AMA DVD "second notice"

Hello

Apparently now AMA (or whoever is doing it for them) is mailing out "second notices" where they remind us to either pay the money or return the disk. There's no mention of the fact that we can keep these unsolicited disks as a free gift this time (unless I missed it, which would only mean that this time it is hidden better).

In the previous discussion on the subject some people said that the "free gift" clause in the letter included with the DVD excuses this attempt from being qualified as "scamming". (Although the way the letter was organized had that distinctive "scammish" feel). I'm not happy to conclude that, but after this second letter the issue is no longer discussable. This is indeed a scam. I only hope this wasn't in AMA's intentions to play it this way and that the whole thing was just screwed up by the people they choose to do the mailing for them.

In any case, this is completely unacceptable.

Reply to
Andrey Tarasevich
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I too just got the second notice, it went in the trash with the other junk mail. Since the first letter said they wanted the DVD back so another modeler could have the opportunity to get it I cut out the middle man and gave it to my brother. Initially I found the second notice somewhat annoying. Then the commercial where there is one guy surrounded by a bunch of monkeys at the conference table came to mind. Think of it as humorous and maybe that will help. Just keep in mind that there is no obligation to pay for or send the DVD back. It certainly is not worth letting it ruin your day.

Charlie

Reply to
Charlie H.

I'm sorry, but I have to admit that I indeed missed the "free gift" part. This time, after several paragraphs mentioning only two options (pay or return), it just says that I'm under no obligation to do anything.

Reply to
Andrey Tarasevich

And to top it all off... I indeed did receive aviation-related spam.

I forwarded the following letter to Hanson:

To which he responded:

Okay, fair enough.

So the next day, I get an email from Tom Schwyn:

Okay... also fair enough, althought it does trouble me that he had to flag my membership as non-solicit. Why would this be needed if AMA doesn't release information to 3rd parties? I have NO problem with solicitations from within AMA.

Then six days later, I get the following email from warplaneswarehouse.com:

This is not the entire email, as it arrived in html format, but this was the key paragraph, so I sent the following email to the two marketing people that Hanson had CC'd in his initial response:

(followed by the quoted "opt-out" message).

I sent this email to Hanson , , Don Koranda , and Tom Schwyn

Guess what.....

said: 550 5.7.1 Requested action not taken: message refused (in reply to end of DATA command)

550 5.7.1 Requested action not taken: message refused (in reply to end of DATA command)

At least the one to Hanson did not bounce, but I never got a response.

Yup... it stinks, but I will be true to my word and will not be renewing for 2006.

--- Rich

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Reply to
Rich Lockyer

Assuming these notices come with a postage paid envelope, don't trash them. Shred the contents, stuff it in the envelope and send it back to them. They don't get charged for the postage unless it is actually used. This is one way you can fight this kind of junk.

Of course, if it's not a pre paid envelope, you're on your own.

Reply to
Chuck Jones

| >I'm sorry, but I have to admit that I indeed missed the "free gift" | >part. This time, after several paragraphs mentioning only two options | >(pay or return), it just says that I'm under no obligation to do anything. | | And to top it all off... I indeed did receive aviation-related spam.

To be fair, it's possible that the spam was harvested from somewhere else ... like this group, perhaps. Certainly, DONTSPAMME in your address is not difficult for a program to remove automatically.

Spammers do occasionally harvest specific groups and send spam related to that group's topic.

Of course, I don't know what address the AMA has on you -- it may be totally different than the one you're posting here with, one that you don't use anywhere else, in which case this couldn't be the case.

One thing you can do is create different mail addresses for different uses -- post to usenet with address1 (or even give each group it's own address, or even each day it's own address), join the AMA with address2, rcgroups with address3, etc. Then when the spam comes, you know where they got the address from.

This works with postal mail too. If you sign up for something, misspell your first name, or spell it in some strange way. Or make up a name entirely.

Reply to
Doug McLaren

They don't get charged for the postage unless it is actually used

But WHATEVER you do, do not tape the prepaid, addressed envelope to a cinder block or other heavy object and put it in a mail box because the post office WILL deliver it and charge accordingly.

Reply to
Charlie Funk

Hmmm! Hadn't thought of that. I have some old lead shot lying around here somewhere. Wonder how much I can stuff into a regular envelope? :)

Reply to
Chuck Jones

That will probably attract the attention of some people you don't want it to. Like homeland security.....

Reply to
Woody

I am fully aware of farming methods. My point was that I post on many groups and boards, using my regular email address. As I indicated in my note, I NEVER get spammed from aviation-related sources except a bulletin every now and then from RCU.

So 6 days after I send my complaint to the AMA, I get another email from the SAME SPAMMER apologizing and indicating that "they have been made aware" that some people don't want their messages.

I did not use their opt-out instructions or in any way communicate with the spammer... ONLY the AMA DVP and marketing departments.

--- Rich

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Reply to
Rich Lockyer

It's prepaid if you are sending in payment.

It's not prepaid if you opt to return the DVD.

--- Rich

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Reply to
Rich Lockyer

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