Is this spam???

[Spider]

I'm not sure how to reply - without going through your post, line for line. I have probably done too much of that already.

It seems you are using the word "spam" as an adjective - to you, an annoying message is spam (whether it is UCE or direct mail advertising DMA or a telephone call) and an acceptable message is not spam (whether e-mail or snail mail or a telephone call.)

To me, spam is a noun, and as such has a specific definition. The definition of spam includes that it is e-mail. Anything that is similar in other ways but is not e-mail cannot be spam - by definition. A table is not a chair nor a dog even though they all have four legs.


UCE and DMA (direct mail advertising) are both annoying and wasteful. You keep saying that you don't understand why people get upset over UCE but not over DMA. Well, I think they do. I do. And seemingly, you do. They are more or less equally annoying. But Doug didn't ask about DMA, he only asked about UCE. I have been trying to keep this thread on topic, so let me say now that I am equally intolerant of DMA.

More so, in fact - I hate the idea of chopping down a tree that took 20 years to grow and provided habitat for birds and other wildlife, that was sawn up and processed into paper, arrives at my door as advertising, is torn up without having been read and ends up in a landfill. 20 years of naure destroyed and sent to a landfill no purpose having been served whatsoever.

But that wasn't the topic of this thread (Or you would have really had an earful of me!!!)

[DOT]

My first post and it generates four pages of discussion. This is an example of why this is such a great forum. Lots of civilized discussion.

I currently have limited Internet access but plan to respond in detail when I have better access.

[vangogh]

That's what happens sometimes, especially when Frederick and I get involved

Hopefully we didn't take the thread too far off topic for you and there's some useful advice here in response to your question.

[DOT]

Very interesting thread concerning UCE and SPAM. I from a legal standpoint I understand Frederick's point but from a practical point I seem to side with Van Gogh.

As far as my original question concerning emailing the officers of a car club about one of our tours, our email is directed to the officer of the club by name (if possible) and is not sent in bulk to the entire club. Usually only to the president and vice president. Each email is individual in nature. I can see how this might be considered UCE but at the same time most of the club websites do invite people to contact them concerning club business and items relating to the particular type of car the club is interested in. So on that hand I have to say it is not UCE. If I contacted them by snail-mail the content of our initial contact would be exactly the same.

Last year we sent emails to various Alfa Romeo clubs and did get positive responses from several club officers. We never received any negative responses.

Thank you for everyone's input.

[vangogh]

I'll repeat what I said originally. I don't think what you're wanting to do is going to be considered spam by the legal definition. If that's the concern I don't think you'll have anything to worry about. To me the CAN SPAM act makes it clear that the concern is bulk email senders, regardless of how spam is or isn't defined. I'd even go so far as to say whether they want to or not they aren't going to be able to go after every person who sends a few thousand bulk emails that are unsolicited and commercial. Also if you adhere to the guidelines set out by the FTC you shouldn't have any problems.

However legal is only one aspect. Just because you may not legally be sending spam if that's how people are going to perceive it then they're going to see you as a spammer and not be likely to do business with you.

From what you're saying here it doesn't sound to me like there's even much risk in being perceived as spam. If you're writing a custom email to the club officers with a genuine offer I have a hard time seeing more than a few possibly taking your email as spam. It seems like a good idea and one you're already seeing a good response from. Like you said these club officers are inviting people to contact them and what you're offering is a good fit for each club.