I've set up a classified ad script for a specific hobby. Was thinking of going to Craigslist and emailing everyone through the craigslist email (34758943y67@craiglist.com). Is that against craigslist rules? What can they do?
Regardless its illegal cause its going to be considered spam, cause the users didnt optin for your email for your ad.
I run a network of classified ad sites. My last one I went to other classified ad sites that were related to mine and sent quite a few emails to those users. I probably got about 30 replys... all saying thanks. Never did get a complaint... I highly doubt anyone would be mad if I did it... if it helps them sell what they are trying to sell, why would they be mad?
Go read up on the CAN-SPAM act. Yes, what you doing is illegal even though your intentions might be good.
When I owned a pets classified website, I would send users of other classified websites emails about my website. The people I sent the emails to didn't consider them spam because each email was personalized and I offered them a deal (free listing). I was offering a way for them to list their pets on a site better catered to their needs. Most people replied saying thank you for the offer while some just kindly replied no thank you. People don't like bulk generic emails. (Actually the only bad emails I got were from people protesting breeders and exotic pets.)
A lot of bulk emails are "personalized" these days. You can scrape a name about as easily as an email address. I get them all the time. And I report every one of them to the FTC. If you don't have their permission, you shouldn't be sending commercial emails... period.
Nice and easy for you: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/buspubs/canspam.shtm Yes, SPAM is illegal if not opt in.
Hey! Be nice to the lady. Anyway, I believe she is probably wasting her time spending those emails to the FTC as they probably do not have the time or manpower to investigate them
I do believe that there are ways to send "spam" without it being spam. As long as you make it a clear advertisement and offer opt-out methods and a physical address. I think the CAN-SPAM website describes the way to make it possible.
Yeah, it's illegal but you won't get in trouble for it...like the other guys said, they don't investigate it. BUT...it will give you bad karma!
Nice to see the "class" we have around here. If you're going to break the law, I'm going to report it. I did have one repeat offender definitely stopped after aggressively reporting them (a PR site actually that repeatedly scraped the email address - multiple ones - and would re-add them shortly after sending requests to be removed. I'd even contacted the site owner personally by digging up their contact info, and had him personally remove it (although whining all the way), only to have it put back on multiple times.... not anymore. Hey... if you want to break the law, go for it. But don't do it in my inbox if you think you'll get away with it. I'm also the one that would happily report you to your host, registrar, any ISP blacklists that accept suggestions for mass-blacklisting, my state attorney general's office if appropriate, or anywhere else that strikes my fancy until it either completely stops or I'm content with the results... depending of course on exactly how much your spam ticked me off on any given day.
http-www-craigslist.org/about/terms.of.use.html (sorry, can't post links) Term #7 says: You agree not to post, email, or otherwise make available Content: ... ... k) that constitutes or contains "affiliate marketing," "link referral code," "junk mail," "spam," "chain letters," "pyramid schemes," or unsolicited commercial advertisement; I'd say that as long as you abide by the terms on their site you should be fine. Its up to you to determine if what you are doing is "unsolicited commercial advertising" (I'd say it is).
SPAM sucks but business proposals for other similar business, if kept at a sober level, is okay in my book.