For your consideration: I just got a generic, unsolicited commercial message (Spam) from Voice International. They do business under several domain names that violate a number of trademarks including Digium. There's no line that says "This is the only message you'll get, sorry if we inconvenienced you, click here to be removed" or anything of that nature. I can only think that they harvested my email address from this or one of the Digium mailing lists. I consider that a really dispicable business practice. Especially in a list where people are (on the whole) benevolently trying to help one another.
Mark, the fellow who's name is included in the email has also included his phone number. I called him up. Not surprisingly he didn't have any I was becuase we've never done business together. When I told him I'd just recieved his spam he tried to sell me some boards or buy some boards that I've got for a wacky price. I tried to tell him that I was upset that he'd sent this email, I thought was irresponsibile. He disagreed and said "I don't consider it spam, lots of people buy boards from us." I tried to clarify but it was obvious it was going nowhere so I asked him if he'd stop sending me spam. He said, OK fine I'll take you off the list. When I asked if he had a pen handy, he said, "I've got your name, I already did it" He only had my first name, he did nothing of the kind. When I called him on it he started getting frustrated that I was wasting his time. I thought that was pretty ironic. There were a few other funny exchanges like: Mark: It's not me that sends those things, I don't even know who sent it. Me: It's got your name on it, don't you think you should take some responsibility for that? You're the one that benefits from the sales and leads that come in. Mark: I mean, it's an automated form. I don't send them. (I think he just made my point) I left it at "Well, we're obviously not going to see eye to eye here, I just thought I'd call and tell you how I felt" or something to that effect. Anyhow, I'm posting here just to let you know of my experience. In my humble opinion, I don't think this company or this individual are a pillar of the community. I won't deal with them and I'll leave it up to you to decide whether this is the kind of thing you will support. Note: I've had to paraphrase the conversations, I'm doing them from memory. I think I've been true to wording and intent wherever I can. FYI, Here's the message I got. While his argument is that it's not spam because I actually buy Digium products, I think it meets the criteria for Spam. I have an investment portfolio too, but I still don't need 20 "H0T ST0CK T1PS!!!!!!!!" in my inbox every day. (Hmm, I wonder if that is enough to get this message sent into everyone's spam box) <BEGIN PASTED MESSAGE> [EMAIL PROTECTED] BEST PRICES ON NEW DIGIUM AND SANGOMA BOARDS Thanks! Mark Voice International Supplying The World Since 1987 Anaheim, Ca 92868 714-279-0204 Ext 102 WEBSITES www.voiceinternational.com www.digiumboards.com www.nmsboards.com www.quintumhardware.com www.quintumdirect.com www.dialogicdealer.com sangomaboards.net <END PASTED MESSAGE> Thanks for listening. I just had to do something and I didn't want to post to the main Digium list and start some stupid flame war. There's also the possibility that he's harvesting this list. <shudder> -- David Donovan Consultant Fulcrum Solutions
