Grafs Sells Your Personal Info To Spammers

Here's a tip. EVERYONE asking for an email address is selling it to spammers.

And for those of you not in the business and think that spam is not a big deal, please realize that now spam takes up 90% of internet traffic.

90%.

It doesn't effect you, so you think, but when you work at an ISP or are an IT person at even a medium sized domain, the work that 90% causes you is unbelievable.

kelbro:
So just how difficult is it to delete an e-mail? Sheesh!

I delete them by batches so it takes about two mouse clicks to delete 20-30 e-mails at one time.

Your 'personal info' is already out there. Good luck trying to control it

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That's pretty much how I see it too. I get so much spam already what's one more. If I don't know who sent it I delete them without opening them. If you are going to get that worked up over a spam because of Graf's then you are going to go nuts when you find out what all of the other companies are doing.
Rusty

Before anyone asks, my company, Bada Bing Cutlery Emporium, never has and never will release any info on our clients.

We shred correspondence, labels on UPS boxes, even return labels on any item that relates to our clients.

I consider the matter this way. Let's suppose I get stuck on a mailing list for Acme Butt Wipes. If I wanted this service, I would have searched them out. The fact that my info is being circulated to a company with whom I have never done business exposes me to whatever computer options, software, shareware or employee abuse that company permits.

Yikes, they're even hacking celebrity passports.

It's a small thing, granted. I made the immediate decision that I wasn't going to do anything in my business I wouldn't like as a client.

Tiger Direct is pretty bad but Wilson's Leather is THE worst. About three years ago I ended up on their mailing list. Don't know how. Never shop there. They didn't have an unsubscribe link. You HAD to request in writing to be unsubscribed. I complained to them, I complained to the FTC. This went on for over two years. Finally I had enough. I found the email address of every one of their corporate officers and subscribed them to their own damn list. Wouldn't you know it, a couple months later they have a new 'unsubscribe' link and it actually worked!

mrwilson

Now that's Funny

First off They are not selling to spammers. This is what they do to make money on top of selling stuff. No I am not condoning it at all. But they will sell they email address to other gun related companies.

This is not SPAM it is advertising. You think face to face companies do not do this as well. Ever heard of JUNK MAIL. Same thing different format.

Spam is when you get the Viagra for $.10 per pill no scrip needed. Emails thoese people get paid by how many emails they send out. If you look at a true spam mail most of it will have a bunch fo email address very close to yours. Say your email is [email protected] you will see bart1, bart2, bart3, ect.... That is spam.

Did you happen to notice even if it came from grafs it has a midwayusa banner right in the middle of the e-mail

Graf's Revises Privacy Policy!

Due to a few customer concerns regarding the Graf & Sons, Inc. privacy policy, we have made changes to update the policy. By revising this policy, and updating options when setting up a new account, we are now more than ever, able to maintain the trust and privacy of our customer base.

If you are already a customer of Graf & Sons, Inc. you need to contact us to change the status of your account, as you see fit. By default, all accounts are set to receive information from Graf & Sons, Inc., and Graf & Sons will exchange your information with other reputable companies.

If you received e-mail from Grand View Media Group ([email protected]), in no way was your information jeopardized. We advertise in a magazine called Predator Xtreme, published by Grand View Media Group. We are doing a collaboration, with Grand View, to bring our customers a sample of Predator Xtreme's digital magazine. This is no cost to our customers, just to simply expand knowledge in a growing market, with a magazine that we advertise in. The e-mail addresses used are being kept separate and are ONLY being used for the digital issue of Predator Xtreme, and NOTHING else. In no way, was our customer's information bought, sold, or traded with Grand View.

I offer our thanks to our customers who voiced their concerns regarding our policy; it prompted us examine our policy to better serve our customers!

If anyone would like further information, they may contact me directly, and I will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.
Brandy Leach
Marketing Dept., Graf & Sons, Inc.
573-581-2266, ext. 130
[email protected]


Your Privacy – Policy updated 3/31/08

New Customers:
New customers will have three choices relating to the way in which Graf & Sons exchanges information with other reputable companies. The options are as follows:

Choice one: Your information will be used by Graf & Sons Inc. for the purpose of sending Graf & Sons Inc. catalogs, sales fliers, email specials and other types of advertising material. Graf & Sons Inc. may contact you for any purpose. Graf & Sons will exchange your information with other reputable companies.

Choice two: Your information will be used exclusively by Graf & Sons Inc. for the purpose of sending Graf & Sons Inc. catalogs, sales fliers, email specials and other types of advertising materials. Graf & Sons Inc. may contact you for any purpose. Your information will not be exchanged with any other reputable company. Graf & Sons Inc. will keep your information strictly confidential.

Choice three: You may choose to receive no correspondence at all. Your information will not be used for any advertising purpose whatsoever. You will not receive any Graf & Sons Inc. printed catalogs, sales fliers, email specials, or any other type of advertising materials. Your information will not be exchanged with any other company. Graf & Sons Inc. will keep your information strictly confidential. Graf & Sons Inc. may still contact you regarding information needed in the course of normal business such as order confirmations, backorders, tracking numbers, etc.

Current Customers:
If you wish to update your information to one of the three above listed choices please call us at 1-800-531-2666 or email [email protected].

This is not SPAM it is advertising.

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I don't agree with the above statement. I think this definition comes a little closer to what I believe SPAM to be:

Spamming is the abuse of electronic messaging systems to indiscriminately send unsolicited bulk messages.

I just wanted to say "thanks" to Grafs for being so responsive. I've changed my personal perferences on your website.

Also, thanks for throwing in the free copy of Speer #13 on my last order, that was a pleasant surprise. Was there a promo that if you ordered over "X" number of dollars that you got a freebie?

