Samsung? Really!? You are idiots!
It has been a while since I posted an offense. Mostly because it really is pretty rare that a legitimate company emails me real SPAM.
I have also decided to take a gentler attitude – I would email the company first for a response before I posted and I would refrain from calling people assholes directly anymore.
Well it happened last week – I got spammed from Samsung!
First – here is the email:
Hello,
We hope that this mail finds you in good spirit and health.
We would like to grab just a short period of your precious time to introduce our
company and one of our most innovative Service Offerings : Digital Space Convergence (DSC)
1. SAMSUNG SDS
– Samsung SDS is a global ICT service provider with over 13,000 employees and USD 3.8 billion in revenue.
– Average annual growth rate of 10% over the last 5 years is a key indicator towards our capablities and competencies.
– We are the 3rd largest IT service company in the Asia Pacific Region & No. 1 IT company in Korea
– Our IT services to SAMSUNG affiliate companies such as Samsung Elec. and Samsung Heavy Industries
have been key to their success.
2. Digital Space Convergence
(Please Click the following link if you cannot see the DSC introduction video : http://youtu.be/QT82QJxv_QQ)
– DSC is an innovative convergence of the digital and physical environments.
– SDS provides the full set of comprehensive services needed to create added value through the convergence
of design and latest technologies.
(1. Space Planning/Consulting -> 2. Design/Layout -> 3. Digital Device/U-Service -> 4. System Integration)
– Our service not only enhance the User eXperience(UX) but offers new means of marketing and revenue to our customers.
3. Major DSC Business Reference
– Yonsei University U-Library
– Samsung D’light Space
– King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture
We hope that this mail has not been intrusive and that there is an opportunity for
us to provide you with our Services in the near future. More information about
both SAMSUNG and DSC can be found in the attached Brochures.
If you need additional information please contact us through our information below.
Sales Rep : Sung Soon Park, John Byun
e-mail : dscsales@samsung.com (or ssoon71.park@samsung.com , sj80.byun@samsung.com)Thank you once again for your time!
Best Regards,
Samsung SDS
I was shocked – no opt out email, no address, no indication of whom the email was to in the first place.
And worse it had an attachment of a PDF of a PPT file!
So I went over to Samsung.com and looked up some of their marketing people and found this site:
http://www.samsung.com/us/business/oem-solutions/about-us/press-room.html
So I emailed all of them: Sung Soon Park, John Byun, Chris Goodhart, John Lucas, Lisa Warren-Plungy, and Daniel Munoz.
I wrote:
Hello,
Yesterday I received the following email from an employee of Samsung
(via an actual Samsung.com email address) that was in clear violation
of the 2003 CAN SPAM act.1) The email does not clearly indicate who the recipient is – you are
not allowed to BCC people in this type of email. In fact I would have
to dig through the header to find which of my email addresses this
email was sent to. This is a violation.2) The email does not include a physical mailing address indicating
where the originator is located. This too is a violation.3) The email does not indicate how to opt out of future emails – this
is a HUGE violation – and not only are you required to have an opt out
but you would need to remove me in a timely fashion AND keep my name
on a list so that I would not be added again in the future.4) The law also makes it clear that people who operate on behalf of a
company are the responsibility of the company (which is why I CCed the
marketing and communication people who while might be ignorant of
these actions are still responsible for them).Each separate email in violation of the law is subject to penalties of
up to $16,000, and more than one person may be held responsible for
violations.That is just the federal side of things – I could also sue you in
small claims court for personal damages.I am shocked by this and would like a response from Samsung as to this
clearly inappropriate behavior!How do you respond to this?
Well it has been four days and no reply.
Now to post this to twitter.
Ram Krishnan, Frito-Lay, Lays, and Anindita Mukherjee are all idiots!
I can’t believe I had to do this again!
Today I got spammed again by Frito-Lay – this is the SECOND time Frito-Lay has spammed me in my capacity as an educator and they should be ashamed at themselves.
Today I got the following in my email:
So where is the legally required opt out link? Not only that – this is the second time Frito-Lay has spammed me in the past 6 months!
Amazing!
If you are wondering who Anindita Mukherjee is? She is the VP of Marketing and its her responsibility to keep her marketing people in compliance!
Losers every one!
