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Horrible Bait and Switch Directory

Discussion in 'Directories' started by onlinedude, Aug 15, 2006.

  1. ROAR

    ROAR Well-Known Member Affiliate Manager

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    #41
    Golly Gee---thanks for the clarification there. A debate? Dont flatter yourself.
    We were discussing ethics, I believe. People who aspire to be a manager at a call center or sell viagra may not need them, but most people CHOOSE to have them.
     
    ROAR, Aug 15, 2006 IP
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  2. fatinfo guy

    fatinfo guy Peon

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    #42
    If iWebtool were to refund everyone's 5 dollars, then there would be justification in deleting their permanent listings. That would be fair in letting iWebtool go about modifying their terms and conditions.
     
    fatinfo guy, Aug 15, 2006 IP
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  3. chulium

    chulium Well-Known Member

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    #43
    I say "debate", you say "discuss". The fact that the subject is ethics doesn't change what we're doing with them.
     
    chulium, Aug 15, 2006 IP
  4. donteatchicken

    donteatchicken Well-Known Member

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    #44

    Woah.. Lots of action going on @ politicaldebating dot cum

    0 debates
    0 cross-examinations
    0 rebuttals

    Guess you have to come here to debate, being your "worth it" website is a ghost town.
     
    donteatchicken, Aug 15, 2006 IP
  5. chulium

    chulium Well-Known Member

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    #45
    Their terms and conditions say they can do that without a refund, though, which is all okay with you that bought listings since you agreed with it.

    Is this not EASY to understand? lol

    I'm goin out for air for a while, bbl.
     
    chulium, Aug 15, 2006 IP
  6. chulium

    chulium Well-Known Member

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    #46
    But you see, PoliticalDebating.com isn't listed in iWEBTOOL's directory ;)
     
    chulium, Aug 15, 2006 IP
  7. fatinfo guy

    fatinfo guy Peon

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    #47
    It is really up to owners of iWebtool to determine their actions to retain any goodwill with those who made the lifetime purchases. So far this thread is turning out the be a PR (no it does not stand for pagerank) nightmare for them. Heck everyone on the internet jumps conclusions when the exchange of information happens so fast.

    I understand what terms and conditions are. They should have used a better and more effective one such as mine, "We reserve the right to update, edit, delete, and ban inappropriate site submissions without prior notification." Then there would be no complaints.
     
    fatinfo guy, Aug 15, 2006 IP
  8. SonicReducer

    SonicReducer Peon

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    #48
    It's a disturbing trend I have noticed of unethical directories owners. Hopefully the shady ones will fall out of favor, while the good ones will rise to the top.
     
    SonicReducer, Aug 15, 2006 IP
  9. onlinedude

    onlinedude Peon

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    #49
    While I have no intention of taking it to court, I can say that a court would interpret the TOS very narrowly and I don't think in this case would provide any protection to the directory owner. In any event, the directory owner would still need to explain how he can charge annual fees for something that is "permanent."

    On another note, using compuXP's argument, a directory owner could simply email all sites listed in his directory, say that he's charging $1,000,000,000 per day and if you don't pay up in 24 hours your listing would be deleted. Then, he could simply dump all listings in his directory. Obviously, that doesn't make much sense, regardless of any TOS that may exist.
     
    onlinedude, Aug 15, 2006 IP
  10. dkessaris

    dkessaris Peon

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    #50
    So how is the reccuring fee going to keep the directory clean? Will he do annual reviews of the websites?
    Plus directories don't sell listings, or links (unlike what most people think) they sell reviews and the price of a review can't change retroactively. As a result your argument that you get a year for half price is wrong.
    Finally no one said that he can't do it, the point is that it is bad business. When you sell a service that results in a product and you promise that the client will keep the product forever and then change your mind because you are in control of the product and decide to charge a recurring fee to your old customers, that is bad business. Frankly even if he changes his mind about it (because of the pressure and fear of losing business) he lost at least one former and prospective client.
     
    dkessaris, Aug 15, 2006 IP
  11. freelanceangel

    freelanceangel Peon

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    #51
    Has anyone heard if they will be grandfathered in ? This is really pretty underhanded.
     
    freelanceangel, Aug 15, 2006 IP
  12. yfs1

    yfs1 User Title Not Found

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    #52
    Actually you are completely wrong. That provision allows them to raise the price at any time which is fine. If there was any time period less then "Permanent" then they could raise it..ie Per year, per Month.