Regards,
Dave

Yeah, I noticed that they threw in a Speer manual in my order too... I did order a pile o' stuff from 'em, but I don't recall checking a box to get the manual... pretty cool though ... I like the flat rate shipping.

I have always had great service from Grafs and cant beat the flat shipping on items you can wait on...... And if you plan on being in Mid Mo nothing beat ordering on line then in a couple days just show up at the loading dock

I too got spammed right after my first order from Grafs. No more for me!! Now that the policy has changed, I will order from them again. Thank you for being on top of things, and hearing what your customers are saying!

Grafs Insnt The Only One Selling Your Info ,,,

Just a few short weeks ago I signed onto a website that was for one of the things I love most and that was shooting and reloading. This particular site asked you to fill out a rather extensive survey and would not let you file with them until you scrolled through a list of their so called "SPONSORS" the majority of which had absolutely nothing to do with the shooting industry or the outdoors in general. You were asked to select for each of these if you were interested in the bill of goods they were selling or if you did not . Having a greater love of the sport more than common sense I filled out the surveys and respectfully declined them. The very next day I was getting solicitations by phone AT WORK from many of these vendors stating I had filled out a survey showing I was interested in whatever opportunity of a lifetime they were offering . It was at that point I knew I was scrooged . By the time I got home my e-mail was inundated with all of those scams from Africa for money transfer and such things and made me feel totally violated. The garbage is just now starting to slow down a bit and I have vowed never to give too much contact info out ever again. For days I was seething but knew the damage was done and decided to ride it out and still enjoy the site because of the folks like yourselves who are on it wanting the same thing as me being able to swap ideas and comradery amongst those who share love for shooting and the outdoors. Would anyone here venture a guess as to which website this is ?? Thanks for viewing . 10 Spot

Nonsense, Look to Midway USA for that. I also had my credit card number stollen by a Midway USA employee last year and they never apologized or even owned up to it.

The investigator of their local police department called me though, and he told me that I was not the only customer, and that a couple others had been ripped off for thousands of dollars becuase their banks had not caught it as quickly as mine had.

...Would anyone here venture a guess as to which website this is ??

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I'm not good at guessing so please enlighten us.

On Selling You Out To Spammers ,,,

Sorry about the drama guys,,,

It is a site called "The Reloaders nest" , anyone else know of this one ? They have a pretty large following . The site is alright just a crappy trick from the proprietors . Sorry again for making it sound like some sort of game . Thanks for letting me vent . 10 Spot

Geeez Louise ! the IRS sells your information. I just read a legal case where the CIA gets around the law prohibiting them from listening in on conversations in the USA by hiring the FBI to do it for them. I suspect the FBI gives, or sells, that information to others.

Why moan about a few spam emails ? The email service is really very good these days. Flag a spam as junk, or spam and it is never to be seen again ... at least that is my experience. So, "Don't sweat the small stuff", is my advice.

Also, thanks for throwing in the free copy of Speer #13 on my last order, that was a pleasant surprise. Was there a promo that if you ordered over "X" number of dollars that you got a freebie?

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Wow, I just bought 16# of powder, 25k primers, and didn't get a "free" catalog. Crap, I didn't even get any of the freeking discounts "Lisa" told me I'd get for ordering so damn much from Grafs. Plus they charged me for freight!

They must feel too guilty to also spam me, as I have yet to get a lick of their "Predator" emails I've been on the lookout for.

I'm still so pissed at the extra $150*(see below) in charges I KNOW I could not be civil on the phone so I have yet to call!

Justin

Edit:*After cooling off I sat down and figured my discrepancy was only half of my previous claim, which BTW has now been rectitified. Reading the fine print it was mostly my error as I ordered as a "dealer"( incurring freight charges), and I had also counted on a flier discount I was told over the phone. And I had missed that deadline... by more than a few week.

I also got a PM AND a call from Brandy at Graf's. She is a very pleasant lady to deal with and she was very responsive to my concerns. I think I sometimes I forget that there is a great "customer service" rep available should a problem arise- as almost all of my gun supply purchases occurring online without a hitch.

promotions & specials

We sent out a flyer recently to our most active customers. In this flyer, if you spend $150 or more you get the Speer #13 manual for FREE! (of course, only customers that received this flyer have knowledge of this). For one week (has passed), ANYONE that called and spent $150 or more was eligible for a FREE Speer manual! (Attached is the current Retail flyer)

HOWEVER, the flyer is still valid until April 19, 2008.
So I am giving anyone that reads this message the opportunity to receive this promotion.

IF there is ever a problem with an order received, PLEASE contact us! As good as we 'think' we are, things still get through the door by mistake.

We also have a Wholesale part of our business, that has separate promotions from the Retail portion, and this can sometimes cause confusion. From the sound of the situation, this may be the case.

Regards-
Brandy Leach
Graf & Sons, Inc
Marketing Dept.
800-531-2666, ext. 130

For you guys that think spam is no big deal, wait until you start getting a few hundred a day. I have a friend that gave out his work e-mail all the time. His account is pretty much useless now, but he will have a hard time changing it because of the number of suppliers he works with.

I NEVER give mine out. In fact, I don't have it on my profile here. A few weeks ago I gave my wife hell for using it when she bought some stuff. Next day I'd started getting spam advertising stuff from them.

I'd like to thank the original poster. I had been looking for alternate suppliers, but I will NEVER, NEVER do business with Graf's. Ever.

I often buy from Grafs and have not had a problem with spammers. Our wireless internet service has a very good spam filter.

Well, with all this talk I got some bad news yesterday, someone used my credit card without my knowledge. I've been doing business on the Internet for as long as it has been going on and this is the first time it's happened. I guess I've been luck but that's over.