Canon you are idiots! Shocking, I know, but true!
So as part of my campaign to have a cleaner mailbox I regularly remove myself from unwanted mailing lists. It has gone surprisingly better than expected. Just the other day I got an email from Canon. Now upon reflection I get these quite often as I probably voluntarily subscribed to a list. I went back into my email archives and found hundreds of emails from Canon starting with a registration to a Canon forum when I was requesting some technical support. This is fair enough and quite common – you post to us – we post to you. I no longer have the camera or use any Canon products so I figured now is the time to Opt-Out The bottom of the email was marked: If you received this e-mail in error or wish to stop receiving e-mail communications from the Consumer Imaging Group of Canon U.S.A., Inc., please unsubscribe. I clicked on the unsubscribe link and was taken to a webpage that looked like roughly this:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
OK let’s look at this carefully.
1) This is not an unscubscribe page – it in reality is a subscription modification page.
2) It is nice that is lets me change my email or even see samples BUT
3) If I want to opt-out I have to click every single checkbox
OK so you think I’m splitting hairs here but if they cared they should let me out quickly!
So I did it – I unchecked every checkbox and hit submit button and was told this:
Your request will be processed as soon as possible.
Visit our product lineups at the link below:
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ConsumerHomePageAct
and with it my favorite line:
Duplication in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
Just to put that bullshit aside for a moment this seemed like a fairly similar situation:
1) They sent me a link
2) I unchecked the boxes
3) They removed me from the list
But today I got another email from them!
Now – I know what you are thinking – they did say that they would get to it as soon as possible.
But here is the kicker – when I went to unsubscribe again – all the boxes where unchecked already!
They KNOW! The subscription database KNOWS that I have opted out and yet they sent me another email anyways!
So Canon – what they hell is wrong with you?
Is your system run by two separate databases that only get merged when you feel like it?
Do you continue to purposely sent out emails to people who opt-out after you KNOW they have opted out under the illusion that this takes time?
How long will I continue to get emails fro you even after I have opted out?
With that I say – Cannon – you are idiots!
Microcenter how could you? Idiots!
So I was in my email and I found an ad from Microcenter. Now I like Microcenter and I subscribed to their advertisements.
However I realized that they have several of my emails so I would go and delete one of them.
So I clicked on the Unsubscribe/Modify link in the email.
It takes me to a site that has my email address and zip code filled in and asks me to type in my email again for verification.
Why? I mean – you people already filled in the form. Clearly I got here from my own email. So great you are jerks just making it hard for me to unsubscribe.
So I cut and paste the email and hit next.
Then I get a POP UP ALERT saying: To update your subscriptions you must provide your email address.
Hey jerks – I already did!
But I do it – I type it in again – two more times.
Now I am at a list of 10 newsletters with a checkbox next to one marked Subscribe.
So I check Unsubscibe and I get another POP UP ALERT that says:
“Can’t select both options – select either one”
Are you kidding me? So I have to uncheck Subscribe and THEN check Unsunscribe?
It has to be on purpose because how can they be smart enough to write a script but now know what a RADIO BUTTON is?
SO I carefully uncheck Subscribe and then check all do the Unsubscribe buttons when I get to this:
Please note: If you are unsubscribing from postal offers, enter the name and address information as it appears on the most recent advertisement you received.
That’s right- to opt out of their mailings you have to type in exactly what they send you.
Microcenter – you are grade A marketing idiots!
What should I have expected – their terms of service includes:
MICRO ELECTRONICS, INC. MAKES NO WARRANTY THAT:
- THIS SITE WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS;
- THIS SITE AND YOUR EXPERIENCE COMMUNICATING WITH THIS SITE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE, OR FREE OF VIRUSES, ERRORS OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS; OR
- ANY ERRORS ON THIS SITE WILL BE CORRECTED.
Entireweb.com – You are an idiot!
So this one is partially on me.
I got an email newsletter today from Entireweb.com. I have no idea how I got on their list new list and there of course was NO opt-out.
So I went through my emails and yes – it turns out they email me all the time.
So I went to their website and YES I do have an account with them.
But when I went to look around there was no way to delete or cancel the account. I had to email their ‘feedback form’ which wasn’t smart enough to know who I was even though I was already logged in.
