On Tue, 2005-08-09 at 13:37 -0400, Rob McEwen wrote: > When is Bulk "Bulk"? > > The reason I ask is because I have a client who sends unsolicited e-mails to > prospective clients. But he does this manually by visiting relevant web > sites and then one-at-a-time, he personally e-mails these prospective > clients. I don't consider this spam because it is not bulk and my client can > actually tell you who he e-mailed that day and why. > > Still, this is a very slippery slope... what happens if he e-mails 50 such > addresses that he manually spotted using a generic form letter? Would that > be spam? I'm thinking "yes". > > ...However, if these e-mails are sent one at a time and individualized to > the recipient in a way that could NOT possibly be computer generated (not > another "I visited your web site and I think its great" statements... but > meaningful content that only a person with knowledge of the recipient could > write)... in that case, I think he is ok, even if most of each letter came > from a generic "template". > > Maybe there are no hard & simple rules... but I'd sure love some additional > advice?
Spam is often called UCE - "unsolicited commercial e-mail." If it's commercial, and it is unsolicited, and it's e-mail, it's spam. If you are off-loading your advertising costs onto *my* e-mail system, it's a sure-fire way to make sure I never use your product or service. Thomas
