."
I admit I am a bit surprised that adults don't understand the meaning of the word "unsolicited."
A previous eBay transaction is not permission for future correspondence through the ASQ feature. The only way a previous seller can contact you to solicit sales through the ASQ feature "legally" is if you have agreed to such contact or have joined their mailing list.
Thus, their spam would be SOLICITED.
"It was that way when I ran the internet department for a car dealership."
Ummm, this question was in reference to eBay, not your previous place of employment.
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zippy2dah
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posted on May 10, 2008 08:44:57 AM new
8:31:43 AM PDT Marissa L.
Hello, thanks for waiting and welcome to eBay Live Help! My name is Marissa. How may I help you?
8:32:02 AM PDT zippy2dah
Hi Marissa. I just have a quick (hypothetical situation) question.
8:32:21 AM PDT Marissa L.
Hello there!
8:32:45 AM PDT zippy2dah
If I have purchased something from a seller in the past, do they have the right to send me future purchase offers through the ASQ feature?
8:33:34 AM PDT zippy2dah
Or is this considered spam?
8:34:38 AM PDT Marissa L.
Hmm.. you may consider it as a spam.
8:35:40 AM PDT zippy2dah
Even if we have had a previous transaction?
8:35:53 AM PDT Marissa L.
Is the seller asking you to purchase the items outside of eBay?
8:36:22 AM PDT zippy2dah
No, they are just sending me messages through the Message Center asking me to bid on their current listings.
8:36:41 AM PDT zippy2dah
I have not asked to be put on a mailing list or anything like that.
8:38:53 AM PDT Marissa L.
I see. Then this is considered as unwanted emails.
8:38:53 AM PDT Marissa L.
You have the option to file a report on this to Trust and Safety Department.
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pixiamom
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posted on May 10, 2008 09:25:49 AM new
Thanks. Zippy. I decided instead to reply to the message, telling them it was an inappropriate use of the message system and in the future, I don't want them to clutter my inbox. Next time I'll report them.
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zippy2dah
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posted on May 10, 2008 09:48:26 AM new
That's a very classy way to handle it, Pixia.
Some people (as evidenced in posts above) genuinely do not understand that they are breaking the eBay rules and it's kind of you to give them the benefit of the doubt. Once.
More than once, yes, take them down. Yeeee haw!
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ggardenour
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posted on May 10, 2008 09:30:39 PM new
Gee Zippy,
You comment "I admit I am a bit surprised that adults don't understand the meaning of the word "unsolicited. Ummm, this question was in reference to eBay, not your previous place of employment."
I am more suprised that adults named Zippy don't understand the meaning of "legal". Breaking an eBay rule doesn't make something illegal. Sue the person that sent you that email and see how far you get.
Now I will repeat my earlier post real slow so you can understand it Zippy. If you do business with someone on the internet they have the legal right to email you until you ask to them stop. It doesn't make a rats butt if its a car dealership internet department, eBay or any place else.
Just hit the delete button and block it. Problem solved or is that too hard?
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zippy2dah
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posted on May 10, 2008 09:58:23 PM new
:::: directing your attention to the opening post of the thread:::::
Pixia asked a question about eBay rules. Not car salesman rules, not internet in general rules but eBay rules.
That's why she asked "is it "legal" to use eBay's messaging system to solicit sales?" not "is it legal to use the internet to solicit sales?"
That's why I linked to eBay rules.
When you use eBay, you agree to play by their rules.
The situation she described is against eBay rules thus not legal by eBay standards. This reportable. Thus NOT "LEGAL."
"Just hit the delete button and block it. Problem solved or is that too hard?"
So far as I know, there is no way to block mail sent through eBay's messaging system. You may be able to block it from your email inbox, but you might end up blocking other eBay email at the same time and it will show up in your My eBay regardless.
So yeah, it may be harder than you think.
[ edited by zippy2dah on May 10, 2008 09:59 PM ]
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pixiamom
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posted on May 10, 2008 11:17:05 PM new
I put legal in quotes because I meant eBay legal.
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ggardenour
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posted on May 11, 2008 07:10:28 AM new
OK OK I give. I got things to do items to list. I was just trying to be helpful.
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ST0NEC0LD613
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posted on May 11, 2008 08:10:36 AM new
Garden is right about zippy not understanding what "unsolicitated" means. Zippy's live help person didn't get it right either, but at this point, it seems usless to continue with this thread.
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zippy2dah
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posted on May 11, 2008 08:38:36 AM new
I remember that when I was in high school I was taught that 70% of adult Americans are functionally illiterate.
I didn't believe it at the time.
Once again, using EBAY'S MESSAGING SYSTEM to send UNSOLICITED SPAM to ANYONE ON EBAY is NOT LEGAL by EBAY RULES.
I can draw you some pictures if you think that will help.
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