It turns out that a few years ago I signed up so I could look at what they had to offer (I never paid them anything) and that apparently allows them to email me without any clear way of stopping them.
Nice
Jerks (me included for registering there in the first place)
ING Direct – You are idiots!
So I just got a solicitation form ING Direct. Offering me a mortage rate that is “Too good to be true”. That is a quote from the email folks not a commentary.
ING is a real company. The email was from them: saver@ingdirect.com
So I click on the opt-put link and scroll down to the unsubscribe button and when I click it the next page says:
You’ve just told us you don’t want to receive email offers or information about the topics we’ve listed here:
- Orange Home Loans
In 5 business days, your choice will go in effect.
—
What the hell! 5 business days! So their system takes 5 days to mark an item in a database as DO NOT EMAIL?
And better yet – their computers not only take 5 days but appear not to work on the weekends! Wow these are some very special computers.
Then I went back and realized that I hadn’t read the previous page carefully. So I went back and read:
If you want to remove yourself from all electronic promotional communications, click on all the boxes below before clicking “Unsubscribe.”
So the opt-out link is really some sort of a hoop jumping thing – ie it is a LIE. What they really linked me to was a subscription modification page.
So yes ING you are idiots for sending me a crappy email then linking me to a deceptive website and then telling me I have to wait 5 more days.
Legal? I’m sure. Moral? Well hey folks it is a bank!
General Revenue Corporation: You are idiots!
So, there I am sitting at home when the phone rings:
“Is Rita there?”
“Um, what number did you dial?”
“Oh, I must have a wrong number.”
“Wait, what number did you dial?”
“Well, is Rita there or not?”
“No, listen there is no Rita here but I need to know if you dialed wrong if you have the wrong number?”
“Should I call back later when Rita is in?”
So at this point I get the manager on the phone.
He wants to know what I am upset about.
I said “What number did you dial?”
“Well your number obviously, since I am talking to you.”
“But what number is it?”
He read me my number, then says:
“Is Rita there? I have to let you know this phone call is being recorded!”
“There is no Rita here!”
“Well then why are you getting upset we dialed the wrong number.”
“Because he said he would call back!”
At this point there was quite a bit a swearing and yelling (ME) and he got nasty and I assume now is SURE that Rita lives here.
Way to go idiots!
http://www.generalrevenue.com
Oh if this number calls – 513-605-7536 – don’t answer!
Frito-Lay, Doritos, Michael Fox and Jaya Kumar you are all idiots!
You would expect more from a major corporation wouldn’t you?
But earlier today I received this email from: doritos_crashthesuperbowl4@yahoo.com
Its a yahoo email! Nice!
The email looks like a letter its got all of these inlined graphics and NO opt-out!
I went to the website (which is big and all Flash) and when I clicked on the privacy policy I found this: …you may cancel your registration and/or remove yourself from our emailing list, you may do so by following the “unsubscribe” contained in one of our communications to you…
Hey idiots! You forgot to include one!
It was hard to find any real information about who to contact but as Jaya Kumar is the Chief Marketing Officer, I blame him as well.
Also the included an attachment of a flyer for me to print and post – not a URL to a download one from – they actually sent me an unsolicited attachment! What complete morons!
The worst part of all of this is that if this email had included the opt-out and didn’t look like it was written by a marketing firm that was owned by teenagers I would be interested in a contest like this for myself or my students. But you don’t get involved with companies who don’t play by the rules!
Again – major idiots!
Here is the email:
Dear …
GIVE YOUR STUDENTS A CHANCE TO BE
FEATURED ON ONE OF THE BIGGEST TV
ADVERTISING STAGES, THE SUPERBOWL.It’s time for your class to Crash the Super Bowl. Doritos® is
giving your students a chance to write, produce and direct
their very own 30-second Doritos® commercial to be aired
during the big game. America will vote for their favorite
spots and the top 3 will be featured during Super Bowl XLIV.But that’s not all. When the Doritos® commercials take
the top 3 spots on the USA TODAY ad meter, we’ve got
$5,000,000 for the winners.We’ve attached a flyer to share with your students. Online,
they can also find tips and tricks from last years $1,000,000
winner, the Herbert brothers.Be sure to have them visit crashthesuperbowl.com
and submit your video by 11/09/09.Best of luck.
