Hi all,
Thanks for re-starting this topic Bonustreak – definitely need to stop these idiots.
I think the only way to get back at them is to hurt them with their own tactics – I think spending loads of money on lawyers (when basically their T&Cs – as many affiliate programs I’m sure most likely stated that they can terminate the agreement at their discretion) may result in them hiring more expensive lawyers, and it going on and on until those with the less money eventually give up.
I thought of one possible ‘perhaps silly’ but ‘similar to their way of working’ idea.
EDIT: (I’ve had a much more simple idea since this one) – see later reply..
Basically, they tend to grab their players by sending them a CD via regular mail with a freebie – $200 free – load the CD and off you go..
How about a ‘spoof’ mail shot (how to get mailing addresses would be another perhaps complexity but on with the idea)..
The player receives the CD, pops it in the drive and up comes a video explaining what Grand Prive are really about – warning them about their actions – of course the content would need to be quick to grab attention etc.
Perhaps a message telling them to warn others not to play, with perhaps a few links to big sites and maybe a HTML page with a list of links to all the black-listings.
It’s rather unorthodox I know and I feel a bit shameful suggesting it but it’s only the anger in me with the jerks that thinks perhaps this is the only way to get back at them.
Of course there would be a cost involved, but I’m sure a mass mailing of CDs will be a lot cheaper and more effective detrimentally to Grand Prive.
EDIT: (I’ve had a much more simple idea since this one) – see later reply..
As I said there would be considerations of obtaining player mail addresses to ‘market’ the ‘spoof 200 free’ or whatever and whoever was responsible for sending them out (if taking player mail addresses), would have to agree to destroy the lists if taking them from other affiliates (of course there may also be privacy issues there).
EDIT: (I’ve had a much more simple idea since this one) – see later reply..
It would be great if other MGS operators would join in but I think that would be very doubtful / negative competition so would have to be something coming from the affiliate (CAP) community as a whole.
I’m not sure what others will think of this somewhat ‘dirty’ idea but I think sometimes the only way to fight is back with the same methods they use.
Anyway, if anyone’s interested in pursuing that idea, or got others, variations on this theme or others I’ll happily be involved as much as I can, but with regard to lawyer action I’m just not convinced it would result in anything much more than us losing.
I believe it is more a fight that would be more quickly, easily, effectively (and cheaper) won on ‘ethics’ rather than ‘law’.
I’ll watch this topic with much interest and look forward to any feedback (either way) on this (perhaps unethical in itself) idea LOL.
EDIT: (I’ve had a much more simple idea since this one) – see later reply..