Kogan sending out spam - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 27, 2016, 11:43:25 pm
content: <rant>So I ordered a couple of things fromKoganand (reluctantly) supplied my e-mail address for invoicing/order status notification. There is no way to opt-out of marketing material until after you complete your order and then "unsubscribe" from their marketing crap. I even signed up using Gmail "alias" address (e.g.: myaddress+kogan@gmail.com).After the first e-mail, I clicked the "unsubscribe" link, but since then I have received 6 more marketing e-mails over the last 4 days. I have also noticed they've stripped out the +kogan in the e-mail address and are sending it to the "real" address.Why does Kogan think that this is OK? Firstly spamming me with shit after I've "unsubscribed" a number of times and sending me e-mail to an address I didn't specify?This was the first time I've ordered from Kogan and will be my last.</rant>

author: imidis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2016, 11:59:12 pm
content: I tend to use a dedicated gmail email for things like that, they are free to spam all they want.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 28, 2016, 12:20:22 am
content: Quote from: wilfred on November 28, 2016, 12:00:35 amIt seems they did. All my order information and invoice was sent to the +kogan address but all their marketing crap is sent to the "root" address (without the +kogan).Quote from: wilfred on November 28, 2016, 12:00:35 amNo, not at all. DSE don't have any of my details.Quote from: wilfred on November 28, 2016, 12:00:35 amNope. In order to complete the order, you must provide an e-mail address and you need to click "Continue" but not after automatically agreeing to receive marketing material. There is no check box that allows you tonotsign up in the first place (see screen shot below).It seems they make it too easy to sign up for their crap but almost impossible to unsubscribe.In addition, I have tried to call them on the number on their'Spam Act Policy' pagehowever their IVR doesn't give you the option of "other"/speaking to anyone nor does it mention anything about privacy. After picking a random option (which had nothing to do with my query), I gave up after being on hold for a while.I have since e-mailed them at unsubscribe@kogan.com.au so we'll see if we get a response.I never wanted to sign up in the first place but they give you no other option.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 28, 2016, 12:25:08 am
content: I haven't tried the unsubscribe - but I'm getting close. If it wasn't for the fact that this is going to a secondary email account, I'd have 'lost it' well before now.The number of emails is becoming rather irritating ... I'm typically getting 3 a day and sometimes up to 5.In additionto these, there's "Kogan Travel" which seems to be averaging about 1 email every 2 days. Then there's "Kogan Mobile" and "Kogan Pantry".In the last month, I've had a total of 103 marketing emails from Kogan.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 28, 2016, 12:30:38 am
content: In the mean time, I've also flicked a complaint through to ACMA who handle complaints about Spam. I think someone needs to get up Kogan and get them to implement some changes. At least have a damn check-box that I can un-tick to opt-out of marketing e-mails at the point of checkout. It's not good enough for them to simply sayYou agree to our terms, oh, and we're going to endlessly send you shit you don't want, but only after you "agree".No I don't bloody agree. I should be able to buy something without being hassled.

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 28, 2016, 04:41:18 am
content: This type of garbage annoys the hell out of me and I've just recently gone to extensive effort to thin out flogging emails and other promotional material and even our letter box has a sign which is completely ignored as the shifty pricks hide all the coloured crap inside the local newspaper which I don't read anyway, they are nothing more than wheelie bin fillers in my view, and then not long ago I signed up with ANZ Etrade in preparation to part with a few shares, holy smoke and mirrors the amount of associated crap they offer up is just ridiculous, credit cards, financial services, investment opportunities, discounts on balaclavas, FFS give me a break, I ticked the FO box once already.It puts a whole new spin on buyer beware.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 28, 2016, 04:43:43 am
content: Quote from: Muttley Snickers on November 28, 2016, 04:41:18 amHmmm..... I suspect there isn't a lot of interpretation required on the type of box you ticked.

author: AlfBaz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2016, 04:55:38 am
content: perhaps its time to see if ruslan@kogan.com gets any traction.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 28, 2016, 07:47:01 am
content: Quote from: AlfBaz on November 28, 2016, 04:55:38 am2 more e-mails this afternoon, that's 4 just today. Maybe I should subscribe Ruslan to his own e-mails.

author: rrinker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2016, 03:08:02 pm
content: I tend to not bother with 'unsubscribe' links because the cynical side of me says this just gets you put on a different list - a more valuable one because this time they know they have a 'live' email address that is valid, because you responded to something. Sure, the original emails stop coming in, but now you get 4 more every hour from a 'partner' company.It is wrong though, to have the "agree to terms of sale" and "subscribe to our junk" all in one check box. There should be two. One to agree to the terms of sale (perfectly legit) and one to opt out of any marketing crap.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 28, 2016, 06:53:56 pm
content: Quote from: rrinker on November 28, 2016, 03:08:02 pmThankfully these kinds of tactics are against the law in Australia with the introduction of the Spam Act 2003. Among the rules, all commercial messages must contain afunctionalunsubscribe facility.Yes, it's true, that some 'genuine' spam e-mails designed for phishing and malicious purposes might use this technique to identify active addresses, but you can generally spot these from regular commercial content from legitimate businesses.Quote from: rrinker on November 28, 2016, 03:08:02 pm100% agree. I guess this is what has annoyed me the most. The consumer really doesn't get a choice until it's too late. They should also not be modifying addresses (like removing the +kogan) in order to circumvent any filtering that I might choose to do.

author: AlfBaz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2016, 08:26:53 pm
content: Quote from: Halcyon on November 28, 2016, 06:53:56 pmWell then, since Kogan is an Australian business, according to the Australian Communications and Media Authorities (ACMA) web site, where they outline key points of the Spam Act, Kogan seem to be in breach of ithttp://www.acma.gov.au/Industry/Marketers/Anti-Spam/Ensuring-you-dont-spam/key-elements-of-the-spam-act-ensuring-you-dont-spam-i-acmaScroll to the bottom and click "consent"Can I use pre-ticked boxes to obtain consent to send messages?No. Pre-checked tick boxes—for example, on a website where people can join a mailing list—are not an acceptable way of gaining consentThe all inclusive "agree" button you spoke of, certainly seem to fall under that description

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 28, 2016, 09:58:12 pm
content: Quote from: AlfBaz on November 28, 2016, 08:26:53 pmPerhaps they are trying to be clever... The box is not 'pre-clicked'. You have to click on it.If that's what they are thinking, that's just a smart-arse tactic that's going to get them in trouble.

author: rrinker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2016, 10:36:52 pm
content: Yeah - seems to be against the spirit of the law but not quite the letter - since you DO have to click it to check it.US law is absolutely worthless, passed simply to get a 'cute' acronym out of it - CAN-SPAM (seriously - that is the acronym! Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography And MarketingOnly the government can come up with this crap, seriously. More effort went into the name than it did into the actual content or what it did. In fact it had the effect of actually ALLOWING more spam, depending on what state you lived in.

author: rrinker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 29, 2016, 03:43:18 pm
content: I don't like spam!<cue the vikings>

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2016, 11:11:17 am
content: Ruslan Kogan should be deported back to Russia in my opinion. I was ripped off twice by Kogan so the spam is no surprise. My suggestion is in future, buy from a reputable dealer.