Michael Fox
Brand Manager, Doritos
Nahum Laufer – You are an idiot!
Nahum Laufer – You are an idiotand you just don’t seem to get it!
So I got this email from a guy trying to self-promote a film called “The Darien Dilemma”. It seemed familiar and I went back through my email and found that he has emailed me eight times since last year and not one of them contains an opt out link!
Better yet it is an obnoxious email that claims they collected my name off of a website – which is supposed to make the SPAM ok? He even admits that he keeps sending it over and over again! I also love the anti-virus notice at the bottom of the email.
My only joy is that I in-lined the image from their site so I wouldn’t waste my bandwidth!
So for failure for an opt-out and repeated emails I have to say:
Nahum Laufer – You are an idiot and you just don’t seem to get it!
This one was so bad I am tempted to just report it!
Here is the email – oh and the crappy formatting is what it really looked like!
—
From: laufern@netvision.net.il
To: WebmasterDear Librarian
I found your e-mail address in your library web-site. (not from a mailing list)I have already sent this ad to you, maybe once, twice or moreWe are self distributing the film “The Darien Dilemma” mainly by this e-mail ad and we are doing fine every month more & more University-College libraries purchase the DVDWe hope you’ll find our film “The Darien Dilemma” interesting for your programs so we are offering you the film for your library.
We got many requests and recommendations by leading educators to bring the film as an eye-opener for young students so we are distributing the film to School, University & College Libraries.We believe that this film is for Judaic & Holocaust, Women, History (2nd world war) Middle-East Study Programs
Many Universities Libraries already purchased the film among them:
Harvard, Yale, Yeshiva(NY), Arizona State, Vanderbilt, Brandies, Vienna (Austria), Maryland, Miami, Lehigh, Spertus (Chicago), Wyoming, Grand Prairie College, Mcgill (Canada), Connecticut, Seton Hill ( PA),Calgary, Duke (NC), Indiana, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State, Brooklyn College, Jewish Theological Seminary (NY), George Mason (Fairfax Va), Central Florida, Manchester (UK), South California (LA), Monmouth (NJ), American Jewish (LA), James Madison (Va), Delaware, Louisville, Rochester(NY), Humbolt (CA) Stockholm (Sweden) The Hebrew(Jerusalem), Haifa, Bar-Ilan, Emek Yizrael College, Berlin Jewish Museum (Wansee Germany) Diaspora House (Tel-Aviv), Yad Vashem (Jerusalem),
The film had many screenings around the world (see a list of screenings, JCC & congregation libraries at our site)
Croton Jewish Center Library use including lending for “Home Video” and use in classrooms & film clubs for non-paying audience (30-50 persons) $125
For big Public Screenings please contact laufern@netvision.net.il,
I hope you’ll have a few minutes to visit our web-site specially written for Students & Teachers
Shalom
Nahum Laufer
Research & Marketing
Erez Laufer Films
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG – http://www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.175 / Virus Database: 270.9.1/1781 – Release Date: 11/11/2008 08:59
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG – http://www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.2/1873 – Release Date: 03/01/2009 14:14
Kevin Thier – you REALLY are an idiot!
You won’t believe this folks. I got a followup email from the guy who inspired me to go live with this website in the first place.
That’s right – two weeks after the first unsolicited no-opt out email from Kevin Their – I got a follow up and he also tried calling my office!
This time I called the company and left a message requesting that I no longer want to be emailed AND I emailed telling him that I no longer want to be emailed.
Think I should report him to the FTC instead?
Email as follows:
Per my voice message, I wanted to follow up with an email as well. Are you familiar with Access.NewspaperArchive.com? We have over 110 million historical newspaper images from around the world, not to mention over 5.8 million images from the state of Ohio alone – some of which date all the way back to 1815!
Please let me know if you would like to utilize a free two week trial to view our content for yourself and to determine if the resource would be a good fit for your institutionand it’s students. My contact information is posted below, thanks for reading!
Kindly,
Kevin ThierKevin Thier
Product Manager ~ Access.NewspaperARCHIVE.com
Heritage Microfilm
NewspaperArchive.com
4049 21st Avenue SW,
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404Phone: 319.390.9442 +16 or 1.888.870.0484 +40
Email: kthier@newspaperarchive.com