    People made a one time purchase of a PERMANENT LINK OR LINKS. It isn't a matter of the price increasing.

    The truth is saying "You agree we can do whatever we want" does not stand up legally so any reference to that has no bearing.

    Obviously it isn't about the $5-$50 people spent. Its just wrong morally and legally and since he is a member here that sells items and services, it deserves to be highlighted no matter what the dollar amount involved.

    This thread serves as a record which can be referenced every time he posts a new thread in the BST section to show his credibility.

    *Note this isn't the first time so it is now a track record which is building
     
    yfs1, Aug 15, 2006 IP
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  13. samsam

    samsam Peon

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    #53
    I agree to ysf1. compuxp, are u a friend of his or his lawyer ?
     
    samsam, Aug 15, 2006 IP
  14. chulium

    chulium Well-Known Member

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    #54
    So why are you all complaining then? He's not SCAMMING you, he's not STEALING from you, he's just doing what's best for his website and you go and try to mob him.

    Well of course you agree, I'm the minority in EVERYTHING here on DP and in life. Nobody really ever agrees with me, so I stick out and make like I'm making a big fuss, when really it's just all you guys against a minority. So... you can either shut up now or we can waste time arguing about something so trivial.
     
    chulium, Aug 15, 2006 IP
  15. onlinedude

    onlinedude Peon

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    #55
    CompuXP may or may not be a moderator at the iwebtool forum.

    Yes he is. He sold something permanent, and then is threatening to take it away it unless we cough up more money.
     
    onlinedude, Aug 15, 2006 IP
  16. GuyFromChicago

    GuyFromChicago Permanent Peon

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    #56
    lol, a directory saying the websites it lists are useless because they "have no purpose other than to generate revenue".

    If that's not the kettle calling the pot black I don't know what it is.
     
    GuyFromChicago, Aug 15, 2006 IP
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  17. dre

    dre Peon

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    #57
    This will be sorted out ASAP guys. Sorry for the inconvenience
     
    dre, Aug 15, 2006 IP
  18. wrmineo

    wrmineo Peon

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    #58
    This is a fall from grace and its sad.

    Trying to justify raising the price to skirt spam is unprofessional and reeks of greed.

    Some directories that I have, which I've taken from the cues of other owners, I have made recip links a nominal fee (a buck or two) to avert spam.

    Saying that rising spam justifies a rise in price doesn't float - directory owners will always get spammed. A conscientious business person would stay on top of it to maintain their image.

    I don't want to be listed in a directory that's not being professionally maintained anyway!

    As pointed out, raise the price on future submissions, but don't burn bridges with those you've developed relationships with and who've entrusted and invested in you.

    Not only will I not renew, I have cancelled subscriptions to other links I placed at iweb and other properties owned or operated by this once revered member.

     
    wrmineo, Aug 15, 2006 IP
  19. munt

    munt Peon

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    #59
    i would like to hear from kenni himself.. not just a somewhat biased mod..
    i have bought atleast 4 listing at the $5 permanant price..
    PERMANANT!!!!!

    and one of the new 9.99 links yesterday before knowing of this....
    i dont give a rats ass about raising the price.. i paid for permanant links in the directory... and thats what i should get...
     
    munt, Aug 15, 2006 IP
  20. dre

    dre Peon

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    #60
    Links that were paid for before (permanant ones) will stay up. New links will follow the new rules. I put my hand to... its a horrible blunder. I obviously didn't look over the notes for the directory when i was typing up the email. There are no excuses, once again sorry! More to follow...
     
    dre, Aug 15, 2006 IP