Power Sellers Unite

Stockmiser · Joined: 03 Jun 2006 Posts: 1169

If you add your site URL to the signature of emails to customers that have ordered something from you, it is not SPAM.

I send out 4 emails for every transaction, the last one being a "thanks for your purchase, I've given you feedback", which also includes a webstore coupon.

The "Can the SPAM" act distinguishes "transactional" email from strictly "advertising" content.

So sending out a strictly promotional email - even to an existing customer that is currently involved in a transaction - is considered SPAM. BUT, sending out a transactional email that also includes advertising is not SPAM - so long as the email BEGINS with the transactional information.

This is explained quite well, with examples, on this FTC page:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/ecommerce/bus61.shtm

So I've always gone with the "signature" for my basic advertising, and use the lower portion of the "thank you" email for my coupon. That appears to be in compliance with both the intent and specifics of the Act.

Jerryb · Joined: 15 Mar 2009 Posts: 444

And might I add...
most customers are thrilled to see a seller that takes the time to communicate the progress of a sale to them in this way. I have never had a complaint about sending emails to anyone. common sense of course applies.

Title of the email helps to clarify its purpose

Item#.s "winning of sale" Thanks!
Body- thanks! and such...
-------------------------
Add info with links to HUB or website

thegolfingdolphin · Joined: 13 Jan 2009 Posts: 695

Jerryb - Use your website as a hub fior your alt sites- it works well.

I am not sure of this practice. My thought on this is to always lead the customer to your web-site. I do not want to lead my customers to Alt sites because, this gives the customer the opportunity to look around and possibly purchase another item from another seller. Even if the customer purchased from you at an alt site, you will now more than likely have FVF at the Alt site, where you will not at your own Web-site.

Jerryb · Joined: 15 Mar 2009 Posts: 444

I understand fully. I wish i had the time to list my inventory at my website and paypal link each item. I probably do if i just took it. I am on about the 100th total revamp of the site so if i had of stuck with one plan i would be golden by now. lol. So my website and alt sites are sorta the same place with interacting links.

My solution at this point is to list at places like ecrater with no FVF and at places that actually do get some customers for you like Delcampe and Etsy. I am leaning toward moving most all items to my website and places like ecrater in the future so zero FVF for everything or at least double list items even if unique. Jewelry sales are different than gemstone, stamp, coin, postcard sales so it all takes a bit of thought.

my problem is i need to stick with a plan and follow through. :-)

RatherRuss · Joined: 05 Mar 2008 Posts: 135

Hey Jerryb, you were very helpful to me about 3/4 mos. ago about listing on DelCampe, unfortunately I had one sale the lst week and ZERO since. That's life, but it seems to be the same for everybody besides the damned Ebay machine, which certainly makes one pay for a sale.....I have had a website for years, over 3million hits and less than a 100 sales, some good ones, but not many....seems this is the irony of the web, lots of looks, no sales, DelCampe is the same as I have had tons of looks, no sales there.....Hope you find the right market for your goods, I know you do media, but other than the occasional bonanzle, Gemm, I only sell things on Ebay, disheartening to say the least...Rather Russ at www.dedicatedfool.com

DaLizardsLair · Joined: 15 Feb 2009 Posts: 4780

Jerryb wrote (View Post): › docWrite("quote")Nice Post Stockmiser - Just to add a couple thing

Every chance you get send your link to your customers via your email system. they are your customers and with the constitution in this country you can do that. lol.

Perhaps you can point out the part I took out of context.

The statement above could mean that anytime you get in new items, send an email to everyone you've ever done business with on eBay. That would constitute SPAM.

It could also mean that when the buyer pays you, when you ship their item, etc., you send them an email that contains the link to your off-eBay website. While that would not be spam, that quite probably would violate one of eBay's ever-changing list of rules, that could get you kicked off of eBay.

As to your other assertions.

No, I don't try to attach myself to every post. I do post when I have something to say, whether you can comprehend it or not. If you don't want me commenting on anything you have to say, then don't say anything.

If by your comment about being a "real" seller on eBay, you mean currently selling, then NO, I'm not a real seller. But I did sell over two thousand items there, when I was actively selling there.

So, by your definition, I guess I was real, but I'm not any longer?