Unauthorized marketing issue

[Bob at WeldingMag]

All,
A recent promotion by a WeldingWeb marketing customer encouraged WeldingWeb members to include a promotional signatures on all of their posts throughout WeldingWeb.
We were not notified in advance of this promotion; it was not authorized and is not being permitted. I have asked the originator of the promotion to end it immediately, and am asking anyone who has pasted the promotional code into their signature to remove it as before 5 p.m. EST on Friday, Oct. 10.

We have temporarily disabled the signature function on WeldingWeb. This is only a short-term action until this issue is straightened out. It will be enabled again by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10.

At that time, anyone who still has the promotion within their signature will be subject to posting restrictions until the code has been removed.

I apologize for the inconvenience and disruption this is causing for everyone else.

[duaneb55]

Thanks for the heads-up Bob.

[Joe H]

Thank you Bob! I did not think you guys would let the site get spammed from within like that.

[MAC702]

Originally Posted by Bob at WeldingMag

...We have temporarily disabled the signature function on WeldingWeb. ....

I'm thinking that is preventing me from seeing the Edit Signature link...

[denrep]

Originally Posted by Bob at WeldingMag

All,
...I have asked the originator of the promotion to end it immediately, and am asking anyone who has pasted the promotional code into their signature to remove it...

...We have temporarily disabled the signature function on WeldingWeb....

Someone once said "The best laid schemes, Gang oft agley" and with "just enough knowledge to be dangerous" it has finally been proven that "If it ain't broke, you ain't tryin" applies to signature tags too!

Now we're beyond "bringing out the pansies" since "anything worth doing is worth doing right" it's "Big dogs, big dogs! Jumpin' on his face!!"

Now, no "metal mangling industrial prostitute" or lover fighter or wild horse rider can stop the true professional moderator who will do a good job even though he doesn't have to or want to!

[MAC702]

Originally Posted by Longevity

Welding Web did not approve the last contest because of some people complaining.

Okay, now I kinda have a problem with that statement. Either it was allowed by the Terms of Use of the Site or it wasn't. People complaining probably had nothing to do with it, only brought something to the attention of someone with authority.

[longevity-inc.com]

Originally Posted by MAC702

Okay, now I kinda have a problem with that statement. Either it was allowed by the Terms of Use of the Site or it wasn't. People complaining probably had nothing to do with it, only brought something to the attention of someone with authority.

The terms and use of the site never had any guidelines for this type of contest. We are a paid advertiser, but i guess there are limits to what people and the owner want to see on here.

Bob himself stated "I admit this is clever. But you may not do this. Having your signature placed in multiple peoples' signatures is invasice of WeldingWeb in general and is generating an extremely negative response."

Bottom line, the owner of the site pulled the trigger on the contest and asked us to cooperate. Obviously if it went the distance there would be a winner, but now we will come up with another contest and have it approved by WW.

This is also a good time for WW to make some guidelines for contest so this does not happen again. Perhaps, there were some in place, but I did not read them.

Anyway, I am sorry for the troubles caused by this mess. Someone missed a good chance of getting something for free.

Simon

[Bob at WeldingMag]

The signature function has been enabled again. This will allow those who have placed large, promotional text in their signatures to delete it.

Thank you all for your cooperation.

[Bob at WeldingMag]

Originally Posted by longevity-inc.com

The terms and use of the site never had any guidelines for this type of contest. We are a paid advertiser, but i guess there are limits to what people and the owner want to see on here. ...

This is also a good time for WW to make some guidelines for contest so this does not happen again. Perhaps, there were some in place, but I did not read them.
Simon

The guidelines for contests are already clearly outlined in the user agreement under the simple phrase: Marketing activities of any kind are prohibited except with permission from site management, or as allowed within the "Shop, Trade, Sell Forum."


A contest is marketing activity. The terms of your agreement with us, Simon, are that you can do whatever you want within the Longevity forum; but outside of that forum you are subject to the same rules as everyone else.
This contest went astray when it moved into the general WeldingWeb forum in the form of a promotional signature not just on a single user's signature but on many.
We also agreed, after you surprised us with your first contest, that you would give us advance notice of your plans for such promotions. That is partly a courtesy and partly to avoid exactly this kind of situation -- which is embarrassing for you and which puts us in the position of looking like we have broken a commitment we made to members.

[longevity-inc.com]

Bob,

I sent you a PM to your response instead of defending what was discussed in the past publicly.

[specter]

Gee!!! What ever happened to good old fashion contests that didn't requires you to signup, buy, advertise or endorse, etc, etc, etc.

[MAC702]

They only made a profit from the reputation, not from the contest itself. You can't have that!

[Rojodiablo]

Originally Posted by specter

Gee!!! What ever happened to good old fashion contests that didn't requires you to signup, buy, advertise or endorse, etc, etc, etc.

What? SOmething for nothing?? ya...as if!! But I agree with the membership; this went far beyond a simple sig line adjustment, it was like a full page ad, and Simon is not buying that kind of space on the site.

