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-   -   Boattrader.com ethics? (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/general-boating-discussion/264941-boattrader-com-ethics.html)

damdonzi 10-29-2011 06:47 PM

As a consumer, it's great.
As an advertiser, it's a very drastic change you should have been made aware of in my opinion. My bet would be there will soon be an option where you pay an additional fee to avoid this happening to your listings. But to not be made aware of it is an issue I think.

Magicfloat 10-29-2011 06:54 PM

Boattrader.com ethics?
 
What do you think about this new policy? Like many dealers,I advertise on Boattrader.com,have for years with great results.It is the leader overall for all types of boat searches.I recently discovered a new practice that is upsetting to me.In the past,if a prospect inquires about one of my listed boats,Boattrader e-mails the info to me for followup,and e-mails the prospect thanking them for the inquiry.A good plan,works well.But they have a new practice,a day or 2 after the inquiry,they send the prospect links to several similar boats in my area listed by my competitors.I feel this is wrong,I am not paying Boattrader to send business to my competiton,but they don't see anything wrong with it.The dealer friends I have contacted are also upset,but they did not know it was going on.Boatrader admits it,they say it is good for the industry. I call BS on that. A friend owns one of the largest ad agencies in the Southeast,he says it is one of the most unethical things he has ever seen.What do ya'll think? Am I upset over nothing? Latest example was this week,got an inquiry about a wakeboard boat,after contacting me,they sent him links to 5 competitive boats at 2 other dealers within 50 miles of me.That is not what I am paying them for.Would appreciate comments.

Magicfloat 10-29-2011 07:04 PM

I was not made aware of it,discovered it by accident.I made an inquiry to myself just to see how quickly I would get a response,and I was sent to a competitor.I imagine 95% of Boattrader advertisers have no idea this is going on.BTW,somehow,the first reply to my thread posted before the actual thread posted,sorry about that,don't know how to correct it.

compedgemarine 10-29-2011 07:26 PM

yea I was confused as I started reading but a lot of threads have screwed up post order recently. as to boattrader I would think that there would be some sort of legal issue. you are paying them for them to list your ad not to act as a broker on behalf of buyers.

cpiefer06 10-29-2011 07:45 PM

I am in the auto business and wouldn't be happy about it.

The sites job is to advertise for you, it is not like they are getting a kickback for sales so why they would care to redirect customers from one dealer to another seems odd. They should have no dog in this fight. Also if the cust searches like I do when I look they should already be seeing the same things they are sending due to likeness and range and so on.

My 2 cents.

t500hps 10-29-2011 08:28 PM

Robert.......That sucks!!!! but I consider another senario. Someone contacts another dealer about a wakeboard boat and later gets sent information about YOURS.

Now. Knowing you, you probably still think it's wrong. But this can work against you or for you.

Magicfloat 10-29-2011 09:08 PM

My ad was for a new 2012,one of the links BT sent was for a used 2003 for less than half the new price,don't see how that can work to my advantage.It is not BT's place to make suggestions to my prospects.I will have a serious discussion with BT Monday,but I expect you will not see me there again,I can spend my money in better ways.

Chris 10-30-2011 08:33 AM

That is BS - that is wrong.

pstorti 10-30-2011 08:39 AM

scumbags!

waybomb 10-30-2011 09:08 AM

Do you think the potential buyer stopped looking at your ad? Or continued shopping for others?

Do you not think that the potential buyer has already viewed all those other ads, plus hundreds of others?

When I go shopping, I pull a search, and look at everything available, and send out multiple inquiries, doing my due diligence I think most buyers are prudent as well and look at everything available. If anything, the follow up email will be viewed as spam since everything on that list has been viewed anyway.


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