I have been reluctant to sell a massive forum I own because I'm not certain as to the ethics of transferring a database with so many email addresses. Of course, I've had potential buyers tell me it is the only way they will buy it (email addresses intact). Please chime in if you have had experience with this, or have thoughts on the matter. Is it prudent simply to tell my members that they can remove their email address or something similar before the sale if they choose to? Thoughts?
Its the normal way to sell a forum. There is nothing wrong with it. As long as the new buyer did not do anything bad about the email then its fine.
I have no idea what a potential buyer will do with the database, actually. Just looking to get out and make a little coin.
You have a valid concern for your loyal members. But.... After the sale, you have no control over what the buyer would do with the email addresses, the website or the domain name. Maybe the whole thing will be torn down and something else put in it's place. Maybe ads put in posts. Maybe nothing. If you decide to sell, you could include the right to inform your members of the sale and their option to remove/change their email address as one of the terms of sale.
That's exactly what I was thinking. A dozen or so members are actually active anyway. They would be the ones I would come clean with. The rest....I'm not so sure, other than a general posting about the sale?
That should work. At least they are informed. I just purchased ~100 hosting clients from a company that did NOT inform their clients of the sale. You don't want to know the fury
With spam filters being as good as they are these days I'm not as precious about my email addresses as I used to be. I think you'll find other people are more relaxed too.