First Yahoo... now Handango?

[Ed Hansberry]

If I am wrong about how this is working, I'll be the first to apologize.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.handango.com/imgs/Logos/HandangoWtanCurve.gif" /><br /><br />I have received two mails in the past 48 hrs. from two software companies I highly respect. The email? <b>"Don't Miss These Exclusive Pocket PC Software Specials from </b>vendor <b>and Handango!"</b><br /><br />Now, one of the emails came from a company that I purchsed from directly using PayPal about 18 months ago, so I know it didn't go through Handango's system. Nothing to opt-out on. :-( The other software I never even paid for! It was a freebie, also over 18 months ago. Once again, no way to opt-out. So it seems quite clear that Handango is encouraging these companies to send this info out. The from address is from the vendors, not Handango. Very disturbing. Am I going to have to "opt-out" of updates and tech support emails to avoid this spam? This kind of thing will turn me very sour on the thriving Pocket PC software developer community. Charge me $5/$10 more for the software if it is a financial issue. I don't want the spam!<br /><br />Or I'll stop buying software unless I <b><i>really</i></b> need it. I tend to by $10/$20 software without thinking about it too hard just to have for occasional use. No longer. Not if this is the real price I have to pay. The thing is, I really like Handango. Great repository of software, but I do opt out every time I make a purchase. I don't like what seems to be a way around that to clutter my email with their ads.

[Paragon]

Ed

I don't know if younoticed or not but you can opt out. Snoop around down near the bottom and you will see the link to unsubscribe.

I have NOT opted out of receiving anything from Handango and I recieved one of these also. It is an interesting twist isn't it. It definately is much more than an add for their product and "Oh by the way you can get our software here" isn't it.

It sure appears to be a way to hit people they otherwise can't.

Dave

[djl]

I got a similar email recently from Pocket Informant and Handango, and I think I've gotten them from Phatware, or some other high-profile PPC software developer. What really stinks is that they send a note saying I can receive 10 to 15 percent off through this purchase arrangement, but what good is that WHEN I JUST BOUGHT THE SOFTWARE AT REGULAR PRICE?!! I am really sick of spam. :oops:

[Ed Hansberry]

I don't know if younoticed or not but you can opt out. Snoop around down near the bottom and you will see the link to unsubscribe.

That is not the point.

1. I always OPT-OUT of email from Handango when purchasing.
2. These two pieces of software were not purchased from handango
3. Subsequent to my purchase, these companies formed marketing partnerships with handango.
4. Despite my OPT-OUT at Handango, I got these emails. Why? because I wanted updates from these companies about THEIR SOFTWARE ONLY.

:evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

[Paragon]

Geeez I know and agree with you... just trying to help. Don't shoot the messanger :)

Dave

[Ed Hansberry]

Geeez I know and agree with you... just trying to help. Don't shoot the messanger :)

I know. Is it OK to shoot the spammer? :wink:

[Paragon]

I'll hold the 'ammo' for you.

Dave

[Master O'Mayhem]

Ed.. You have more to worry about...

[Ed Hansberry]

Ed.. You have more to worry about...

Yes, but one rant at a time. :?

[Dan Kingston]

Hi gang,
Thanks for the feedback. We hate spam too, so we thought we'd explain what was going on!

Handango has a STAR Program, which is essentially a promotion vehicle for our developer partners. We build a nice-looking email newsletter, the partner sends it to their "opt-in" subscribers, and Handango manages the transaction and fulfillment. Sometimes, a few partners with complementary products will join forces in one newsletter. Then, all of the participating developers send that combined newsletter to their collective "opt-in" lists.

By offloading some of the administration around this to Handango, developers can grow sales and promote upgrades/new releases to their existing customers pretty cost-effectively. As a customer, if you don't want to receive e-mailings, you just opt out of the ISV's lists. Developers participating in the STAR Program with us are currently on the honor system to keep good email lists and follow best practices in their marketing.

Hopefully this makes sense. Handango just does the publisher part of this service -- creating the marketing piece, getting the developers to commit their lists, and taking care of the customer purchase.

Let us know if you have question on this and feel free to contact me directly...

[Paragon]

:lol: :lol: :lol: Orwell had a word for all that Dan.... "double speak"

Dave

[Ed Hansberry]

Thanks Dan! It is great you dropped by to shed some light on it. I also got a note from one of the vendors with similar wording late last night. It seems the main deal is until now, ISV's had one contact database and used that to send out new release info, new product info and general things relating to the software we had purchased from them.

Now, with your partnership, they are using that same database to send out more general info that has little or nothing to do with their product, and what's worse, if there are multiple people in the STAR program, I'll get that same basic flyer multiple times with only the header and main graphic changed. After two or three... it begins to look like... well.... spam. :?

I can see the benefit for you and the ISV, and to some degree even the end user (especially those users that are not regular readers of this site and miss some of the new releases :lol: ) but as our mailboxes become increasingly flooded with spam, it is often hard to tell the difference.

Again, thanks for stopping by and taking the time to explain. :)