ONLY IN THE ONLINE GAMBLING INDUSTRY

Mr Negative · 09-10-2003, 02:54 AM

All of the debate over how binding an email advertisement is has made me think about how bizarre the online gaming industry really is. Is there any other industry that could get away with such nonsense? Not just get away with it, but have consumers defend them. It really is kind of weird if you think about it.

Can you think of any other business that can market themselves in this manner and get away with it? Imagine if Albertson's were to mail out coupons for loafs of bread and you went into the store to buy your bread. Out of no where, the store manager comes sprinting to the register and screams out "NO COUPONS FOR THAT GUY!" You tell him the coupon was mailed to your home and he tells you "We mail coupons to everyone, but does not mean everyone can use them."

all-in · 09-10-2003, 02:59 AM

But what if the coupon said "only one loaf per household"? Then the boys from Florida (well known bonus WHORES) recruited the maid, the cat, the pool boy, and everyone else they know and got 6 loaves of bread. Did Albertsens's intend on gving away 6 loaves to ONE HOUSEHOLD?

TTinCO · 09-10-2003, 02:59 AM

Actually Mr. Neg, typos in grocer coupons are not uncommon, and no-they do not accept them. I don't think I've ever seen one, but I have seen signs in the store saying "this was an error & wil not be honored".

Not that it has anything to do with the WWTS issue....

Mr Negative · 09-10-2003, 03:04 AM

OK, lets answer those questions one at a time.

1) They are not the same household. They are two grown men living in seperate houses.
2) The pool boy, et al would each receive their bread if they complied with the coupons rules.
3) Typos are a whole different type of issue. If WWTS sent out an email giving away 200% no one would get the offer. My point is the restrictive eligibility after the coupon has been sent to a consumer.

hamneggs · 09-10-2003, 03:08 AM

Mr. Neg, as a consumer advocate I do find this BS repulsive, absolutely.

I think that it would be wise for marketers to match the level of integrity in advertising that is present in the US. I could also argue that sportsbooks should shoot for an even less deceptive standard than is permitted in the USA. This is so because of the inherent lack of trust that permeates the offshore industry.

You have guys like Rockwell (911, GCS) who think that the object is to bring in the postups at all costs--any means at all will justify the ends, so long as he can make an argument that the advertisement can be read in a manner that yields an accurate understanding of their policies. He doesn't understand that the "deception" occurs when a consumer assigns a faulty meaning to the advertisement. He mistakes feedback re a misleading communication (his advertisement) as an accusation that he is an outright fraud and a liar. Just one example, my .02

hamneggs · 09-10-2003, 03:20 AM

If a store misprints a coupon and sends it off to you, that could be construed as an offer. I wouldn't say that there is "no remedy" for a consumer who receives the coupon and then gets denied., even if the grocery store declares that the coupon is void upon arrival. Could go into it, but I think that the plaintiff has at least a decent case in that situation.

Of course, it is not likely that something like that is going to court, OF COURSE NOT.

It is still mentionworthy because (I think) that Mr. Neg is hitting on what remedies we (consumers) have available here in comparison to the lack of remedies (i.e. the "shit that they can get away with") in the offshore world.

Mr Negative · 09-10-2003, 05:35 PM

Hammneggs,

You are correct, the problem is there is no accountability therefore the "take or leave it" mentality rules the day. What makes the whole situation so astounding to me is the endless number of consumers who will line up, one after another, to blindly defend books with marketing practices that would unanimously be considered "out of bounds" in any other industry.

The Actuary · 09-10-2003, 05:46 PM

Only in the online industry?

The problem here is that there is some degree of entitlement being bandied about?

WWTS has right to do business with whomever they want.

Want to be a bonus whore, who cares? Fine no problems from me at all, but if one of your johns decides to protest outta the blue, don't go running to the cops expecting an iota of sympathy.

The fact that this is droning on for a second day insults the intelligence of even the most dim witted poster.

Yzerman#19 · 09-10-2003, 05:49 PM

That would be a great store Mr Neg... I'd try a bread and butter parlay [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]