All I want is some peace and harmony, and a few funny quotes and semi-dirty words at the bottom of everyones' posts!!!

[Timberwolf]

Bottom line, the owner of the site pulled the trigger on the contest and asked us to cooperate. Obviously if it went the distance there would be a winner, but now we will come up with another contest and have it approved by WW.

To me it looks like a spin is being put on things here making the site out as the bad guy? Also sounds like now the prize has dissappeared with the contest. Convienient.

[Bob at WeldingMag]

Please let's not read too much into this. Longevity is a valid member of this site, and its paid forum supports this site to allow everyone else to have the discussions they desire. This was an innocent mistake -- an issue of a well-intended marketing promotion getting a little out of bounds.
It's our intention to allow marketing here in a way that helps the marketers, provides benefits to members who are interested, and does not unreasonably alter the experience for those who are not interested.
Sometimes, while trying to walk that line, we may stray to one side or another. At that point, members are quick to let us know and we respond as quickly as we can to make an adjustment.
We have just made an adjustment.
I hope you can accept this at face value.

[MAC702]

No worries, Bob. Just banter.

I think Simon is doing a great job at being available to answer questions and deal with issues. 5 years from now, it'll be interesting to see how this company's rep and products are doing. Maybe they won't need to pay to control their own forum anymore and their satisfied customers will take over their defense,

[zapster]

Originally Posted by MAC702

No worries, Bob. Just banter.

I think Simon is doing a great job at being available to answer questions and deal with issues. 5 years from now, it'll be interesting to see how this company's rep and products are doing. Maybe they won't need to pay to control their own forum anymore and their satisfied customers will take over their defense,

Keep dreaming..

...zap!

[tnjind]

I also hope that a cheaper priced outfit will provide service for the long hual.

Only time will tell, so far I have been generally happy with Simon's responses BUT am not happy with the attempts at agressive promotion of his company.

I would really like for everyone to give the company a chance, but by the same token I would like to see Simon allow everybody a chance to see ALL of the communications. Not just what is "positive" for his company.

I am as RED, WHITE and BLUE as any of you, believe me.

I ask that if Simon's products are as good as he claims, then provide FREE shipment to return defective product, stand behind what you sell and prove to us that you are in fact here for the "long hual".

I really think you can and want to be.

Time for bed, long day.

[MAC702]

Originally Posted by zapster

Keep dreaming..

...zap!

"Master Welder" ... keep dreaming, indeed!

Notice my use of "interesting" and "maybe" before you impute motives about my statements.

[specter]

SO FAR I have been impressed by customer support and "actual" product performance of Longevit! I posted my impression of its product and support at their forum here,

Sure I was a bit disappointed when Longevity used tactics of contest requirements to promote their product. That is a tactic I would have expected of the NeverLast brand.and not the Longevity I have come to know through the feedback in their weldingWeb.

[longevity-inc.com]

Thank you all for the support. We definitely work hard here and extra hours to make sure our customers are always receiving the support. It will be interesting what will happen in the future, especially with what we have in mind. I think you guys will see drastic improvements from Longevity with products and service.

For future contests, we will also work with Bob to see what ideas he can suggest so we do not step on anyone's toes and we will keep in mind what people may or may not want to see.

I am just thankful to be here and hopefully people will see that we run things ethically and are here for the long haul.

Simon

[specter]

Hi Tnjind, I have had defective units rom both Longevity and Everlast.

In each case the same rectifier wire was loose from the same circuit board in both brands units.(guess thats called equal opportunity deployment).

In each case both simon of Longevity and Alex of Everlast provided free return shipping by faxing me the PREPAID DHL shipping label. (yep they both provided free shipping) .

In the Longevity case the prepaid label was faxed to me before I even ended the phone call with Simon. Simon told me the new unit would be delivered NEXT Day when they picked the defective unit.

In the Everlast case Alex had nothing to do with the return shipping label. It was his sales dept clerk/secretary that told me I had to return the defective unit before I would be given a new unit. But even in EverLast case they too provided a prepaid DHL shipping label by fax.

So if you have gotten a defective unit from either Longevity or Everlast I strongly suggest you call their customer service and 1st discuss the defect and 2nd arrange for your prepaid shipping.

Tom

[tnjind]

That is good to hear, stand behind your product or stand aside, I always say, because someone else will pass you up for the dollar.

[Bob at WeldingMag]

All,
The immediate issue has been dealt with so I'm going to lock this thread.
Thank you all for
1) providing your honest opinions so we knew what kind of action was necessary
2) giving us time to deal with the issue
3) allowing that this kind of misunderstanding is an inevitable part of the growth process that is taking place at WeldingWeb.

It's our sincere goal to make WeldingWeb a financial success only through terms that work for the membership overall. Our marketing partners understand this and, as Simon has already indicated, are here to work with us in that spirit.